Κατηγορία: Activities

Cruising Crete’s sun-kissed coast is nothing short of holiday heaven – and this trip adds to the luxury. Board a yacht and you’ll sail towards Gergioupolis Bay for plenty of time to swim, sunbathe or sip a drink or two. Top that with a delicious buffet lunch and this one guarantees a day of relaxing in style.

Enjoy lavish surroundings and top-of-the line service as you sail the shores of the Cretan coastline on board an extravagant yacht . Top up your tan, admire the views or grab a drink as your skipper pilots you to Gergioupolis Bay.

Drop anchor and you’ll have around four hours to cool off with a few swims and then dry off in the warm sea breeze back on board. And after all that swimming and sunbathing, you’ll have worked up quite the appetite – making it the perfect time to be served up a tasty lunch washed down with good Greek wine. Afterwards, you can snooze it all off in the shade, as you bob gently back to port.

Who said children and museums don’t mix? They’ll love Crete’s Natural History Museum. Featuring dinosaurs, endemic animals and an earthquake simulator, this is a museum that’s designed for kids. And it’s not just the little one’s who’ll have fun – you’ll lap it up, too.

With seven fascinating sections to explore, this is a great family experience. There are dinosaur skeletons as well as lifesize moving dinosaurs – great for selfies. Another cool exhibit to explore is the Megadiorama, which takes an in-depth look at life in the Mediterranean’s ecosystems. While the area devoted to local fauna is packed with lizards and snakes.

And you’ll be able to learn about Crete’s biogeographic diversity, too. Extremely popular is Enceladus, the earthquake simulator – Crete has historically been prone to them. While over at the Erevnotopos Discovery Centre, the children can dig for fossils.

The beach isn’t the only place for watery fun in Crete. Limnoupolis Water Park is jam-packed with slides, chutes, rivers and pools that’ll have you whizzing from one to the other. From the scary Giant Slide to the chilled Lazy River, there’s something for everyone and every mood.

Laid out over landscaped gardens, Limnoupolis is bursting at the seams with slides, rides and sunbathing terraces – all centred round a large swimming pool. You’ll love having a go on the tubes of the Triple Twist, the imposing Giant Slide and the foamy waters of the Crazy River.

There’s also a kids’ pool, Tarzan-like assault courses and mini-motorbikes and football for the little ones. Add a playground, cafés, bars and loads of space to lounge in the sunshine and you’ve got all the ingredients for a fantastic day. We do everything for you, too – dropping you off in the morning and taking you back to your resort late afternoon.

This cruise has everything – great scenery, beach time and a helping of medieval history. Everything starts at Kastelli on Crete’s northwest coast, where a boat awaits to carry you across Kissamos bay to the Gramvousa peninsula and isles. And to round off the trip, you’ll spend a few hours at the beautiful Balos lagoon.

You’ll sail past steep cliffs and caves before docking at Imeri Gramvousa isle – ‘Imeri’ means ‘Tame’. Once a pirate hideout, this massive chunk of rock is crowned by a half-ruined Venetian fort. Here, you can stay sunbathing on deck, take a swim or trek up to the castle to drink in the views.

Next, your boat will make its way back to Tigani on the peninsula. Lapped by the fluorescent turquoise waters of the Balos lagoon, it’s a beach that looks like something from the Caribbean. Laze on the white sands, take snaps of the views or splash about in the warm water – it’s really shallow and stays knee-deep for a long way out.

Pick your way along the relaxed 8km route of Imbros Gorge, surrounded by wonderful fauna and the steep vertical walls of the ravine. There’ll also be refreshment stops at Rethymnon and Komitades, and the opportunity for a castle visit and cooling swim at Frangokastello. 

As you stroll along, take in the views over the White Mountains as you head up to the starting point – the mountain village of Imbros. Here, you’ll set off on your 2-3 hour hike, following pathways through wildflower meadows. The going never get too rough underfoot and the gradient is a gentle descent – so it’s also a great trail for active kids.

Enjoy a well-earned break at the end of the trail, with plenty of free time to explore the castle at Frangokastello and to take a refreshing swim in the waters off its tranquil beach.

• Exciting 4×4 tour through Crete’s wild landscapes

This full day 4×4 tour is for designed especially for adventures. You’ll journey along dirt roads, mountain passes and through Crete’s charming villages as you explore the island’s hidden gems and vast panoramic scenery.

Those walking boots will get a good workout during this hike through the Samaria Gorge. This 16km-long ravine is the longest in Europe. So it’s a serious – but spectacular – five to six-hour trek that’s not for the unfit or faint-hearted.

You’ll start by driving through the White Mountains to your starting point – the Xyloskalo staircase, which zigzags some 200 metres down into the gorge. You’ll pass tiny chapels, walk between the high ravine walls and maybe spot some of Crete’s wild ‘kri-kri’ goats. The highlight though, is the ‘Iron Gates’ – the narrowest section of the gorge where the 300-metre-high walls stand just 3 metres apart.

At the end, you’ll reach the seaside village of Agia Roumeli, where if you’ve made good time, you can take a swim or relax in a taverna. Then, when everyone’s ready, you’ll catch a boat along the coast to where your coach awaits. Great for outdoor types.

The warm and clear waters of the Sea of Crete are ideal for learning scuba diving. This full day scuba diving excursion off the coast of northern Crete will give you comprehensive theory and practice instruction in a swimming pool or in shallow sea waters, followed by a guided deeper water dive at a celebrated local dive site.

At the dive centre, you’ll receive expert instruction in all your equipment, diving safety and techniques – all in a very sheltered environment. When your seasoned instructor feels that you have mastered the basics, it’ll be time to take to the open waters.

Don your mask, tank, regulator and flippers and slide beneath the waves. Discover a new world as you swim among the fish and explore all the marine life in these wonderfully clear waters, diving to a depth of 6-8 metres. This scuba diving excursion with expert instruction is the perfect introduction to life beneath the surface.

The uninhabited island of Elafonisi may be tiny but it’s bursting with personality. This journey to this islet off southwestern Crete is steeped in myths and legends and boasts historic buildings and amazing natural scenery – making it an ideal excursion for all the family.

Still in Crete, just south of Voulgaro – where there’ll be a coffee stop – is the start of the Topolia Gorge. The road bends and twists past lovely, whitewashed villages, skirting the edge of the gorge. Located above the main road, you’ll find the colossal cave of Agia Sophia, which is famed for its stalactites.

If you’ve a pure heart, then you’re sure to find the golden step in the staircase at the 1,000-year-old Chrissoskalitissa Monastery. It’s in a stunning spot, standing high above the bay of Elafonisi. The island is ringed by pink sands and light blue seas. Spend the afternoon swimming in the shallows or if you prefer you can take an optional boat trip to the port of Peleochora.

Western Crete boasts wonderful local produce and spectacular beaches. This excursion showcases the area’s best bits, with a wine tasting at the Karavitakis winery, sampling delicious local olive oil at Biolea estate and some relaxation on the white sands of Falassarna beach.

Start the day with some culture on a guided visit to a local winery. There’s a feast for your taste buds with a wine tasting session, accompanied by local snacks. Next, learn how olives are grown and the oil is pressed at one of Crete’s primary producers, Biolea.

Spend the afternoon relaxing on Falassarna beach, whose powdery white sands and the crystal-clear waters have earned it special protection under the EU’s Natura 2000 programme.