| The island of Crete, like many Greek islands, | | | | long stretch of white sandy beach that runs along |
| attracts thousands of visitors to its resorts and | | | | one side of a lagoon island. This really is a "get |
| beaches throughout the summer. Fine, warm | | | | away from it all" location and a lovely place to |
| weather, high quality hotels, cultural attractions | | | | spend a relaxing day, or evening, watching the |
| and great coastal holiday locations all contribute to | | | | sun go down. |
| a perfect offering for tourists seeking a place | | | | Other places not to miss on Crete include the |
| that delivers on all fronts. Crete has remote | | | | island's greatest Minoan Palace at Knossos, though |
| locations for those that prefer a peaceful and | | | | by many to be the centre of Minoan civilization |
| relaxing retreat, while those looking for a little | | | | which ruled the island 4,500 years ago. The |
| more excitement have the option of basing | | | | Knossos discovery was unearth in 1900 by the |
| themselves in the city of Chania, with all its | | | | British archaeologist Arthur Evans and is open all |
| events and dynamic nightlife. | | | | year round to visitors. |
| One angle of tourism that may have changed | | | | Another area to be discovered in the early 1900's |
| forever for places like Crete is their willingness to | | | | is Gournia, a place that is now though to be the |
| promote themselves more widely and more | | | | best preserved example of Minoan culture |
| actively. Perhaps in the past they have willing to | | | | anywhere. The village, once home to thousands |
| leave that marketing to the tour operators who | | | | of people and the location of the palace, smaller |
| booked up the flights, hotels and villas in advance | | | | houses and theatre area can be clearly seen |
| to make up their package offerings, but now the | | | | today. |
| resorts are quite prepared to take some control | | | | Walkers love Crete and one of the most obvious |
| of their own destiny. With more and more people | | | | and crowded walks is the well known Samaria |
| arranging holidays in a self-service fashion by | | | | Gorge trek, where walkers start inland early in |
| booking cheap flights and renting villas themselves, | | | | the day and work their way towards the coast |
| the resorts now have a ready market of | | | | along a well-trodden, but nonetheless spectacular |
| potential customers they can target. | | | | route of around 10 miles, that narrows significantly |
| This summer, events like the Chania Festival, | | | | in places and others many stunning vistas. The |
| which runs for six weeks during July and August | | | | Samaria Gorge walk ends in a boat trip, due to |
| has been widely advertised. The Nea Hora beach | | | | the location of the arrival point on the coast which |
| is perfect for families with safe bathing on a wide | | | | cannot be reached by vehicles. |
| white sandy stretch of coast not too far from | | | | For those who want a more isolated walking |
| the city. | | | | experience there are other gorges on Crete, such |
| If the beaches of Chania itself are a little too | | | | as Imbros where the crowds are not so likely. |
| crowded or commercial, the beach at Elafonisi in | | | | There are opportunities to walk in areas |
| the far south-west corner of Crete, makes a | | | | unaffected by tourism and be able to experience |
| perfect alternative. Here there is almost nothing | | | | the more traditional Crete enjoyed by its |
| bar fantastic scenery, clear blue waters, and a | | | | residents. |