Holidays in Crete are wonderful because every day you can devote to different impressions: today you can relax on one of the best beaches in the world, and tomorrow you can test your strength and walk along the longest gorge in Europe. The choice of excursions on the island is so wide that no one will be disappointed. Where to go on a tour in Crete?
Hystorical places
Perhaps the most popular excursion among the guests of Crete is a visit to the legendary Knossos Palace. It plunges into the Minoan past of the island and the Greek myths of Minos, the Minotaur and Theseus. It is better to walk around Knossos with a guide, without whom it is difficult to understand the ups and downs of Cretan history. A trip to the Palace of Knossos often includes a visit to Heraklion, the capital of Crete, where there will be free time for city sightseeing.
A strong impression is made by an excursion to the island of Spinalonga , located not far from the east coast of Crete. The path lies along the sea, through the Mirabello Strait. The island of Spinalonga is famous for its impressive fortress and many old buildings from the Venetian and Turkish times, as well as the period when Spinalonga was a leper colony. The tour is combined with a visit to Agios Nikolaos and Elounda .
Excursion to the monastery of Preveli and Rethymnon, one of the most beautiful cities of Crete, promises a day full of events and impressions. First, the path will lie to the monastery, which houses the Miraculous Cross. The bonus will be breathtaking views of the Libyan Sea from the height of Preveli. On the way, there is a stop near the Kurtaliot gorge, in which a strong wind almost always blows. The tour will end with a walk around Rethymnon and getting to know its Old Town, which has preserved Turkish and Venetian architecture.
The former capital of Crete cannot be ignored either. An excursion to Chania is suitable for connoisseurs of colorful architecture - the streets of the city are filled with history and an atmosphere of comfort. Having walked with a guide through the iconic places of Old Chania, you will have the opportunity to independently walk along the Venetian harbor and get lost in the streets, each of which can be a hidden gem of Chania. Crete also hosts evening tours of this city, because after sunset the beauty of Chania plays with completely different colors.
What to wear: comfortable clothes made from natural fabrics, comfortable shoes, women should take a scarf to visit monasteries (to cover their shoulders), men should wear trousers below the knee
What to bring: money for souvenirs and food, sunscreen
Nature
The nature of Crete is the main wealth of the island. You can verify this by choosing one of the most popular excursions. It includes a visit to the picturesque plateau of Lassithi and the Cave of Zeus , located at an altitude of more than 1000 m. According to local legends, it was in this cave that Zeus was born. It will impress with stalagmites of the most bizarre shapes.
At least minimal physical preparation requires an excursion to the Samaria Gorge. The bus will take you only to the entrance to the gorge, and then you will have to independently go through a path full of discoveries. Samaria is the longest gorge in Europe with a length of more than 16 km. Endemic plants grow here, rare representatives of the Cretan fauna live and historical monuments are kept (from ancient pagan altars to Byzantine churches).
For guests of Crete living in the Rethymno or Chania area, it makes sense to go on an excursion to Lake Kournas. This is not only a lake with fresh water, unique for the island, but also a beautiful natural attraction. Time on the lake can be used in many ways: swim in its clear waters, dine in a tavern with a view of Kournas and the mountains, ride a catamaran or take a walk, climbing a hill and viewing the lake from a height. A trip to Kournas is often combined with a tour of Rethymno or the Arkadi Monastery.
What to wear: comfortable shoes, a hat, and a warm sweater for visiting the caves
What to bring: sunscreen, bottle of water, swimwear (for visiting Kournas)
Beach
Excursions with a rest on the beach in Crete are an opportunity to recharge with new impressions and spend time on a clean sandy coast. A trip to Elafonisi beach is especially popular. It is included in the top of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is famous for its combination of white and pink sand, protected nature and azure shallow sea.
An exciting journey awaits those who choose the Gramvousa-Balos tour. This is a chance to relax on two beaches of marvelous beauty at once. First, the ship will depart from the port of Kissamos to Gramvousa, where you can climb the Venetian fortress and spend time on the sandy shore. Here you have to choose one of the two: the ascent and descent takes 20 minutes each way (excluding the time on the fortress itself). Then the tour will continue in Balos Bay, where the sea takes on all possible shades of blue.
What to wear: light clothes and a swimsuit (there will be nowhere to change clothes, except for Elafonisi beach, where there are cabins), beach shoes
What to bring with you: hat, towel, sunscreen, sneakers or sneakers for climbing the Gramvousa Fortress, money for renting sun loungers and meals
Where to go on an excursion from Crete
When the island is well explored, one can take the chance and discover other islands. Excursions depart from Crete to the protected island of Chrissi. Travel time is only 1 hour, after which a full day of relaxation awaits on the pristine sandy coast. This tour cannot be called informative, but it is quite memorable and beautiful.
Another sightseeing destination from Crete is the island of Koufonisi located in the Libyan Sea. Desert landscapes await here, but, in addition to relaxing on the beaches, you can see the remains of a pagan temple and caves that were used as chapels by the Byzantines.
The palm belongs to excursions to the island of Santorini. Departure is possible both on high-speed ships (2 hours at sea) and on ferries (about 4 hours). Santorini needs no introduction: people come here knowing for sure that they want to see the snow-white houses, the blue domes of churches, the caldera and ancient Akrotiri with their own eyes. If you also want to admire the famous sunsets of Santorini, it is better to take 2 days on an excursion. Then there will be time to relax on the beach with red or black volcanic sand.
What to wear: comfortable shoes and clothes, hat
What to bring: a warm sweater in case it gets chilly on the ship, motion sickness pills, sunscreen, swimwear, money for souvenirs and food.
