Crete
island of flavours and millennia of heritage

Gourmet Crete: an art of living at every table

Cretan gastronomy is not a mere accompaniment to the trip; it is its guiding thread. On this sun-nourished land, olive oil flows with legendary generosity, aromatic herbs perfume the hillsides, and every village has its own specialities handed down from mother to daughter. A crunchy dakos drizzled with virgin oil, snails cooked with maquis herbs, a raki offered as a gesture of welcome: so many rituals that transform a simple stop into a moment of sharing.

The markets of Heraklion and Chania overflow with colourful stalls where citrus fruits, cave-aged sheep cheeses and thyme honey renowned across the Mediterranean sit side by side. By travelling at your own pace, you have the leisure to linger at a stall, exchange a few words with a producer, taste before you choose. It is this deliberate slowness that reveals the true face of Crete.

Minoan heritage and Venetian traces

Long before travellers discovered its beaches, Crete was writing one of the earliest chapters of European civilisation. The palace of Knossos, with its dolphin frescoes and labyrinthine corridors, bears witness to a refined culture four millennia old. But Cretan heritage does not end with the Minoan era. The Venetian harbours of Chania and Rethymno, with their ochre facades and sea-gazing fortresses, tell centuries of exchange between East and West.

As you wander, you will encounter Byzantine chapels nestled in valley hollows, Ottoman fountains at the corner of a shaded square, and monasteries still inhabited where time seems to stand still. Our guided trips weave in these visits with passionate local guides who bring every stone and every legend back to life.

Landscapes between gentleness and grandeur

Crete offers a variety of vistas that few Mediterranean islands can match. On the northern coast, long sandy beaches border calm, warm waters, perfect for a swim after a morning stroll. To the south, cliffs plunge into the Libyan Sea and isolated coves are earned at the end of paths fragrant with sage and rosemary.

Between these two shores, the White Mountains and Mount Psiloritis trace a generous relief where verdant plateaux dotted with flocks cling to the slopes. The gorges (Samaria, of course, but also dozens of lesser-known and equally striking ones) carve the rock with their vertiginous walls. With Kelifos, itineraries are designed to offer you these natural spectacles without ever sacrificing your comfort: an easy pace, panoramic pauses, and each evening the pleasure of returning to a boutique hotel where you can rest.

The essentials of Crete

Crete is so vast and so rich that it would be a shame to settle for a single shore. Here are the places that, on their own, justify the journey and compose a mosaic of landscapes, heritage and Mediterranean light.

Knossos and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

The palace of Knossos remains the beating heart of Minoan civilisation. To enjoy it fully, visit early in the morning, before the heat and the crowds. The frescoes, inner courtyards and pithoi storerooms recover their tranquillity. Complete the experience with the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, about twenty minutes away: the original palace frescoes are exhibited there, along with the celebrated Phaistos Disc and jewellery of remarkable finesse. Together they form a four-millennia plunge, accessible and fascinating.

Chania

Many travellers consider Chania the most beautiful town in Crete. Its Venetian harbour, lined with colourful facades and topped by an emblematic lighthouse, offers a vista you willingly contemplate from a cafe terrace. Deeper into the lanes, the Turkish quarter of Splantzia reveals discreet minarets, bougainvillea and shaded little squares. The covered market (agora), built in a cruciform plan, brims with cheeses, dried herbs and thyme honey. It is the perfect place to bring home a bottle of olive oil and a few gourmet souvenirs.

Samaria Gorge

It is the longest canyon in Europe: sixteen kilometres of descent through the White Mountains, from the Omalos plateau to the Libyan Sea. The path winds between walls that narrow to the celebrated Iron Gates, a passage just three metres wide. The arrival at Agia Roumeli, a small coastal village accessible only by boat, rewards walkers with a swim in crystal-clear waters. For a gentler approach, you can walk up the gorge for a few kilometres from Agia Roumeli without covering the entire route. Our walks in Crete often include this natural jewel.

Elafonissi

Imagine a lagoon of turquoise water, sand tinted pink by crushed shells, and a silence broken only by the surf. Elafonissi, at the southwestern tip of the island, is this little paradise. The road to reach it winds through the mountains, offering spectacular views over valleys and olive groves. Once there, you wade across a shallow arm of the sea to reach the islet, feet in the warm water.

Balos

To the northwest, the lagoon of Balos rivals the most beautiful tropical landscapes. You reach it by boat from Kissamos or by a steep path descending from the road. The spectacle is striking: three shades of blue merge in a setting of dunes and rocks. It is a place best savoured by arriving early, when the morning light turns the water to a mirror.

Rethymno

Between Chania and Heraklion, Rethymno charms with its blend of Venetian and Ottoman influences. The Fortezza fortress, one of the largest ever built by the Venetians, dominates the old town and offers a panorama over the sea and tiled rooftops. Below, the narrow lanes brim with artisan shops, family tavernas and sculpted fountains. The small fishing harbour, peaceful and photogenic, invites you to linger over an ouzo as the sun sets.

Western, eastern or southern Crete: which region to choose?

The island is so extensive (260 kilometres from east to west) that each region has its own character. Depending on your wishes, the journey will take on a very different colour.

Western Crete

This is the most spectacular and wildest part. Chania is the gateway, Samaria Gorge the beating heart, and the beaches of Elafonissi and Balos the coastal jewels. The White Mountains (Lefka Ori) rise to over 2,400 metres and plunge toward the sea in vertiginous cliffs. The hinterland villages, such as Theriso or Milia, preserve a mountain art of living made of fresh cheese, raki and conversations in the village square. If you seek breathtaking vistas and unspoilt nature, this is where to set down your bags.

Eastern Crete

Gentler and more discreet, the eastern part captivates with its tamarisk-fringed beaches and little-known heritage. Agios Nikolaos, on the shores of Lake Voulismeni, makes a charming stop. Further east, Sitia and its Venetian fortress welcome travellers in an authentic, unhurried atmosphere. The islet of Spinalonga, a former Venetian leper colony off Elounda, tells a poignant story in a postcard setting. And at the very tip of the island, the palm grove of Vai spreads its natural palms to the shoreline, a landscape unique in Europe.

The south coast

This is the Crete of connoisseurs. Here, no major roads: villages are reached by sea or by winding roads that cross the mountains. Loutro, nestled at the foot of the cliffs and accessible only by boat or on foot, embodies this serenity. Sfakia, Plakias and its neighbouring coves, Matala and its caves carved into golden rock: each stop is an invitation to slow down. The rhythm here is that of fishermen and shepherds. You dine with your feet in the sand, you fall asleep to the sound of the waves. This is the Crete our self-guided holidays let you discover.

Central Crete

Heraklion, the capital, serves as the starting point for exploring the palace of Knossos and the surrounding vineyards. Cretan wines, long underappreciated, are gaining recognition thanks to indigenous grape varieties such as vidiano and kotsifali. Moving away from the coast, the Lassithi Plateau offers a green landscape of market gardens and windmills, framed by a mountain amphitheatre. It is a generous terroir where gastronomy and heritage meet at every turn.

Getting to and around Crete

Reaching the island

Crete is served by two international airports: Heraklion (east) and Chania (west). From the UK and US, direct or connecting flights reach both cities in around four hours, with higher frequencies in spring and autumn. For those who prefer a more contemplative arrival, the overnight ferry from Piraeus (Athens) crosses the Aegean in about nine hours. You fall asleep in your cabin and wake at sunrise, with the Cretan coastline taking shape on the horizon. The journey has already begun.

Getting around

The KTEL bus network covers the main towns and tourist sites at very reasonable fares. For exploring the southern coves or mountain villages, a hire car remains the most comfortable choice. The narrow, winding southern coastal roads call for unhurried driving, but reward every bend with a new view over the Libyan Sea.

If you prefer not to plan a thing, Kelifos arranges all your transfers. Accommodation is chosen for its location, stages calibrated so that journeys remain a pleasure, never a chore. You simply enjoy the passing landscapes.

Combining regions

Crete lends itself beautifully to a star itinerary from a single base or a circuit crossing the island from west to east. By visiting in October, you enjoy clear roads and golden light that elevates every vista. Whatever the format, our advisors compose a route tailored to your pace, your wishes and the season you choose.

When to visit Crete for an ideal stay

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons to discover Crete in the best conditions. From April to June, the island is carpeted with wildflowers, temperatures are mild and the light incomparably soft. It is the ideal time to wander without the summer crowds, enjoying still-quiet terraces and brilliantly green landscapes.

From September to November, the sea retains its summer warmth and the days remain long and sunny. The grape harvest is in full swing, the olive groves begin to bow under the weight of their fruit, and the atmosphere takes on a special serenity. Whatever the season you choose, our Kelifos advisors guide you towards the trip best suited to your wishes.

Island to island: extend your escape in Greece

Travellers captivated by Cretan charm often find in the other Greek islands a natural extension of their discovery. The Cyclades and their immaculate villages perched above the Aegean offer a radically different atmosphere, between shepherd paths and legendary sunsets. The Ionian Islands, greener still, captivate with their endless olive groves and emerald waters.

For those who wish to vary the pleasures, Crete also lends itself beautifully to cycling: quiet coastal roads, hinterland villages linked by winding lanes, and always that Cretan hospitality which transforms every pause into a moment of conviviality.