Beaches
Preveli: This is where the Kourtaliotiko gorge waterfalls end up, creating a unique landscape. It is one of the most beautiful beaches of Crete, featuring a river with small waterfalls and palm trees, a must see for everyone.
Plakias: Plakias beach is a coastline which receives a great number of visitors every year thanks to the beautiful sandy beach and the crystal clear water. The beach is well organized with umbrellas, sun beds and beach bars.
Souda: Situated at the end of a small valley and the outfall of the small river Finikas. It is a beautiful sandy beach with beautiful scenery and one of the places where you can see native Cretan palm trees.
Ammoudi: A unique scenery with a thick white sand and rocky seabed, ideal for diving and snorkeling, and the waters have a bright green color
Damnoni: A highly popular and well developed tourist resort, built at the end of a valley and protected by mountains and hills. Damnoni beach is sandy and has crystal clear blue waters. It is very well organised with several taverns and water-sports facilities.
Schinaria: is a small sandy beach with deep blue-green waters and for some this is one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete. The waters of Schinaria are crystal clear and the bottom of the sea is home to all sort of aquatic life.
Sights
Preveli monastery: The monastery of Preveli is located in one of the most beautiful places in Crete. Although the exact date it was erected is unknown, there are indications of the presence of a small monastery in the area since the 10th century AD. The Preveli monastery is actually two monasteries: the Kato Monastery, that is now abandoned, and the Piso Monastery of Theologos. This one is inhabited by monks and can be visited. In the monastery premises there is a museum that exhibits a collection of icons, ritual objects and relics.
Kourtaliotiko gorge: Receiving lately a big number of tourists due to its waterfalls, this extraordinary gorge is famous for the variety of Cretan birds and wild animals that live there and for its impressive natural scenery. The river’s water have to travel a long way under old bridges and over beautiful waterfalls before it can reach the sea and the palm trees of Preveli beach.
Samaria gorge: 2 hours drive away from Plakias area, you can find the most famous gorge of Crete and one of the greatest in Europe. It has been declared a National Park since 1962 and more than 300.000 people visit it every year to admire it’s unique beauty and variety of sceneries. It is home to the endangered species Kri-Kri, a wild goat that can only be found in Crete and almost 450 species of the Cretan flora.
Phaistos palace: Phaistos is located in the south of Crete, 62km from Heraklion and it used to be not only one of the most important centers of Minoan Civilization but also the most wealthy and powerful city southern Crete during that period. The city was built on a hill with the Palace over-watching the plains of Messara. The Phaistos Palace was the second largest Minoan Palace after Knossos and it was the palace of Radamanthis, brother of King Minos. It was first built in 2000BC but was destroyed and rebuilt in 1700BC.
Knossos palace: The Minoan Palace of Knossos is located 5km southeast of Heraklion in an area inhabited continuously since the Neolithic Age, 9000 years ago. During the Bronze Age, Knossos became the capital of the Minoan Civilization and the base of King Minos himself. Knossos Palace is the absolute symbol of the Minoans and a visit to the site will give you the chance to see a rich strata of ruins, wall paintings and frescos that offer a vivid image of the grandeur and cultural richness of the Minoan Civilization.
Arkadi monastery: The Holy Monastery of Arkadi is the most historic monastery of Crete, which is directly connected with the struggle of the Cretan people for freedom. During the Cretan Revolution of 1866 the monastery was besieged by a large Ottoman force and after a fierce battle and given the captivity, the remaining defendants were blown up by igniting the gunpowder depot. UNESCO has declared Arkadi a European Monument of Freedom.
