Geography

Mountains and High Plateaus

An island renowned for its breath-taking mountain scenery, it is in the centre of the island that we find Mount Ida , Crete 's highest mountain. Its peak Psiloritis, at 2,456m above sea level is the highest summit on Crete . Second by a narrow margin of only 3m are the White Mountains (Lefka Ori). With its highest summit at 2,453m, this range dominates the centre of Western Crete . Another characteristic of the mountains are the high plateaus, Askifou, Lasithiou and the famous Omalos plateau, a round plain at an altitude of 1,100m.

Gorges and Caves

The gorges are one of the most spectacular natural features of Crete . Most celebrated of these is the Samaria. Described as being one of the most magnificent in the world this fascinating and spectacular natural wonder has to be one of Europe 's most beautiful places. These geological features allow for the existence of rare flora and fauna, including the wild goat (Kri Kri) endemic to Crete . A remarkable 3,320 caves have been recorded on the island, many of which are mentioned in Greek mythology. The famous Diktaion on Mt Idi is reputedly the birthplace of Zeus, king of the Greek gods. He represented hospitality and his spirit lives on today in the hearts of all Cretan people

Land of Contrasts

Crete constitutes an island of great surprise and contrasts. It is diverse in natural beauty, with high mountains, deep gorges, archaeological sites and timeless traditional villages juxtaposed to the hustle and bustle of a Greek metropolis.

Golden Coasts

With 1,100km of coastline the island is blessed with numerous sandy beaches kissed by crystal clear blue waters. At Falasarna situated northwest of the island, you can enjoy beautiful sunsets over a golden beach. Whereas it's neighbour remote Balos gives the impression of a dream like lagoon. Elafonissis with its beauty, poetic and unsurpassed is a protected national park located in the southwest. In the south and east of the island respectively, we find Preveli and Vai with palm trees creating an exotic scene. Closer to Chania we find the superb sandy beaches of Almyrida and Kalyves in Apokoronas, not forgetting Ayia Marina to the west a beach approximately 6km long.

Climate

The island enjoys perhaps one of the best Mediterranean climates, with mild temperatures prevailing all year round. Testimony to this is the abundance of tropical plants such as the banana tree seen growing on and around the island

*some days may reach 35C.

History

Crete is an island steeped in history and has fallen into the hands of many rulers over the centuries, each in turn have left their mark on the landscape, both good and bad. Crete has so much history to offer the enquiring mind. But it is the Minoan civilization (2,600-1,100BC) for which it is most renowned. There is documented evidence that suggests a time when the Minoans were a naval might and yet to many, the Mediterranean was still the ‘big blue beyond'. The cultural influences they encountered whilst trading have given birth to a civilization that we still admire today.

Area and Population

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands. With a total area of 8,261sq.m, it is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean . Surprisingly for its size, it only has a low population density of approximately 600,000 inhabitants.

Airports and Ports

There are two international airports serviced by direct charters, with scheduled flights to and from all major European airports during the winter months (November to April). For more information visit these web sites; Olympic Airlines www.olympicairlines.com or Aegean Airlines www.aegean-airlines.gr . You can reach Crete by car! There are major ferry operators running regular main land services and excursions to several of the Aegean islands. Check out these available web sites; ANEK lines at www.anek.gr and Blue Star ferries www.ferries.gr.

Food and Health

What is the secret of the Cretan diet? The most important element is virgin olive oil. This constitutes the basic source of fats. Raised on the natural products of the earth, Cretans have a regular intake of greens, vegetables, pulses and fruits, flavouring their food with wild herbs found in abundance on the island, washed down with a (moderate!) helping of local wine. Medical research shows that the Cretan diet contributes to the preservation of good health and longevity. As a result, Crete has one of the lowest death rates caused by cardio-vascular illness and cancers.

Leisure Activities

An island surrounded by warm seas and bathed in more than 300 days of sunshine a year! Then it comes as no surprise that 'Crete' is the ideal playground for young and old alike. It offers the very best in indoor and outdoor activities from water parks to scuba diving, cycling to sky diving, painting to pony trekking, martial arts to Greek dancing, the list of activities are endless. There is a whole island of activities to challenge both body and mind. You will enjoy yourself so much you will want to stay!