Falasarna Beach has won various awards and accolades as a top beach in Europe with its silver sands and turquoise blue sea. Ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Falasarna are located at the northern end of the beach. There are several companies offering watersports as well as beach bars and cafes and sun loungers to rent. The bay is actually made up of 5 beaches so you can always find a quiet spot if you wish.
Elafonisi is to the south of Falasarna. The small island is a nature lovers paradise and is reached by wading through the shallow water. The white and pink sandy beaches are beautiful though without shade on the island. The island is an internationally classified nature reserve and home to more than 100 rare plants. Elafonisi is a great place to windsurf. You will see many windsurfers to the left of the sandbank, enjoying the prevailing winds.
Balos Lagoon beach adorns many posters, being one of the most photographed beaches in Greece. The lagoon has silvery-white sand, often with a pink hue and white, vivid blue and turquoise waters. The lovely warm water is shallow and perfect for young children. The water is deeper and ideal for snorkelling beyond the rocks at the boundaries of the lagoon. Nature lovers adore this protected beach with its rare flora and fauna. Eleonora falcons, shags and cormorants nest in the caves and the area is a shelter for protected monk seal and loggerhead sea turtle. There are no cafes or shops other than on the ferries so you need to be organised. Balos can be reached via a bumpy road by car or by boat. Many ferries leave from Kissamos on a daily basis.
It is very atmospheric wandering along the market stalls in the narrow lanes of Chania Old Town. The bars and waterfront restaurants are very buzzy, and there are often musicians playing around the old Venetian harbour. The Old Town is very busy so it is good to book some of the more popular rooftop restaurants. The sunsets are breathtaking with the Venetian lighthouse a focal point plus you can board a boat in the harbour for a sunset cruise. Don’t forget your camera if you take a walk along the harbour wall to the lighthouse! Another way to get about is to take a segway tour.
Active guests may enjoy some of the challenging hikes around the many gorges on the island. The Topolia Gorge and Agia Sofia Cave is on the way to Elafonisi in one of the mountains in Kastsomatado village. It is quite a climb but a great chance to do something different and break the drive. Make sure you are not wearing flipflops though!
Crete is a large island with stunning scenery, incredible beaches and fabulous restaurants though it is easy to take a day trip to the island of Santorini where you can marvel at the blue and white buildings typical of the island. You can admire the unique views from the village of Oia, swim off the black sand beach of Perissa, enjoy Fira and catch a boat to the caldera of a volcano.