A mountainous island
Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Cyprus, with a surface area of 8,335 km². It is 257 km long and between 12 and 60 km wide, giving it its characteristic stretched appearance.
Situated in the eastern Mediterranean, even further south than part of the Maghreb coasts and only 300 kilometres from the Libyan coast, Crete is the southernmost point in Europe, after the island of Cyprus. On a map, it marks the southern limit of the Aegean basin, which includes all the other Greek islands (except Corfu and its surrounding islands).
From a distance, Crete looks like a huge rock isolated in the middle of the sea. In fact, for almost the entire length of the island, the mountains follow one another to flow into the sea to the north and south. Four mountain ranges dominate and are separated by plains and high plateaus where agriculture is rich. To the west, the White Mountains (Lefkà Ori) range rises to 2,454 m, and the peaks are often covered with snow, hence their name: Lefkà
means white. There are also the largest gorges, the Samaria Gorge, stretching for 17 kilometres with a total height difference of 1,227 m. In the centre, between Heraklion and Agia Galini, rises the Ida mountain range which, at 2,456 m, is the highest peak on the island. Further east, beyond the great central plain, the Dikti Mountains rise to 2,148m. Finally, at the eastern tip, the Sitia massif reaches 1,476 m. The longest river in Crete is the Yeropotamos, located in the Messara valley in the south of the island. It stretches for 45 km and flows into the Libyan Sea near Agia Triada. The only freshwater lake in Crete is the Kournas Lake, between Rethymnon and Hania. Finally, two famous and magnificent plateaus are really a must: those of Lassithi (formerly covered with windmills) and Nida.The Big Blue
Nature lovers cannot help but be seduced by the soothing beauty of the extremely rich and varied Cretan landscape. This richness is, without a doubt, due to the omnipresent sea, sometimes limpid and turquoise, sometimes impenetrable deep blue, with a rich seabed. The blue immensity borders the north of the island by the Sea of Crete, and the south by the Sea of Libya. What a pleasure it is to climb up the roads that wind through the mountains of Crete and embrace the endless blue sea in the distance.
With a coastline of more than 10,000 km, Crete has an impressive number of breathtaking beaches. If they are sometimes overflowing with people, it is for good reason. Among the most famous, in no particular order, is the beach of Matala, located near the Palace of Phaistos. This cove, a meeting point for hippies during the 1960s and 1970s, owes its charm to the sunset, its clear waters and its rocks sculpted since antiquity. The beach of Balos Lagoon is in the middle of a virgin landscape: the striking waters of the lagoon with turquoise and emerald colours, completely transparent, invite you to live, lying on white sand, an unforgettable experience. The sandy beach of Preveli lies at the foot of a gorge. A river flowing into the sea, with palm trees, laurel and boxwood growing on its banks, is the other asset of this beach worth a visit. The list goes on with the turquoise and sandy beach and coves of Falassarna, the pink beach of Elafonissi, or the black sand beach of Vaï, bordered by the largest palm grove in Europe. You won't miss the opportunity to refresh yourself on the smooth pebbled beaches of Palaiochora and Lenda... In these coastal landscapes, of extraordinary beauty, and on any beach, bay or cove, the Cretan sea can only bewitch your holidays.
A geography conducive to sport
With its natural parks, gorges, caves, mountains, varied vegetation and of course its omnipresent sea, Crete offers a wide range of landscapes, which will seduce lovers of wide open spaces and nature, but also sport.
In most of the seaside resorts (especially on the north coast) it is possible to rent small catamarans, pedal boats, sea kayaks, jet skis and water skiing. It should be noted that winds can rise very quickly and change direction frequently (relief effects in summer especially on the south coast). Some spots are perfect for windsurfers: Kouremenos Beach near Palekastro east of Sitia, Almirida, near Hania, or Palaiohora in the south.
On the other hand, there are few sailing boats in the waters of the Libyan Sea due to the lack of shelters and infrastructure. The port of Palaiohora is not very busy for these reasons but is well equipped (possibility of wintering). In the north of the island, stopovers are possible in Hania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos
... The island is a wonderful place for walkers, young and old, amateurs or confirmed. From a walk of an hour or two, where you can even take the children without any problem, to a real trekking of several days or even several weeks, the range of possibilities is very wide. Crete is mountainous and the paths are sometimes difficult. If you are not used to walking, it may be better to sign up for one of the various trekking tours offered by local travel agencies, especially if you decide, for example, to cross the famous Samaria Gorge. Otherwise, there is no lack of hiking goals: many gorges exist outside the Samaria gorge (Imbros, Agia Irini...), the Lefka Ori, the Omalos plateau, the Psiloritis and Dikti mountains, the Lassithi plateau, the Death valley near Zakros, islands like Gavdos... Let's add the pan-European trail E4, well signposted all along its route, which crosses Crete from west to east from Kastelli-Kissamos to Zakros. Those who simply wish to immerse themselves in the heart of nature will simply have to leave the towns and travel through the surrounding areas or stay in small ports. Anyone who enjoys an active holiday should take note!
