CRETE - Full island tour

We started this beautiful trip from London Luton - Heraklion ( Crete) 4 hours flight. We landed around 8 pm. Crete is two hours ahead of London. We rented a car for the whole period with a local company and we spent 35€ per day. It was a small automatic car. We bought the car directly on the website rentalcars.

We stayed in this hotel only for one night...the position is super central and the room very spacious!

We went straight to dinner, the restaurant was quite good and obviously Greek cuisine. After dinner we did a walk through the city ...

Political, economic and religious center, built by the Minoan people, one of the most interesting ancient civilizations, the Palace of Knossos (or Knossos) was built around 1700 BC. and is currently located about 6 km from the center of Heraklion, the capital of Crete. Cradle of the Minoan civilization, Knossos was a town that, surrounded by the Kairatos River, stood in a strategic position on the hill of Kefala but was not too far from the sea and the port of Heraklion. -> bring with you an hat and sun cream!

On the road to Elounda ...In general on the roads of Crete there are many lay-bys to admire breathtaking sea views.

This cute village is a world-renowned tourist resort, with very expensive hotels, for the most demanding in terms of luxury. Each year Elounda hosts several heads of state and celebrities in the utmost secrecy: important figures in politics and economics, athletes and artists on the international scene. It is no coincidence that in Elounda there are so many landing strips for private helicopters!

We did check in in this hotel and that was the view from our room. It was a normal hotel and we had a standard double room!

This bar is good for having a cocktail and have a beautiful view on Agios Nikolaos.

From a small fishing village, Agios Nikolaos has in recent years become one of the most famous tourist resorts in Crete thanks to its beautiful beaches and its millenary history. The city was already considered a strategic port since the Hellenistic era and, over the years, thanks to the Genoese and Venetian domination, it developed becoming a commercial center famous especially for the export of salt. its city center, with many shops and small boutiques, winds around the beautiful Voulismeni lake which connects directly to the sea thanks to a narrow canal.

We start the day at the beach. You can choose between free beach or stay in a Lido with sunbed and umbrellas! I had here my best pinacolada cocktail !!!

Sitia is located 130 km east of Heraklion - a two hour journey, and 70 km east of Agios Nikolaos - for an hour and 20 minutes. Sitia actually takes its name from Eteia, the ancient Minoan city. -> This tiny coastal town is an ideal destination for those who want to escape the more touristy areas to the west. It is one of the most pristine locations in Crete, where life is not centered on tourism. Tourists are welcomed warmly, and the facilities and services are excellent.

Lunch time at " To Limani" with traditional Greek food... Love it!!!

Exotic, fascinating and lush, Vai beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete and it is located on the east of Sitia and Aghios Nikolaos. It is a bay characterized by the presence of natural palm trees, the largest in Europe it is the only beach in Europe where this has happened! It can be reached by car along a somewhat winding road surrounded by rocks and olive groves! You can park your car in the paid parking, around € 3 and then go and enjoy the beach!

We stayed only one night and this hotel and it was perfect because it's close to Ierapetra, tomorrow we'll have a beautiful experience...

We took in Ierapetra the ferry boat to Chrissi Island. We bought directly tickets at the port and to reach the island is about 1hour and half.

it is a completely deserted island where heaven on earth exists and you can live there for a whole day .. The island of Chrissi is a protected island where it is not possible to stop to sleep and camp, but where it is possible to enjoy an intense and unforgettable day at the beach. The water is turquoise!

We stayed only one night at this hotel.

Matala is a small bay set between porous rocks shaped by water and wind, a crystalline sea and caves that were a refuge for hippies from all over the world in the 1960s. This is Matala, one of the most alternative places in Greece. The caves dug into the limestone walls of Matala beach after being a cemetery of the ancient Romans became a refuge for hippies from all over the world. Initially an unknown and uncontaminated place, it became famous in the 1970s for hosting famous people such as Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens in the caves. Here are the origins of mass tourism in Matala. It is possible to enter to visit the caves, but if you plan to relive the hippy atmosphere, you should know that it is forbidden to stop and sleep inside them.

The best restaurant in Matala ... It is a taverna so obviously Greek food. Everything was delicious. We were surprised by the bill, so cheap!

Coffe with a view! The perfect way to start the day... We enjoyed this cute village for a couple of hours and then straight to the next destination!!!

Preveli Beach takes its name from the monastery of the same name located in the upper area, but it is also called Palm Beach for the dense palm grove that characterizes it, one of the rare natural palm groves in Europe. Difficult to reach and therefore not very crowded, it was the ideal destination for the hippies of the 60s in search of peace and freedom. -> take with you running shoes, you have to do 500 steps to reach the beach! a downhill path of about 15 minutes awaits you between rocks and stone steps overlooking the sea.

Preveli beach is in fact protected by a thick palm grove crossed by the Kourtaliotikos gorge. The Megas Potamos river, after passing rocks and forming pools of water, arrives at the beach by cutting it in two and then dives into the sea. In this way you have the opportunity to bathe in the fresh and cold waters of the river or in the salty waters of the sea.The palm trees of Preveli beach are indigenous and are called Cretan dates. You can walk along the canyon under the shade of palm trees or go up the river by renting a pedal boat.

I fall in love with this hotel... Everything is studied in details and you are pampered by the staff throughout your stay. Excellent location, in the center of Chania. Highly recommended!!!!

A good restaurant with a beautiful terrace where you can enjoy your dinner with a view!!!

A truly suggestive town that bears witness to the different civilizations that have followed one another here over the centuries. The city, in fact, after being an important center for the Minoan civilization, first became a Roman colony and, in the following centuries, the domain of Venetians, Genoese and finally the Ottomans. The historic center is built around the port and is a well-preserved area where Venetian and Turkish buildings create a truly unique and original environment. A lively and multicultural city whose history can be seen walking through its alleys where churches and splendid fountains coexist with mosques and splendid Italian-style buildings.

Falasarna beach is located 59 km from Chania, heading west, and can be reached by car along the new road to Kissamos, then follow the signs for Platanos and then leaving the main road, you go down through a narrower and winding road until you reach sea level. Reaching it is therefore really easy and by simply following the directions on the road signs you will arrive: if it can help you, keep in mind that from Chania it takes about an hour, from Agia Marina 45 minutes and from Kissamos only 20 minutes. Once you arrive you will have at your disposal a large parking lot where you can leave your car located right next to the beach.

Fine white sand, wide beach both in width (150 meters) and in length (over 1 km), crystal clear waters, rich fauna and extraordinary beauty; this is what you will find at Falasarna beach.

Incredible place !! Highly recommended! General info: - dirt access road for about 8 km to be traveled at no more than 20km / h - access: € 1 per person. Children don't pay - parking: 2 € - to make the most of the whole day, do not park too far and enjoy a bit of tranquility before the mass of tourists in August at 8 we were already in the parking lot - easy descent on foot to the lagoon and in a truly particular landscape. With photo break, consider 20-30 min - umbrella and sunbeds: € 15 all day - bar: offers the bare minimum available. I recommend bringing drinks and food from home. - services: 1 € - ascent: 30-40 min with photo and water break.

One of my favourite beach ... The sunset was unforgettable!!!

We spent only one night in this place and it had a beautiful swimming pool with view

Typical Greek Tavern ... Highly recommended!

Definitely it's my favourite beach in Crete.... Pink sandy beach and turquoise waters... Only one thing, it's very windy!!! We spent all day there..

The perfect place to relax after a full day at the beach...private pool for each room. This property offers a bottle of wine and typical Greek sweets

We woke up early and enjoyed this sunrise, waiting for the bus ...

Yes, we did it !!! The Samaria Gorge, known worldwide as the Samaria Gorge, is a 16 km long canyon, one of the largest and most spectacular in Europe. Samaria Gorge is also the name of the national park established in 1962 to enhance the gorges and protect them, together with the endemic flora and fauna that inhabit them. To travel the 13 km along the gorges and the 3 km that separate the gorges from Agia Roumeli it takes from 5 to 7 hours. Bear in mind that the walk is all downhill so it can be very tiring on the knees. There is an abundance of drinking water along the way.

It was really nice but at the end I was exhausted... Too hot and I forgot in the car my hat!

We took the boat to return where we left the car

We had a different suite and this one was on two levels... If i return in Chania, definitely I will go again in this hotel...

Starting the day visiting the lake kournas... We rented a " pedalò" , 5 euro per one hour and yes, I swam in the lake but I prefer much more the sea water...

Good restaurant and incredible view on the lake!

Arkadi Monastery perched on the north-western side at about 500 meters above sea level of Mount Ida, the sacred mountain where according to legend the god Zeus grew up is an Orthodox cathedral dating back to the 16th century with a Renaissance style with a mix of Roman and Baroque influences. Once fortified by a thick and high walls, it had a strong value for the Cretan resistance during the Ottoman period.It is also a place of art and science with a well-stocked library of texts belonging to Pindaro, Petrarca, Virgilio, Dante, Homer, Strabo and Thucydides.

Take a romantic stroll along the old town. The delightful fortress, built in the 13th century, dominates the city and the port and sets the tone for the whole environment. This is the spiritual and cultural heart of Rethymnon. The archaeological museum is close to the entrance to the fortress, and the folklore and history museum of Rethymnon is also nearby, inside a restored Venetian building.

Amazing suite with 2 levels and on the roof your private jacuzzi where you can enjoy the gorgeous view! Basically we spent all day in the jacuzzi relaxing...

Time to return in London.. we were both sad, we didn't want to leave Crete .. definitely this island is in my heart ! Ciao Creta, a presto ...