CRETE TRAVEL GUIDE

Crete Travel Guide
Photographing Military Installations
10 Greek authorities are extremely sensitive on issues
of national security, as a group of British plane-spotters
discovered in 2002, when they were arrested and
convicted of espionage after taking photographs of Greek
Air Force warplanes. Do not take photographs of military
airfields (which often adjoin civil airports), army bases or
radar installations (which are dotted around Crete’s
coasts and mountains), or naval vessels (even in civil
harbours), or you are likely to be charged with spying.
Prohibited sites are signposted with the symbol of a
camera barred by a red stripe.
Special Interest Holidays
1 Archaeology
The ancient palace sites and ruined cities of Minoan
and Hellenistic Crete can be confusing without a guide.
Escorted tours featuring in-depth exploration of Knosos
and other sites, with guest experts and slide shows, are
offered by several companies.
2
Wildlife and Ornithology
The best times to seek out Crete’s people-shy
animals are spring and autumn, when specialist
eco-tourism operators offer wildlife and walking holidays
in Sfakia and the Mt Idi range.
3
Walking and Hiking
Crete’s highest mountains offer some of Europe’s
most inspiring wilderness walking, but can be lethal to
inexperienced or lone walkers. Small group treks led by
experienced guides can be safer.
4 Riding
Pony or mule-riding expeditions through the Cretan
countryside and into the Lefka Ori are a new
development.
5 Cycling
A number of specialist
companies offer
accompanied cycling
holidays in Crete, usually in
spring and autumn, when it’s
not too hot for comfort, with
most of your luggage
travelling ahead of you by minibus each day and back-up
transport available if the going gets too tough.
6 Painting
Spring is the most popular time for painting holidays
in Crete, when the clear light and multicoloured blaze of
wild flowers provide inspirational subject matter. Some
painting holidays can be combined with tours of
archaeological sites and wildlife areas.
7
Music and Dance
Cretans are justifiably proud of their rich, living
heritage of traditional music and dance, and eager to
share it with visitors. A growing number of holidays,
usually with accommodation in village homes, enable
you to learn some of the complicated dances.
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8 Windsurfing
The strong summer
breezes which spring up
most afternoons make
Cretan coasts ideal for
windsurfing. Most major tour
operators offer packages
with windsurfing coaching at
major resorts such as Georgioupoli and Chersonisos.
9 Diving
Scuba diving is another burgeoning pastime in Crete.
Many wrecks lie in shallow waters not far offshore, and
visibility is excellent. Most ancient shipwrecks are
off-limits to divers, but there are plenty of wartime
wrecks to explore.
10
Cruising and
Island-Hopping
Cruise vessels from a
number of major cruise lines
call at Cretan ports including
Chania and Rethymno as part
of itineraries which also
include ports of call on the
mainland and other islands. Multi-centre island hopping
holidays including a stay in Crete are also offered by
some specialist companies.
Budget Ideas
1
Off-Season Travel
The cost of living rockets from mid-June to early
September. Accommodation, air fares to Crete, and car
and scooter rental are lower in spring and autumn. The
best time of all for a budget visit is early October, when
the sea is warm and there is still plenty of sun but few
visitors.
Cheap Flights and
Ferries
Flying to Athens, then
travelling on to Crete by ferry
can be cheaper than flying
direct to Crete. At least four
scheduled airlines fly daily to
Athens from London alone,
and there are also charter flights in summer, so fares are
competitive. If coming from outside Europe, look for a
cheap fare to London and a connecting flight to Athens
or Crete.
3 Discounts
The longer you intend to stay in one place, the
cheaper your room will be. Pensions and hotels usually
offer a 10 per cent discount for three nights or more,
and you may get an even better rate if staying for several
weeks. Most museums and archaeological sites offer
cheap admission for students and school pupils.
4
Youth Hostels
There are youth hostels in Irakleio, Chersonisos,
Rethymno, Siteia and Plakias, with dormitory beds (for
around one-third the cost of a cheap room) and basic
kitchen facilities.
2
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Practical Info