As the home to one of the earliest civilizations in Europe, Crete is steeped in history and culture. And with a landscape as rich and diverse as it’s history, it’s easy to see why around 2 million people will enjoy a Crete holiday.

With so much on offer, the choice can be overwhelming so here is a rundown of the best things to do in Crete so all you have to do is book your flights and sort out that all important holiday wardrobe.

Discover an Ancient Civilisation

As the epicentre of the Minoan civilisation, Knossos palace has stood on this site at Heraklion since around 1900 B.C. and making it an integral part of Greek History.

It is also a central part of Greek Mythology: it played host to Theseus’s fight with the Minotaur and housed Daedelus – the master craftsman of the Labrynth – and Icaurus his ill fated, wax-winged son. The impact that this palace has had on Western story telling cannot be underestimated.

First discovered by Sir Arthur Evans in 1900, this is an historical site definitely worth discovering for yourself on your Crete holidays in 2012.

If you want to delve deeper into the history of Crete, then head to the Heraklion Archeological Museum where you will find one of the largest collections of artefacts in Greece, from the Neolithic to Roman periods. However, if Mythology is more your thing then head up the Dicte Mountain range in East Crete and seek out the Dikteon Cave. This is reputed to be the birthplace of Zeus, the God of Gods.

Natural beauty at Samaria Gorge

One of Greece’s oldest National Parks, Samaria Gorge stretches 16km along the south coastal region of Chania and has been protected since 1692. It is a haven for nature enthusiasts and hikers keen to glimpse Greece’s flora and fauna in all their glory.

Visitors should be prepared for a long and challenging walk but rest assured, the views are worth it and dinner afterwards will be well deserved. Many who made the journey said it was one of the best things about their Crete holidays in 2012. So lace up your walking boots and head over to www.west-crete.com/samaria-gorge.htm for details on how to get there.

Relax in idyllic surroundings at Elafonissi Beach

No trip to Greece would be complete without the obligatory time spent on the beach. And this one is a real treat. With turquoise blue seas, pink sands and breathtaking sunsets, Elafonissi has to be seen to be believed. Situated on the west coast of the island, the beach is around an hour from Chania but is well worth the drive and the perfect place to relax after taking in all that history and nature.

 

 

Where is Rottnest Island?

Rottnest Island lies 19km off the west coast from Fremantle, Western Australia. It’s more affectionately known as ‘Rotto’ by the locals and is a favourite destination for day trips. The island is 11km long and roughly 4.5km wide and much of it is sand! A popular activity on Rotto includes hiring a bike and that’s just what I did when I visited. I grabbed myself a bike, had my day pack filled with water and a picnic, and took off.

Riding around Rotto with the warm spring sun on your back is just heavenly. Stopping at the small island bays to laze in the sun. There’s also opportunities to go boating, fishing, diving and snorkeling. The waters off Rotto have some of the world’s most southerly coral. You also can’t go to Rotto without spotting the quokkas or rather dodging them when on a bike!

Gone To Rottnest

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Rottnest Island

One Great Reason to Visit Rottnest Island

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to grab yourself a bike and cycle around the island dodging quokkas!

Rottnest Island, Western Australia

For More Information

• Wikipedia
• Official Tourism Site

Where is Castaway Island?

Castaway Island is a small island to the west of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. It forms part of the Mamanuca Group of islands. The island’s area covers 170 acres and is largely made up of inhabitants who are staff of the one and only resort on the island. It’s known traditionally by the Fijians as “Qalito”.

I was fortunate to have a little holiday there some time ago. It was a Fijian holiday with extremes! Five days was spent on Castaway Island in a five star resort with adults only, followed by 5 days backpacking along the Coral Coast and staying in either Youth Hostels or cheap holiday houses! It was a lot of fun and a great way to mix with the locals.

Castaway Island was beautiful. Surrounded with white sandy beaches, pristine warm waters of the South Pacific and jungle like vegetation covering the hilly island. It was possible to walk around the island in a couple of hours. In doing so, I spied a water snake slithering across the top of the nearby beach waters. I didn’t take a dip!

Lonely Planet Fiji (Country Travel Guide)

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Castaway Island

One Great Reason to Visit Castaway Island

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for some adult quiet time and South Pacific pampering!

Castaway Island Fiji

For More Information

• Wikipedia
• Guide to Castaway Island

Where to Party in Greece?

What do Kos, Faliraki and Malia all have in common? That’s right; they have for a number of years been the top places for young and lively crowds to head to for some fun in the sun. But what are they really like? Where is the best place to visit if you have to choose and which one is more suited to your needs?

Once these three destinations are put side by side and compared in terms of the main needs and wants for people aboard, it becomes clear that they each have their own stand out features.

Best Beach: Malia

All three destinations have their fair share of beaches, most of which are busy and bustling full of people usually recovering from the night before. For these reasons, if you want a bit of peace and quiet it can become a bit of a challenge. However, Malia has a stretch of beach which is largely free from the commercial side of things and offers visitors the perfect place to laze in the sun. Potamos Beach is around 500 metres from the bigger beach where the vast majority of holidaymakers and travellers spend their time. If you want a quiet afternoon, Potamos Beach is the place to head to is you want a bit of peace on holidays in Crete.

Best Nightlife: Faliraki

All three of the destinations can claim to have the best nightlife, but many would agree that Faliraki just about comes out on top thanks to the fact that it has actually become less rowdy as it was back in the early 2000’s. The local authorities clamped down on the over the top antics which once upon a time were common place, with these days the bars being frequented by slightly older patrons just looking for a good time. Club Street is the aptly named strip of bars and clubs which most people head to and there is plenty to keep you entertained throughout the night and into the early hours.

Best Backdrop: Malia

There is a belief that these types of resorts are all the same, and let’s face it, a bit bland. But visitors to Malia may be a bit surprised when they drop by as the Old Town is a fantastically traditional place which offers an insight into how the area looked before mass tourism took over. The tight winding streets lead to all sorts of unexpected sights including hidden churches and small taverns. You could easily get lost here for a day or so – even if you spend the majority of your time elsewhere, make sure you head to the Old Town at least once on your visit.

Best Food: Kos

If you manage to drag yourself away from the local McDonalds, the resorts of Malia, Kos and Faliraki have some lovely restaurants with dishes made from the freshest ingredients on offer. The pick of the bunch are found on Kos though, where there are plenty of options open to you. Tigiaki has a number of budget friendly but vey well respected restaurants where you can try the local cuisine, which in typical Greek fashion centres on fresh fish, local vegetables and lugs of olive oil. The best thing to do is to avoid the restaurants which are geared towards the tourists and take to the side streets. Here you’ll find locals eating for usually a fraction of the price and in much more traditional surroundings.

All three islands have their attractions and in many instances it is hard to separate them. If you want a holiday destination where you can get all of the luxuries from home, you’ll be hard pressed to find places better than Kos, Malia and Faliraki. All three have their good bits – it is just a case of deciding whether you value beaches, nightlife, food or places of interest higher when on cheap holidays to Greece!

Guest post written by Ricky Durrance for Beat the Brochure.