Greece / West Crete

Appreciate the neat and sweet look of the Chania old harbour, the three century worth of work by Venetian masters. Get up to the beautiful Odigitrias Monastery, also known as Monastery of our Lady of Gonia, on a steep hill facing the Gulf of Chania, known for its fortified walls and the floor of the courtyard made of small cobblestones completely surrounded by the cells of the monks. Walk through Old Town of Rethymno, the third-largest city in Crete, the best preserved old town on the island with Renaissance mansions, arches and catholic churches.

Get some of the best memories of your life hiking the challenging 16 km route in the Samaria Gorge, major tourist attraction of the island created by a small river running through the White Mountains. Look up as you walk, to catch sight of the endangered kri-kri, a kind of feral goat that makes light work of even sheer rock faces. Add to your nature exploration tour any of other sweet spots like Imbros gorge, or Komolithi hills in Potamida village in the Tyflos river valley, or Kournas lake with hills views, birds, ceramics shops and paddle boats.

Ride to one of the world’s best beaches, Elafonisi, a nature reserve on the channel between the mainland and Elafonisi, with pink sand and dunes, where you can pass from one to the other on sand bars without getting your feet wet. Get amazed at the paradise that is Balos Lagoon, one of Crete’s most famous images. Enjoy biodiversity of Agia lake or the sunsets on the coast of Sfakia. 

Check out Falassarna beach, often ranked as the best beach on Crete and one of the best in Europe. Surprise yourself when returning from Falassarna beach to discover the town’s acropolis climbing 90 metres above the water, featuring the remains of wells, cisterns, fortifications and a temple going back to the 4th century BC. Add Kalaviani-Falasarna hiking trail to your tour around Falassarna in addition to the beach and the ancient city. Check any of the other notable beaches of Western Crete: Ravdoula, the wildest one, or Marmara beach. Refresh at the waterfalls and springs of Argyroupoli. 

Rest on a plateau surrounded by vineyards, olive trees and oaks near the Arkadi Monastery, founded by the Byzantine emperor Arcadius. Get inner peace at Holy Trinity Monastery on the Akrotiri Peninsula, ensconced in vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees, where wine and olive products made by monks are sold at the monastery shop. Pay a visit to one of the most unspoiled places to visit in Crete, the pretty peaceful village of Loutro, accessed best by boat, flanked by steep mountains and home to a sizable herd of goats with the view of the tepid sea, sheltered by a lush bay. 

Choose the history and architecture tour with places like the ancient city of Aptera with Roman aqueduct and cisterns, or Fragokastelo fortress. Get another full package of options in Plakias, much like in Farnassa, with an enormous beach, remains of a fortress, churches of all architectural styles, horse riding school and ruins of an old water mill.   

Try the peculiar lite and healthy local dish - eggs with wild weeds, an example of Cretan cuisine, which is not the same as Greek. Cretan breakfast is another example of distinction. Sip local Cretan wines at the wineries in the inland valleys.