Excursions are organised from the area of Chania to the longest gorge of Europe, Samaria Gorge, the unique sandy beach of Elafonisi, Gramvousa island and Balos lagoon, the Botanical Park on the way to Omalos/Samaria Gorge, the Knossos Palace near Heraklion and even to Santorini thorugh Heraklion port and Rethymno port.
Crete has a population of about 600,000 people in four areas; Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Lassithi (west to east). Crete has 1,046.4 km long coastline, 155 km of which are sandy beaches! The history of Crete dates back well over 4,000 years and it has been labeled the birthplace of civilization. Sir Arthur Evans excavated the Minoan site of Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement circa 3000 BC. The Palace of Knossos is the finest surviving example of Minoan architecture.
Crete is famous for its flora and fauna. The Samaria Gorge in the Chania district is the longest in Europe and many endangered species live there (Kri-Kri, Lammergeier). There are a few excellent sandy beaches like Elafonisi, Balos, Falassarna to the west, palm beach Vai to the east, and Preveli, Skinaria, Triopetra to the south of Rethymno.
Cretan tradition is hard to be found in the tourist resorts of the island. You have to travel on the small villages on the slopes of the White Mountains, Psiloritis and Diktie. Here people continue to live with their customs so they keep most of the cretan traditions alive.
