City: Crete
Top Things to do in Crete
Top Hotels in Crete
- 1. Candia Park Village
- 2. Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
- 3. Creta Maris Beach Resort
- 4. Mitsis Laguna Resort & Spa
- 5. Kiani Beach Resort Family All Inclusive
- 6. Stella Palace Resort & Spa
- 7. Angela Studios & Apartments
- 8. Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection
- 9. Village Heights Resort
- 10. Asterion Suites & Spa
Top 9 Mountains in Crete, Greece
Crete (Greek: Κρήτη, Kríti ['kriti]; Ancient Greek: Κρήτη, Krḗtē) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Corsica. Crete and a number of surrounding islands and islets constitute the region of Crete (Greek: Περιφέρεια Κρήτης), one of the 13 top-level administrative units of Greece. The capital and the largest city is Heraklion. As of 2011, the region had a population of 623,065.
Restaurants in Crete
1. White Mountains (Lefka Ori)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 67 reviews
Reviewed By trailscouting - Greece, null
Location Western Kreta (Crete) 60 kilometers in length, from west to the east and 38 from north to south occupy most of the Chania and part of Rethymnon perfectures. The White Mountains, or Lefka Ori, or even Madares, as called by locals, deriving from the ancient word "madaros" that means deserted - barren! How better one could describe this huge massif, the largest on the island and its highest summit of Pachnes (2.453 m). The heart of this imposing range includes the Mountain Desert, where more than fifty peaks named Sori (piles), reminding of cones, exceed the altitude of 2.000 m. Dolines, reminding of upturned cones are formed at the foot of Sori peaks. This creepy and haunting landscape is a unique geological formation in the entire northern hemisphere. Hiking in the White Mountains requires fitness, experience and a good sense of orientation.
2. Pachnes
3. Thripti Mountain-Afentis Stavromenos
4. Mount Ida
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 79 reviews
Reviewed By koutsioumpas - Rethymnon, Greece
The highest mountain of Crete offers a great view from the summit at 2456m. I started from migeros plataeu and follow a well made stone path after 4 hours I reached the top! Great destination for hiking lovers. Mind that until late of May the mountais has snow so be carefull. The ascent is difficult in July and August because of high temperetures.
5. Agion Panton Faneromenis Gorge
6. Gorge of Mili
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 191 reviews
Reviewed By GabriellaJR - Copenhagen, Denmark
The Gorge of Mili is definitely worth the visit - deserted houses, stunning landscape, and a good hiking track are attractive indeed. Recently, several wooden bridges have been affected by a landslide, so you need to be a bit "creative" as to find your ways or crossings. It is not so easy though to find the way back down to the village/sea as the few signs provided are misleading or simply stop. Use a virtual map or your sense of orientation :).
7. Psiloritis Mountain
8. Summit of Gingilos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By branto00 - Olomouc, Czech Republic
Definitely one of the most beautiful trips in Crete. You will feel like in the Alps. The trail starts at the Xyloskala restaurant (go to Omalos, then about 4 km straight until the road ends), where you can park for free (right at the restaurant for 5 euros), so in the same place where starts a very popular trip through Samaria gorge. Whats great, unlike Samaria Gorge, Gingilos is not much attended (I only met one person for the whole 5 hour hike). Although Gingilos is half a kilometer lower than Mount Ida (the highest mountain of Crete), the feeling is quite the opposite (Mount Ida is an easy peasy hike compared to Gingilos). For those who are afraid of heights (like me), it can be difficult at times, but it is definitely worth it. The first part of the trip is relatively steep but simple. Then the trail is more straightforward, but it is necessary to watch out for every step, because there is a risk of falling into Samaria gorge (I went a few hours after the earthquake, so it was necessary to watch every step from the beginning because there were many rocks on the trail, but maybe that will change). After about an hour and a half after the start you arrive at a place with tanks of water, but they were overgrown with algae, so it is not safe for drinking, maybe only for goats (but you can drink directly from a hose from which water flows slowly). After another half hour you get to the saddle, where you have a beautiful view of the other side of Crete for the first time. From now on, the road becomes less visible. Fortunately, tourists complement the official green and yellow signs sprayed on the stones with small stone towers (small stones stacked on top of each other), so you can also be oriented by them. From the saddle it is about an hour to the top. After climbing to the top of the mountain, you come across a hill of stones. But this is a fake peak (as told me the only tourist I met). The actual peak of Gingilos is about 500 m away. Although actual peak is not much higher than fake peak, access to it is relatively very difficult and poorly marked, it is necessary to climb the stones, although it is not necessary to use an equipment, I highly recommend to pay close attention to every move (with broken leg you would go down very badly). Then you will reach the summit, which is basically just an iron rod pushed into the ground and top book. The view from the top is great but it is all the way. On the way back I could not find the way from the right peak to the fake peak, I had to go back several times, marking is really bad and probably made so that it is visible only when going up (so try to remember the way when you are going up). If you see that fog or bad weather is approaching, go back immediately, because in poor visibility you do not have a chance to find a route at the top of the trail (it is only from the saddle that you can recognize the trail itself). I definitely recommend taking 2 or more liters of water (I took 1 liter and a half and it was not enough), sunscreen, hat, good shoes, food, camera and probably dont go alone (as I did). It took me up 2 and a half hours and down an hour and a half, so it's a half day trip. I would probably not recommend it to children, seniors and people without a certain physical condition, but if you go slowly, it's probably OK. However, the terrain is not quite simple and someone might be afraid because the trail is high above the gorge and the final kilometer is something between walking and climbing, so have that in mind. Anyway, a great trip for any mountain lover which deserves much more attention, but, on the other hand, it is good that most people goes to Samaria gorge and not here.
