Crete Explorer 5-day Self-Drive Package
This Crete self drive vacation is a tailor made vacation following a carefully crafted itinerary around some of the island’s most stunning, ancient archaeological sites, traditional villages and mountain landscapes. This is only a suggested itinerary and we can adapt it according to whether you want more time with Minoan sites or mountain heritage, coastal or central island getaways. Moving from one small hotel or guesthouse to another enables you to cover some good ground on this, Greece’s largest island.
World renowned Minoan sites on this itinerary include Knossos, just south of the capital Heraklion, which boasts a collection of ancient palaces; Gournia, an excavated Minoan town with about sixty houses around a central palace and Phaistos, a truly breathtaking site on a hilltop facing the Libyan Sea. Mountains are what many people seek out on Crete, however, with the Idi Range, Mount Kedros, the Dikti Range and Mount Thripti all omnipresent. You will have time in the foothills of Mount Ida, the highest on the island at 2,456m and for a walk in Rouvas Gorge.
Of course, you can’t visit Crete without time at some of its stunning beaches and so we include the likes of Preveli, Almiros or Rethymnon on your much needed ‘chill out by the sea’ days. Crete is also very much about taking it easy, after all, especially if you are traveling with children in which case just let us know and, with our expert local knowledge, we can create the perfect Cretan itinerary to suit the ages and interests of your group.
After breakfast head to Chania. Chania in Crete is located on the westernmost side of the island. Although some places have developed in tourist resorts, most beaches and villages in Chania keep their authentic style. The northern side is more developed and lined up with luxurious tourist resorts and organized beaches. This is where the most popular beach villages of Chania are found. On the contrary, the southern side is secluded and more traditional, with small seaside villages and unorganized beaches.