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Martsalo – Mesara
This is where Apostle Paul has
disembarked on his journey to Rome and has preached Christianism for the first
time. At the middle of a gorge one can see a church of Saint Mary, nested in a
cave, dating from the first Christian years. It is believed that this church was
also a catacomb, where Christians were hiding to escape the persecutions of the
various occupiers of Crete. Around the church, one can find monk cells carved
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Vathi – Mesara
A narrow bay advances so deeply inland it gives the impression of a lake.
Difficult to access from land or sea, Vathi beach is ideal for isolation and
meditation, a place charged with primeval vibrations. The white limestone of the
valley leading to the beach, eroded by the sea-wind, is an impressive view. |
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Tris Ekklisies – Asterousia
The dirt road after Pirghos is demanding
(a 4X4 vehicle would be useful) but will reward the traveler with a unique view
to the Asteroussia mountains: small waterfalls, springs, flocks of sheep,
shepherd houses made of stone, beautiful country churches… At Tris Ekklisies
some rooms for rent, taverns with fresh fish and some traditional coffee places. |
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Tertsa – Viannos
The coastal road going from Mirtos to
Arvi is hard to find for non – Cretans. One of Crete’s most secluded settlements
is Tertsa, for authentic situations without much “civilization” around. |
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Platia Peramata – Lentas
On the road from Lentas to Kali Limenes,
some nice coves and some very primitive bungalows, frequented mainly by locals
in August.
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Myrtos – Ierapetra
The village has grown bigger these last
years but it has kept its charm and its Cretan feeling. Crystal-clear waters and
a long beach which is very rarely crowded. |
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Makris Gialos – Ierapetra
The sea deepens so smoothly it gives the
feeling that one can walk all the 320 kms to Africa
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Listis – Tsoutsouras
Some quiet beaches between Tsoutsouras
and Keratokampos, where the main tourist activity is to seat on the beach,
watching the day pass and feeling the warm breath of the Libyan Sea…
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Dermatos - Viannos A summer
siesta listening to the waves, a glimpse of paradise! |
| Kalamaki - Mesara Beware of
where you place your umbrella, you might step on a young caretta-caretta turtle,
as this is one of their preferred breeding areas |
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Hrissi Island (Gaidouronissi)
– Ierapetra
A destination proposed in all tourist
guides and not in vain. Little boats depart daily from Ierapetra to carry
visitors some seven miles south, to a small island covered with cedar-trees and
surrounded by perfect beaches where the sand is pink, composed of sea-shell
fragments. This is considered a protected area, so forget about free camping,
fishing or lighting a fire and bring all your trash back to Crete. The Greek
name Gaidouronissi means “donkey island”, no one knows exactly why…
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Aghii Apostoli – Chania
This is where the municipal camping and
beach of Hania city are. The local bus reaches it and it is a beach less crowded
than Aghia Marina or Platanias in high season.
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Aghia Marina – Hania
At the middle of a long beach, which
extends from Katos Stalos to Kolymbari, west of Chania. The “golden youth” of
the city train daily to beach tennis or beach volley. Just opposite, Thodorou
island, the only natural reserve of pure race Cretan wild goats. The huge cave
which looks like a dragon mouth was a Minoan sanctuary and the whole island a
Venetian fortress.
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Balos - Cape of Gramvousa
The most famous landscape of Crete and it is definitely worth it. All the shades of blue and green, a warm, shallow lagoon bursting with sea shells. It is accessible after a half hour march, or you can take the boat departing from Kasteli
Kisamou.
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Agios Pavlos – Southern Rethimno
Behind the protected creek, 30 meters high dunes and an amazing sunset
at “Triopetra”, the “three-rocks-cape”. Trying to climb up the sand hills on your way back is not
an easy task, especially when the sun is burning - and it really does burn around here!
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Stavros - Fodele
A 100-meter drop into the deep blue, not exactly the place for an easy swim,
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Xirokambos – Sitia
Thousands of lilies at the eastern part of Crete fill the atmosphere with sensual vibes.
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Keratokambos – Southern Heraklio
Only sun and sea, no constrains of civilisation, no unnecessary fig leafs…
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Krios – Koundoura
The most southwestern part of Crete. Crystal-clear, icy waters, welcome you after the walk on the E4
European mountain path. You can certainly drive all the way to Krios, but would the feeling be the same?
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Orthi Ammos – Frangokastelo
Early in the morning, a few days per year, Drosoulites, the lost souls of Fragokastelo, appear behind the dunes …
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Aghia Fotia -
Sitia
We are not talking about the district with the same name at Ierapetra, here we find ourselves 7 kms east of Sitia in an area where the biggest cemetery of Minoan Crete was discovered. |
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Almirida
Well hidden from the national road that passes some hundred meters on the north. |
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Hiona
Shallow waters for the kids and young swimmers, and a well known - all over the island - local fish soup. |
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Elafonissi
There’s something exotic here: A cluster of small beaches with pink sand and shallow never ending waters, splashed with rocky small islands push you straight to dreamland. The downside is everybody loves dreaming during summertime: one of the most popular and crowded destinations in Crete. |
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Falassarna
Crystal clear blue waters, a submerged ancient city, cyclopean walls, a stone throne of unknown time and origin, Crete in all its
splendour. |
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Frangokastello
The Venetians built the castle bearing the same name during 14th century as a watchtower over the surrounding area and the sea. Today its ruins dominate the underlying lagoon of green-blue, or blue-green if you prefer, waters. |
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Geropotamos
You can spot its characteristic arks from the National Road connecting Herakleion and Rethimno. Once you get down and
harbor in, you will forget about roads and traffic… |
Kali Limenes
Can you enjoy your swimming and your holidays when a modern oil transfer base lays in the vicinity? Many tourists - especially the local ones - answer positively, and enjoy the clean waters. |
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Kalo Horio
A place filled with legends and traditions – but you will find quality tourism services too. |
Kedrodasos
Or “Cedars Grove” in English. The real issue is how long will the name apply to the area since cedars grow only a
centimeter per year, and certain humans (?) cut roots and branches of the trees for their campfires.
(On Press:
catastrophe struck earlier than we thought since a criminal opened a road with a bulldozer destroying the idyllic scenery in order to establish a beach bar!) |
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Keratokambos
In the Cretan dialect the word translates as “Carob Pods Flats”. Minoan goddess of childbearing Ileithia was worshiped nearby. |
Kouremenos
A real magnet for windsurfers from all over the world, who find ideal wind-wave combinations. |
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Lakki
Something here for everyone: shallow waters for the young, rocky parts for line fishing, Frankokastelo is not far away if you like to immerse yourself in Medieval Cretan history… |
Liggres
Piece and tranquility without electricity, telephone and other useless devices… |
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Lissos
An hour’s walk from Sougia, archaeological ruins testify to the existence of one of the largest cities of ancient Crete, destroyed on the 9th century
A.C.
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Maridati
Two big rocks are the landmarks of this beach that remains unknown to the masses. |
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Mochlos
A village filled with fish taverns with a view of the Pseira Island, and lots of archaeological findings. |
Mononaftis
With characteristic green waters the most secluded beach in the overdeveloped area of Agia
Pelagia.
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Yaliskari
As in nearby Paliohora, a cape delimits two distinct beaches, if one is windy we choose the other and vice-versa… |
Plakias
A series of small private beaches for total tannning… |
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Rihti - Exo
Mouliana
Two hours walk through the Rihtis gorge which is a beautiful path that
culminates with the Rihtis waterfall will take you to one of the most secluded beaches of the island. |
Rodakino
Your bathing suit is optional, your sunscreen products mandatory. |
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Sarakiniko
The most cosmopolitan beach of the island of Gaudos, meaning there are two taverns and two or three camps… |
Soughia
Ancient Syia was here, famous for it’s oak tree forests and its pigs. If you decide to camp, have in mind that you may have as visitors during the night some guys from the Police Special Forces who made it a habit to interrogate campers in recent years, we hope not because of a special command from the Cretan Minister for Public Order G. Voulgarakis “in the war against terrorism”. |
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Kato Zakros
If you follow the two hours long footpath through the “gorge of the dead” you will be rewarded with the view of a magnificent beach but also of the Minoan Palace of Zakros destroyed on 1450 B.C. possibly by a Thira (Santorini) volcano explosion. |
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Pachia Ammos – Paleohora
Could a beach full with umbrellas and sunbathing seats have it’s place in this article, presenting the most beautiful beaches of Crete? The answer is yes, if we are
referring to Pachia Ammos, and this is our suggestion for those who don’t want or cannot wander far away from where they have parked their car. |
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Potamos- Gavdos
An evanescent glimpse to the supernatural, a landscape charged with metaphysical
vibrations |
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Preveli – Southern Rethymno
The most photographed beach of Crete. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the day-trips depart, you’ll understand the reason why the hippies once considered it a spiritual centre of meditation and inner peace… |
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Hora Sfakion
The sun is burning making the crystal-ice
blue water and the shade of the cave welcome! |
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Stavros – Akrotiri
Facing the mountain where “Zorbas” of Kakogiannis was filmed. Everyone remembers the scene where Anthony Queen, interpreting the Kazantzakis hero, built a quarry which spectacularly fell apart. |
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Trachoulas – Lendas
Authentic hermits from all around the world have settled down to isolate. Behave accordingly! |
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Triopetra – Southern Rethymno
Agios Pavlos, Triopetra, Platia Permata, Kala Limania, a dirt road bordering some of the most beautiful and “private” beaches of Crete. |
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Tsoutsouras – Southern Heraklio
Inner tourism from the surrounding villages of Crete, little tavernas on the waves which will undertake the mission of frying the fishes just out of the fish-boat; it’s so nice being in Crete in summer time! |
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Menies - Cape of Diktinna
Here you can visit the sanctuary of ancient Diktinna, where processions of believers from the entire known world visited to devote their vows. Forty-five minutes of relatively demanding dirt road or you can take the boat departing from Platanias.
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Pirgos - Gavdos
For lucky captains of small boats or for the adventurous walkers who are willing to defy the wild and long route (and also the Odyssey to reach the southern part of Europe,
Gavdos). Water, taverns, or kiosks are nowhere to be found, just sun, sea, peace and isolation. |
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