Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands at 3220 sq. miles and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. It is the most southern island, except for the little island of Gavdos. Crete is 260 km (160 miles) long and 56 km (35 miles) at it's widest point. The area is 8,260 sq km (3,190 sq miles).

Filled with history and culture, scented by wild fennel and basil, Crete endulges visitors with its wealth of myths, legends and history. Venetians and Turkish invaders to Crete have influenced the architecture of the island and many buildings of this period are still standing today. Venetians fortified a lot of villages and towns, using skilled Italian engineers. For defence reasons, they built a series of superb castles as well as numerous towers that can befound today all over the countryside of the island. Attractions include the Minoan sites of Knossos and Phaistos, the classical site of Gortys, the Venetian castle in Rethymno, and the Samaria Gorge, as well as many other natural sites and monuments.

Crete has a blessed and dramatic landscape with stunning mountain ranges dotted with caves and dramatic gorges. Inland, the island is covered in olive groves, wild flowers and aromatic herbs. Enjoy a breathtaking drive along the rugged south coast leading to a sundrenched paradise of long sandy beaches and isolated private coves. The west of the island are home to the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) at 2,453m, in the center there is Mt Idi (Psiloritis) at 2,456m and in the east there is Mt Dikti at 2,148m. Cretan mountains form a continuous chain from one end of the island to the other make Crete look much larger than it really is.

There are plentyful striking beaches with silky sand or coloured pebbles that can be found along the coast of Crete. Majority of the beaches are located on the northern and southern coast of Crete and all have crystalline waters that make them look like paradise. The region of Chania has plenty of deserted coves and lovely secluded bays as well as long, busy and fully equipped beaches.  Pahia Ammos is one of these numerous beautiful beaches.

Getting to Crete - There are three airports in Crete that are used for passenger flights: the Heraklion airport, the Akrotiri airport close to Chania and the Sitia airport. There are two main harbours: the Heraklion harbour and the Souda Bay harbour. The harbours in Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos and Sitia are much smaller. Some say the best time to visit Crete is late spring to early summer and autumn, when there are less visitors but locals are still prepared for tourists. The weather is usually pleasantly warm during this time, but not too hot, and swimming is possible. During July and August Crete gets very hot - temperatures can soar to 40°C (100°F) in the shade and the beaches are crowded. Conditions are ideal until the end of October but by November, the sun has dissapeared and rain is inevitable from then until February.

Elounda, is a famous visitors destination in Crete located 10km north of Aghios Nikolaos, having an indented coastline, shaded beaches, crystal clear seas, and a tranquil and heavenly environment. Elounda is a little fishing village, situated right in the heart of the famous Bay of Mirabello with its breathtaking vistas, amazing landscapes and a very pleasant and dry microclimate. In the centre of Elounda is the picturesque fishing boat harbour,with the cafes,the shops and tavernas around which provide a popular meeting point for locals and visitors alike. Elounda has a lovely beach which offers all kinds of watersports as well as long walks discovering the nature and surrounding villages. For the small guests,there is a playground by the harbour.

A lovely place to visit is Chania or Hania which is the westernmost of the four prefectures of the Greek Island of Crete where modern, Venetian, Turkish and traditional architecture are blended together in a perfect harmony, creating a unique and attractive picture. Various archaeological sites, villages, churches, caves, gorges and wonderful beaches are embellishing the charming prefecture of Chania. Minimise Location Map