Crete – The Perfect Paradise
The annual holiday is something we all look forward to. Escaping the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life and basking in utter paradise.
With a rise of 10 million people visiting the EU on holiday, you’re probably wondering where you could go. Well, there’s only one answer – Crete.
With stunning beaches, clear water and an abundance of history, it’s the ideal place for a person to go solo or with a friend or partner. And whether you get a hotel or private villa from Villa Plus, you’ll be surrounded by fun at all times.
Here are our top four things to do in Crete.
Spinalonga Island
The island of Spinalonga is located in the Gulf of Elounda, in the northeast of Crete, opposite the traditional fishing village of Plaka.
Small in stature but big in nature, this island sits close to Crete, but can only be reached by boat. Once you get there, you’ll be able to explore the histories of the island, which includes the Ottoman occupation, the Venetian conquering, the historic Arab raids and its time as a leper colony.
For such a small place, there’s a lot to learn.
The Samaria Gorge
The Samaria gorge is the longest in Europe and its path from the beginning of the national park to the beach can be covered in the summer months. It is one of the most spectacular trails we have done. It is quite demanding, although most of the time you walk downhill. The National Park of Samaria extends over an area of more than 4850 hectares and the path that runs through it has a length of 16.7 kilometers to the coastal village of Agia Roumeli.
If you love walking, this is the place for you. It should take you around six hours to complete – the perfect way to spend the day basking in glorious Greek surroundings – and the occasional goat.
The walk also ends on the beach, so make sure you bring your beach attire so you can enjoy a peaceful rest at the end.
Chrissi Island
A short one-hour ferry ride away from the mainland of Crete, you’ll discover the wondrous Chrissi Island.
Chrissi is one of the islands of the Libyan Sea, 8 nautical miles from Ierapetra, the southernmost city in Europe.
It is 7 km long and 2 km wide and is included in the Natura 2000 program for areas of special natural interest. It constitutes a refuge for wildlife and has the largest forest of Juniperus Macrocarpa (juniper maritime) in Europe. Most of the trees that cover the island have an average of 200 years old and about 7 m high, reaching in some cases at 300 years and 10 m.
Its crystal clear waters, white sand and the pleasure of walking among its trees make your visit a unique experience.
On the island there is a bar on the north side, a tavern on the south, the Orthodox church of San Nicolás and a lighthouse on the northwest. The arrival on the island is made by the south face, where there is a jetty, place of reception and bar. There are hammocks and umbrellas service.
Sporting crystal clear water and stunningly clean sandy beaches, this is the ideal place to spend a day, where you can sprawl out and forget the troubles of your day-to-day life with ease. If you don’t want to leave paradise so soon, you could opt to stay overnight.
History
Finally, an absolute must when visiting this glorious destination is to explore the vast history throughout the island.
The first stop on your list should be Knossos Palace. A huge Bronze Age site, the biggest on the island, this is actually Europe’s oldest city. While it costs to go in, it’s definitely worth it as you wander around this stunning reminder of a time since gone in places like the throne room.
Then you should take a trip to two stunning monasteries. The first is the Holy Trinity Monastery, featuring some of the best interiors on the island. Oh, and it’s full of cats. Then, visit the Sacred Monastery of Arkadi. Sitting within the countryside, it’s a stunning sight to behold, and a trip to the bell tower is a must.
So, when you’re flicking through travel brochures and websites trying to find somewhere to go, just remember, Crete has everything you could want and more.
