Why Crete is a walker’s paradise

Crete is the biggest island in the Greek archipelago, lying south of the Aegean Sea. It has high mountainous regions with snow on their peaks, contrasting vividly with an interior that is lush and green. With plenty of rocky paths, gorges and caves, fabulous walking is waiting on the beautiful island of Crete.

A combination of mild winters, a general temperate climate, rain accompanied with plenty of crystal blue skies and sunshine, ensure Crete is amongst the greenest places in the whole Mediterranean area.

There are three distinct mountain regions on the island, each with its own unique personality. Spring is an ideal time to visit Crete and walk through the wild flower covered meadows and along little used tracks. In fact the island is home to 160 unique species of plant. It also produces a rich variety of indigenous herbs, which are used in cooking and medicinal preparations.

The summers on Crete can be hot and dry, particularly on the southern shores, and therefore not suitable for hiking any distance. So if you are intending on a walking holiday on Crete, the cooler months of autumn and spring are ideal.

Hiking is wonderfully diverse on Crete, ranging from easy wandering through villages on mostly flat terrain, to more challenging full-day efforts through gorges and over rugged mountainsides.

The island has a large network of ancient shepherd’s trails that you can follow.  It is possible to walk for hours without seeing anybody as some parts of the island are completely wild and hardly ever visited by anyone except the occasional local shepherd or hunter.

The friendliness of the Cretans help make the island such a great holiday destination and at the end of a tiring day’s walk, finding a great taverna to sample Greek’s unique cuisine washed down with local amber wine, shouldn’t be difficult.