It was at Matala that Joni Mitchell met Cary. She wrote a song about him later (with the same name), calling him “a mean old daddy” and referenced the Matala Moon. She stayed in a cave on the beach for while but soon missed the comforts of home. Visiting the Matala Caves The freedom […]
Preveli Beach & Palm Grove
These indigenous palms love Preveli Beach. They’ve packed themselves together densely to form a magical shaded forest lining the inside of the gorge and river. The little river leads right into the sea on a sandy beach. Although the palm trees aren’t really actually on the beach itself, you’ll still find plenty of shade to enjoy […]
Lake Kournas
After exploring the west of Crete, it was time to move to the quieter east of this Greek island. We set our sights on Preveli Beach in the south. Preveli is well-known for its unique palm forest growing next to a river that runs into the sea. The drive from Chania in the north to Preveli in the […]
Little Loutro
Loutro is one of the smallest seaside towns I’ve ever seen. Shut off from the rest of the island’s road network, this town can only be reached by boat or foot. When you first see Loutro from the ferry, the white buildings beam out like a little oasis against the rugged mountains. Lit by the evening sun, the late-summer […]
Staying at Chora Sfakia
Chora Sfakia really is beautiful, definitely one of my favourite stop-overs. You’ll find this at a gem of a spot in the south of Crete, the largest Greek island. Usually this little town is sheltered from wind by the surrounding sea cliffs. The landscape has also created an excellent little swimming bay that’s perfect for daily swims. […]
Hiking to Beautiful Balos
Balos is worth visiting, even if only for a day. There are a few different ways that you can get to Balos. You can go on foot, by vehicle or ferry. We ended up doing all three Hiking to Balos Because our car rental insurance didn’t cover incidents that might happen when driving on sand roads, […]
The Best Sunset Beach on Crete
In my post about the beautiful Elafonissi beach and lagoon, I mentioned that Falassarna is the perfect spot for sun-downers. Situated on the western part of the island, the sun sets over the wide expanse of the sea. What to Eat and Do There is a massive sandy parking area behind the beach. Right nearby […]
Chrysoskalitissa Monastery
The Chrysoskalitissa Monastery is perched on a high rock, about 53 meters above the sea, offering expansive views. It’s only a 5-minute drive from Aspri Limni, the White Lake beach. It is also a good place for a quick spot on the way to Elafonissi Lagoon. The history of the place points to a story in […]
Aspri Limni / White Lake Beach
Aspri Limni is situated on the west coast of Crete, just north of the popular Elafonissi Lagoon. It’s worth a stop-over if you’re travelling south to Elafonissi. The name of this beach means “White Lake”, probably so called because of the salt that collects and dries around it. The salt gathers on the sharp rocks that form […]
Swimming at Elafonisi
One of the most popular beaches in Crete, is Elafonisi. It gets quite busy, but there is a lot of beach space for everyone to spread out. If you enjoy walking, there’s a lot to explore. If your legs are wrecked from hiking Samaria Gorge, you also don’t need to walk very far to get a […]