Uncommercialised and authentic:
Western Crete & Chania just waits to be explored. Here, the magnificent White Mountains bestride the landscape and melted snow from their high slopes waters the fertile coastal plains, where orange, lemon and olive groves flourish and superb fruit and vegetables of every description grow in amazing profusion. This part of Crete also boasts some of the island’s best beaches, especially the coast west of Chania which is one 15 kilometer stretch of sandy beach broken by rocky outcrops and bustling villages with numerous waterside tavernas. Inland and virtually untouched by tourism, Crete rural life continues at the same slow pace as it has for centuries and the visitor who ventures off the beaten track will be suitably rewarded with fabulous scenery and a friendly welcome at every wayside watering hole.
'We have been traveling to Greece & Crete for nigh on thirty years and thought we had already experienced the best. We were wrong; we have just had the happiest holiday of our lives in Crete. The combination of mountains, sun, cool breezes and endless kindness was bewitching. And I don't think anything on earth can compare with the magic of floating in a pool with mountains all around you and eagles circling high overhead. Thank you. This was a very special holiday among equally special people.' /b
Crete is a much larger island :
Crete is a much larger island than most people imagine, being 280 km long and up to 64 km wide. There are still a surprising number of unspoiled areas of Crete as yet undiscovered by mass tourism where deserted beaches genuinely still exist and where you can still wine and dine in the local taverna for astonishingly low prices.