Walking the Samaria Gorge is an incredible experience but one that should be considered carefully. It generally takes between 4 – 6 hours to walk the gorge. It should not be attempted by anyone with back or knee problems, or anyone who is generally very unfit. If you get into the trouble in the gorge, the only way out is on the back of a donkey with a large red cross on its side! Having said that, I have had active elderly people manage the walk with ease, and teenagers who have made very hard work of the gorge. Almost everyone, including myself (unfit as I am) that I know who has walked Samaria, has been very glad that they experienced the beauty of the gorge and very achy for a number of days afterwards.

This is a day trip to Elafonissi Beach and Island that takes you on one of my favourite drives on Crete. You will see many different terrains as you head west towards Kastelli-Kissamos and then turn south to head down to the south west corner of the island and the incredibly beautiful beach at Elafonissi.There is stunning scenery along the route which takes you through the hills, passing along the top of the Topolia Gorge.

This is a popular excursion for those who do not have a car but would like to see a Roman Archaeogical site, a Venetian town and port, a beautiful and historic mountain village with waterfalls, a riverside village famed for its yoghurt, honey, and cheese, and the only fresh water lake on Crete.

A knowledgeable guide will take you on a trip to see some traditional Cretan village hidden behind the tourist façade. The tour takes you through picturesque landscapes and villages in the heart of the Apokoronas area where the majority of the Villas Crete Holidays villas and apartments are located.

This delightful excursion takes you by coach to the port of Kissamos-Kastelli where you board a boat which takes about 1 hour to cross the bay of Kissamos, passing the ancient shipyards of Tarsanas, to the incomparable Balos Lagoon. (All other trips to Gramvousa go to Balos in the afternoon, we go in the morning in order to avoid the crowds). Once at Balos the boat drops anchor just off the shore and you are ferried in a small boat to the pristine beach, where you are free to spend the next 3 hours relaxing. There is no shade on Balos beach but umbrellas are available for rent on the boat (but get yours early as they are limited). The crystal clear jade waters and pale white sand at Balos Lagoon even enticed Prince Charles and Princess Diana to swim here whilst on their honeymoon aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia. Balos today is part of a nature reserve and is an important habitat for birds, sea turtles, and the Mediterranean seal.