Crete - Excursions 

There’s certainly something for everyone in Crete!  Greece’s biggest island was home to Europe’s earliest civilisation – the Minoans.  Now it’s one of Europe’s top tourist destinations with such a huge variety of countryside, scenery, development and history, that you could spend months here without discovering all there is to enjoy on Crete.

Heraklion & Knossos
The island’s capital is one of the biggest cities in Greece.  Built round a Venetian harbour, the heart of the old walled city is a maze of narrow streets, markets, sophisticated shopping and quaint old corner shops.  The island’s Christian heritage has survived the Ottoman occupation and churches such as the Church of St Titus dominate the city.

The most famous archaeological landmark is the 4000 year old Palace of Knossos, its 1400 rooms once the home of King Minos and his minotaur, famously slewn by Theseus and his ball of string.  Creatively restored, the Palace gives a fascinating insight in the opulent lifestyle of the ancient Minoans.

The archaeological museum in Heraklion is very impressive with many of the treasures of Knossos and other sites on display.

West Crete
Our popular West Crete excursion visits first Souda Bay, the largest natural bay in the Mediterranean.  We visit the war cemetery here, a memorial to the fierce fighting of the battle of Crete in WW2.

We stop for a lunch break in Chania in the pretty harbour area with time to wander through the narrow cobbled streets with shops famous for leather goods.  Travelling on we reach Rethymnon, another delightful seaside town with a Venetian heritage, where the ruined fortress now contains a mosque reminding us of the period of Ottoman occupation.

South Crete
The southern part of Crete includes such treasures as the Roman town of Gortys where the most significant restored building is the Basilica of St Titus, one of the earliest Christian Churches on the island.  Also included is Phaistos, another Minoan Palace, preferred by purists to Knossos as it has been restored much more sympathetically.  The tour also visits Matala, a pretty seaside village with caves in the cliffs last occupied as recently as the sixties by a commune of hippies!

Cretan Countryside
Local villages near to Bali tell the story of Crete’s struggle for freedom and survival.  This coach tour takes in some of these very pretty villages and their industries including pottery, olive presses, icon painting.  The Arkadi Monastery you will visit is considered a monument to Crete’s freedom fighters down the ages.

The Samaria Gorge
One of the most spectacular walks is the Samaria Gorge, one of the biggest gorges in Europe.  With walls as high as 500 metres in places, the width varies from 150 metres down to just 3 metres and the full trek takes 4-5 hours within a full day’s excursion.

The Imbros Gorge
The 7km Imbros Gorge is a superb walking day out.  The scenic drive takes you to the southern part of the island, via Rethymnon and the three hour walk gives time to admire the unusual flowers and herbs and enjoy the tavernas at the start and end of the gorge.

Santorini by cruise ship
Experience a real taste of cruising with breakfast on board on the outwards journey and dinner on the return.  In Santorini you have time to explore some of the island, climbing up to Fira on foot (587 steps!), by cable car, or for those with a spirit of adventure, by donkey!  Sailing into Santorini’s caldera on a cruise ship is the stuff of millionaire dreams – come and live like one for a day! There is a quicker boat that can get you to Santorini ask David Fairbairn

Jeep safari
Our jeep safari makes an unforgettable day out in the majestic mountain heartland of Crete.  Climb up to the heights of Ida mountain, off road and possibly within the snow line early in the season, to visit the Idean Andon cave, allegedly the birthplace of Zeus.


Aquasplash Water Park
A day among the slides, waterfalls and fountains of Aquasplash at Hersonissos.  Huge fun for all children from 3 to 93!

Boat trips
Departing from Bali village centre, our leisurely boat trip stops at the sea caves used by pirates of old, Kamarola Beach for a swim, the pretty village of Panormo for lunch and another swimming stop at Afrato on the return. You may be lucky enough to see a turtle.

Cretan Evening
An evening of Greek mezes, folk dancing and local raki, all in the environment of a restored traditional Greek village.

Other activities
If you’re still looking for things to do, there’s a brand new golf course recently opened, tennis courts in a nearly hotel in Bali and dozens of attractive villages waiting to be explored by hire car or on foot.  The nearby village of Fodele was the birthplace of Theotokopoulos Domenikos, better known as the artist El Greco whose unique style combined the disciplines of Cretan icon painting with Venetian and Spanish influences.