Sign in with FacebookLefkogia, 740 60, Greece
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Roadside chapel, Lassiti plateau, Crete
Inside view of the Museum
pic taken from last cafe on sea front
Bougatsa
We will bf and me) bespending a week in Crete August 18 - 26, arriving by boat from Antiparos. I understand the west part of the island is really beautiful, but I am open to the east. What I am looking for is a beach or port town, that is charming like antiparos,or sifnos, or symi, that is not really, really big (I think Heraklion would be awful, and maybe Chania to big also?) which is proximate to other great towns, beaches, ruins, and monuments. I don't want to have to drive too too much. Any suggestions?
From Paros you'll be arriving at Heraklion. Consider driving south to Matala or Agia Galini. They're both small and charming seaside villages. You can get there from Heraklion in a couple of hours.
Agia Galini is very nice.
I also liked Plakias, but it's 14 years since I was there, so I don't know whether it has changed a lot since then.
I liked Rethimnon and Chania.
I think Chania is a good solution, it is a big city but the center is not spread out and REALLY nice. From Heraklion it is about 2 hours and half and it is a good base to drive to the better beach in the west. I would also suggest Paleochora, in the South West, dont expect a Cicladic village, it is a small village but it is one of the few by the sea where people live all year long. On evening the center is lively with many taverna and places to have a drink or a nescafe frappe.
Near Paleochora there is some good beaches and it is easy to get to Elafonissi from there (about one hour driving). From it's port the ferry to Loutro and the Samaria gorge start.
Hi,
I also would go for Galini, you are just off the main road and within a short drive you have: 1)the beaches of Plakias, Matala, Triopetra, Aghios Pavlos, Kalimaki and a few others. 2) The sites of Festos, Agia Triada, Gortes and a day drive to Knossos ( I would place the site of Festos ahead of Knossos and day). 3) Interesting towns in the area include Spili, Matala and a drive to Rethymnon. 4) Other ideas may be the town and gorge of Zaros (the monastery at the entrance here is still in use and well worth a visit, I think it is St. Nicholas') and the Amari Valley.
The longest drives here would be to Rethymnon and Knossos, for the rest you would be able to drive there with ease and take in a couple of the sites on each day without putting yourselves under any pressure. You might check out the villages website: http://www.agia-galini.com/
Wherever you end up I am sure you both will enjoy.
Regards
Bobo
I remember the hike from Moni Governetou to Tripiti with my friend Adam. It was a great time to just chill out by the water, talk along the way, contemplate the world and solve all its problems. We both made it back to the car exhausted but both glad we took the opportunity to get outside on such an amazing day. Though the water could have been warmer for swimming-we both chickened out!
In my travel tip about Palm Beach I mentioned two different routes to the beach from the main road. If you choose the option that has a shorter walk but requires you to drive on a gravel road for a while, you'll exit the main road when you see the interesting bridge pictured here. It's directly next to the main road on the left side, so you can't miss it.
Crete became part of modern day Greece less than a hundred years ago, maintaining to a degree its cultural variety. There used to be a sizeable Muslim but Greek speaking minority in the island, now resettled in the aegean coast of Turkey, with great concentrations in and around Izmir.
Todeys cretan population accepts the Orthodox dogma and reports directly to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople in Istanbul. There is also a small Catholic minority living mainly in bigger towns and cities.
I am sure that biking is very nice to do here on this side of the island. The traffic seems to be a bit more calm here than on the Chania side.
Also jogging and powerwalk is perfect. Nice scenery and views. Bike - may be rent one.
Shoes - good ones.
To go to the Red beach there are two trails, one start from a parking area near the center and the other start at the end of the restaurant area, this last one is a steep path but better in my opinion.
You will hike a path that go up on the left promontory and than down to this wonderful beach. Wear closed shoes as the trail is not easy to walk.
I have heard about the opportunity to ask for a boat ride to Red Beach, the boat would be in the left part of the main Matala beach.
The sand is red and the sea crystal blue. Ther are no facilities and few people. The left part of the beach is clothing optional.
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