Crete

Crete, Greece’s biggest island, is a world in itself, brimming with myth and history. It was here that the very first civilisation in Europe flourished, contemporary with ancient Egypt. We visit ancient sites, stunning landscapes, as well as small villages and beaches off the beaten track.

Our tour begins in Heraklion, the island's capital and home to one of Greece's finest archaeological museums, containing extraordinarily beautiful objects and frescoes dating back well over three thousand years. From Heraklion we visit mythical Knossos, home of the Minotaur, before making for the wild and dramatic south coast. We stay two nights in a comfortable hotel made up of charmingly restored village houses, where we have time to relax, visit remote beaches and walk along the coast. We then make for the heart of the island, staying overnight in a family-fun guesthouse in the Amari valley, in the magnificent shadow of Mount Ida, Crete's highest mountain. Here, along with enjoying the wonderful Cretan cuisine, we will be treated to a performance of the island's traditional music. Depending on the season, we also go flower-hunting on Ida's lower reaches. The next day, after a visit to a local potter and a Venetia-era monastery, we drive on for a walking tour of the charming town of Rethymno, before arriving in Chania, our destination for the final two nights. Here, in the island's second (and prettiest) town, we enjoy the fine Venetian and Ottoman architecture, as well as the stunning new archaeological museum. If time permits, we drive out to one of the lovely beaches in the west of the island. Your outgoing flight will depart from Chania, saving the drive back to Heraklion.

Recommended time to visit: March-June, September-November