Heavenly Crete

Crete, at the southern end of Europe, is one of the Mediterranean's most extraordinary islands, with a history spanning five millennia and landscapes that are beyond description. For decades it has been appreciated as a premier seaside destination with its mosaic of turquoise lagoons, secluded coves, sandy beaches, and rocky headlands washed by waters that shift from deep indigo to brilliant emerald. But it's only in recent years that Crete's stunning mountain and coastal landscapes have been discovered by hikers.

The Heavenly Crete Tour takes you to the most memorable places the island has to offer. We start from the elemental world of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) of western Crete, a range that rises to 2,453 m and dominates the landscape with high karst desert of bare white limestone, sparse vegetation, and extraordinary isolation. Walking here, with the Lybian Sea shimmering in the distance feels like being in another world.

We explore charming seaside villages only accessible by foot or boat, places whose slow-paced lifestyle has endured for centuries; their white-washed buildings, their laidback atmosphere and their turquoise waters will simply blow your mind. We descend Europe's longest gorge, the Samaria Gorge, where you will hike through three different climatic zones in one day, and we will climb a remote peak in Crete's interior from which the island of Gavdos, Europe's southernmost point, appears on the horizon.

And if the mountain and gorge hikes were not enough, we are going to walk to heavenly lagoons of Balos and Elafonisi, where phrygana scrubland descends into Caribbean-like water and one's gaze sweeps uninterrupted towards the blue horizon.

For those seeking far more than a beach holiday, Crete offers one of Europe's most rewarding hiking destinations—an island where dramatic landscapes, ancient culture, and legendary hospitality come together to create memories that last a lifetime.