Outdoor Holidays in Crete
Crete also has a well developed affinity with sporting pursuits and not just those you would typically find in holiday resorts by the sea, like surfing, sailing or diving. Inland, Crete has some wonderful countryside, making cycling excursions either on the roads or off-road by mountain bike very enjoyable.
Taking to the water by sea kayak is becoming increasingly popular. Many of Crete's beautiful coastal bays are not accessible by land, leaving access by water the only choice. Yachts and day cruisers are one option, but arriving under your own power by sea kayak is now an alternative choice. Of course you'll need to be fairly fit to power one of these boats, especially in the heat of a typical Cretan day, but once you arrive at some of the coves and inlets in places around the Samaria Gorge or Paleochora you will be well rewarded.
Hiking is also another way of enjoying Crete's varied landscape. Well-trodden routes like the day walk down the Samaria Gorge are documented by most travel guides and the route becomes very popular in the busy periods. But Crete is a pleasant place to spend a break outside of the main holiday periods, so plan your trip well and see this amazing gorge at its best during one of the quieter months.
Another surprising aspect of Crete is its mountain area, with its highpoint being Mt Psiloritis at over 8000 feet in altitude. Not sure how high that is? Well in Britain the highest peak is Ben Nevis at a mere 4,409 feet. So you get almost twice as high in Crete, well if you are sufficiently skilled and well prepared you can. Go once the summer has raised temperatures and most of the snow will have melted and the daytime temperatures can be a hot 30 degrees Celsius. You may not need mountaineering skills to get to the top but you'll need some reasonable levels of fitness in order to walk that high in such temperatures.
There are various ways to get to the top of Mt Psiloritis or Mount Ida as some call it, but all involve a five to ten hour journey up and back down again. One alternative is to spend the night up on the mountain, as many do surprisingly. There are several shelters that have been used by generations to afford some protection from the elements. In fact these are just cuttings in the ground to protect you from any winds. Temperatures drop quickly at night so you'll need a sleeping bag that can keep you warm as the temperatures can drop to freezing at night.
Another walking option in Crete, that makes a great choice in Spring, Summer or Autumn is the Butterfly Gorge, also known by its proper name Koutsouras Gorge. If you go there during Spring you may be lucky to see the butterflies referred to in its name, but a serious woodland fire a few years back has dented their prevalence. This gorge is in the far southwest corner of the island, as opposed to the more famous Samaria Gorge which in the east. From the coast near Koutsouras you'll head North West for short walk of just a few kilometers, but one that can take up to four hours at a steady pace. If the waters are flowing you may be lucky enough to witness waterfalls just before you reach the pretty village of Oreino, where a small cafe will be the perfect reward before you take the walk back south again.
Hiking is just one way of getting out and about in Crete. Others may prefer snorkeling or diving in the coastal waters or sailing a boat from cove to cove. Those in search of more of an adrenalin rush could tackle some of Crete's marked climbing routes, probably best done with the help of a local guide or climbing school.
Crete has the usual holiday ingredients of fine beaches, hot weather and top quality hotels and villas, but, for extra enjoyment, its outdoor pursuit offerings are rarely matched, especially in the Greek Islands.
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