Crete

Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands is located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. Renowned for being a family friendly destination, whether its fun, culture or a relaxing holiday in the sun you are looking for, Crete can cater for it all, and more.

The 1,000km of golden sandy coastline is filled with beautiful beaches, coves, marinas and inlets for you to explore. Crete offers an exciting mix of lively resorts, historical towns, traditional villages, cultural sites and fantastic excursions & theme parks. The public bus system is excellent so if you don’t want to drive, the island sites are easily accessible to you. Traditional hand made crafts are widely available, the most famous being embroidered cloth, lace, pottery, ceramics and jewelry. Our stunning selection of villas are located in the north and east of the island in Hersonissos, Rethymnon and Chania. These areas are synonymous with natural unspoilt beauty, popular holiday resorts and excellent facilities.

Cretan Cuisine is said to be the healthiest diet in the world with its Mediterranean influences, plenty of fresh seafood, homegrown vegetables, fruits and herbs. Eating out is a gastronomical delight with so many delicious flavors to choose from.

If you are looking for fun and adventure, Crete has an abundance of water sports, inland activities, sightseeing, excursions and historical sites for you to enjoy.

Highlights

Places Of Interest

Hersonissos, located in the north of the island the city is built around an exquisite marina that creates a wonderful holiday atmosphere by night and by day. Here you will find excellent shopping, museums, markets, sports activities and a thriving nightlife. The old town offers a chance to step back in time with its narrow stone streets steeped in culture that are a wonder to explore. There are several golden beaches and traditional villages around Hersonissos for you to explore.

Chania, to the north east, is made up of several traditional villages offering the best in holiday resorts. Visit, Therossis, acclaimed as the most picturesque and unspoilt village in Crete. The beaches of Chania boast crystal clear warm waters and golden sandy beaches. With its resorts claiming panoramic sea views and a backdrop of the rolling hills, Chania is the ultimate in sheer beauty.

Rethymnon, only 80km from the airport in Heraklion, is located in the north. This stunning ancient city dates back to Neolithic and Roman times and exudes a wonderful sense history and culture. Protected to the sea by the Fortetza, an amazing Venetian stone fortress, this city offers an excellent mix of historical monuments, museums, shops, theatre, beaches and a lively nightlife.

Knossos, The Palace of King Minos, discovered in 1894 dates back to the Bronze Age and is one of the most famous archeological sites in Greece today. Some of the ruins are still in tact where you can admire the colorful murals decorated with very intricate designs. Mythology states that the palace was an elaborate labyrinth of passageways built to protect his son who was born a Minotaur (half man, half bull).

Samaria Gorge, this natural phenomenon is part of the amazing National Park in Samaria which is a must see on your travel itinerary. Acclaimed as the longest gorge in Europe, it runs16km starting at an altitude of 1,250m where you trek over rocky terrain. Near the exit you pass the Iron Gates, one of the most photographed sights in Crete. Several scheduled treks are run by skilled guides every day.

Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the most visited museum in Crete and home to the many hidden artifacts found when excavating the Palace of King Minos in Knossos. The museum is filled with relics and symbols of the Minotaur, frescos, armory, every day tools with intricate symbols and scribing, some of which are still undecipherable today.

Carnival Time, Crete’s biggest annual event takes place at the start of Lent in Rethymnon and is the islands most colorful and exciting carnival filled with traditional dance, music, food, costumes and Cretan culture.

Theme Parks and Excursions

Star Beach Waterpark, located just outside Hersonissos is no ordinary waterpark. Located on the beach, choose from exciting water sports activities from jet skis to banana boats and a huge range of water slides, rides and rollercoasters. For the more adventurous take a bungee jump, go paragliding or take a bumpride out into the bay. Whatever you choose, this is an excellent day out for all the family.

Aquaworld Aquarium, located near Hersonissos is a stunning display of marine and animal life in their natural surroundings. From reptiles and crocodiles to octopus and scorpion fish, enjoy an afternoon browsing through this wonderful aquarium. Children especially love the petting areas where you can touch and hold many of the animals on display.

Island Tours, all of the resorts offer bus tours and excursions where you can select your favorite routes to see the best of what Crete has to offer. Many tours include lunch or dinner in popular traditional restaurants around the island where you can enjoy local cuisine, music and dance.

Island Hopping, take a ferry from one of the ports in Crete to other neighboring islands to see the amazing volcanic island of Santorini or the beautiful islands of Piraeus, Kos, Rhodes or Ios.

Whale & Dolphin Cruises. Take a boat from the port of Paleochora and head for the island of Gavdos where you will find the best whale and dolphin watching excursions on the island.

Cretan Cuisine

Cretan cuisine is said to be the healthiest diet in the world. The most important products that are accredited to this are their homegrown olive oil, fresh salads, seafood and an array of herbs and vegetables grown in their rich soil. Local dishes are extremely aromatic and even the simplest of dishes can tantalize the taste buds. Try some of their local dishes of Priono, a typical local breakfast of feta cheese, fresh bread, boiled eggs and coffee. Nisiotiki, a soup filled with fresh seafood. Homus, a delicious dip of garlic, chickpeas and olive oil that tastes great with bread or meat. Stifado, a tasty veal casserole slow cooked in wine, tomatoes and herbs. Moussaka, a famous dish of beef, eggplant and tomatoes cooked slowly in wine. Cretan deserts are mainly pastries and cakes cooked with nuts, honey and almonds. Some excellent local wines and liqueurs are produced on the island and are a great accompaniment to the local dishes.

For the not so adventurous, European and International menus are available in all resorts and children are very well catered for with individual menus and play areas in many restaurants.

Sporting Activities

With the ocean, mountains and rugged unspoilt landscapes throughout the island, Crete offers a diverse and exciting range of activities for all ages.

The sea has many coves with caves and crystal clear water making it an excellent area for diving and snorkeling. Sailing, waterskiing, kite surfing, canoeing, jet skiing and fishingare easily available from the main beach resorts as are "fun" activities such as banana boats, bumpride and fly-fishing.

Inland, the gorges, mountains and ravines offer exciting pathways for trekking and hill walking, many which are supervised by skilled guides. For those who like more extreme sports, bungee jumping, paragliding, windsurfing and laser sailingare available in the many resorts. There are many jeep safaris and off road safaris that take you across the rugged terrain to enjoy an action packed day.