Georgioupolis Beach Hotel

Kournas Lake is the only freshwater lake in Crete. The lake is in a beautiful landscape, lying in a valley among the hills, about 4 km from Georgioupolis in Chania Prefecture (west Crete). Kournas Lake is the ideal place for an afternoon walk or a daytrip nearby. Many people like to have an afternoon picnic there. The landscape is lovely and relaxing, whether you want to go for a walk in the countryside, swim or ride a pedalo on the lake. Lake Kournas is easily reached from Georgioupoli - you can take the country road from the village without going on the national road. Ask for Mathé’s taverna, pass it and continue to the lake.

Think about the old Venetian harbour of Chania as the gemstone on the most priceless jewel of western Crete, called old town of Chania. It will amaze you whenever you visit it. Chania Venetian harbour with its lighthouse is the trademark of the city of Chania.

The quay is the busiest part of the old town of Chania, filled with cafes, restaurants, bars, bakeries and other shops. 

However, the old Venetian harbour of Chania would have been just like another beautiful seaside tourist place, if there haven't been preserved its monuments since the Venetian rule period (1252-1645), the Ottoman rule (1645-1898 ), and the years of the Egyptian domination (1831-1841) that occurred during the Turkish period.

The old town of Rethymnon is one of the best-preserved towns of the Renaissance. Lying in the heart of modern Rethymnon, it combines the oriental features of the Ottoman Era with Renaissance-style Venetian architecture. A stroll through the alleys of the old town is like travelling backwards in time. In the old town there we meet the street markets of Arkadi and Antistaseos Streets. Above the old town we meet the imposing fortress of Fortezza that once protected Rethymnon. The picturesque narrow alleys housemany restaurants and taverns with traditional music.

Today the village Argyroupoli (27 km southwest of Rethymnon) is built amphitheatrically, almost covering the ancient city and including ancient and Venetian architectural material in many homes throughout the area. The upper and lower village are well preserved and many of the Venetian mansions are still residences. Inside and around the village are excavated parts of the ancient city, Roman remains, Venetian buildings with beautiful doorways and Byzantine churches.

One of the most attractive places in Argyroupoli are its springs, where the river Mouselas originates. Water gushes from a cave located in the chapel of the Agia Dynami. The water which flows into the chapel is said to be miraculous. Lush green and many small waterfalls dominate in the area. These sources once powered mills for grinding grain, which justifies the existence of water mills in the area.
Don’t miss it out to take your lunch or dinner in one of the taverns under the shadow of ancient plane trees. Try the local specialty, which is meat Antikristo, cooked for about 5 to 6 hours on the spit.

Elafonnisi(or elafonisi) is located in the southwest end of the prefecture of Chania, Crete, about 70km from the city of Chania.

Elafonisi is a place of an exceptional natural beauty, and it has been included in the Natura 2000 Protection Program. Someone could say that nature made its wonder in Elafonisi.

That's why Elafonissi beach is such a popular destination in the prefecture of Chania, and a top of the top things to do / excursion from all over Crete.

What characterizes the area of Elafonissi and makes it such an exotic place, are the little sand islets formed, the shallow turquoise waters of the sea, which at a point looks like a lagoon, and certainly the fine white sand, pinkish at several spots because of the crushed shell powder.

The whole area is an endless summer playground for young and old alike.

The gorge of Samaria is the second most visited tourist attraction on Crete (following the Minoan palace of Knossos) and by far the most popular walk. The Samaria gorge is the longest one in Europe. It is an area of stunning natural beauty. Rare flora and fauna have survived in this area and are protected. The mountains that have formed it are wild, high and steep. One will pass through forests of ancient cypresses and pines and descend between vertical cliffs. The path starts from Xyloskalo (near Omalos) in the White Mountains at an altitude of 1230 meters and comes to an end at the village of Agia Roumeli at the Libyan sea. Walking through the gorge usually takes anything from 3 to 5 hours (excluding the breaks).

For more details about the Samaria walk and the best way to  do it visit https://www.west-crete.com/samaria-gorge.htm

This winery is built in the east foothills of the White Mountains, in a fertile region known for its agricultural production of old, as the stone threshing floor and an ancient wine-press suggest. Their modern facilities of stone and wood are designed with respectful deference to Cretan architectural tradition. The vineyards are situated in the area called Alikambos at an altitude above 330 m. The cultivation processes are purely organic. Beside their own output, the winery cooperates with other new and dynamic wine-makers in the region. Together they produce red, white, rosé, and sweet wines both from international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenage Rouge but also from local varieties such as Malvazia, Kotsifali and Romeiko.

Visitors have the opportunity of experiencing a wine tasting in the suitably decorated room on the first floor from where one can also enjoy the magnificent view of White Mountains. (Visits can be arranged at the reception)

This village of Vrises (because there are two: one in the east close to Neapoli, and this one in the Vamos area with three ways to spell it: Vrysses, Vrisses and Vrises!) lies on the beginning of the road that leads down to Chora Sfakion, in the Apakoronas area (close to Georgioupolis). On the platia there are very big trees on both sides of the river, that leads into the sea at Georgioupolis.

There is not much to do in Vrysses but the rivers that flow through its centre make it a nice place to escape the summer heat, in the shade of the giant plane trees. Vrises is also famous for its excellent yoghurt.

In Vrises you can find all amenities like a bakery, a mini market, a super market, tavernas and kafenions, a bank and a petrol station. Around Vrises on the foot of the White Mountains you can find many traditional villages and Byzantine churches with frescoes.

The Museum was founded in 1967 and was inaugurated in September 1993. It is housed in a building which is a characteristic example of local traditional architecture and stands on two levels. The objects in it are displayed according to modern museological concepts, with explanatory texts, photographs, drawings and models, and new exhibits are added each year.

Petres Gorge is located 13km west of Rethymno and its mouth is situated on the beach of Episkopi. The river of the gorge is fed by the waters of Kollita Gorges and the surrounding area, covering almost half Rethymnon Prefecture. It has water all year round and forms an important wetland of Crete, especially at its mouth near Episkopi. The narrow part of it is quite small and is approximately 1km long. It starts near the village Karoti and despite its small length it is surely worth a visit. It is accessible by everyone and its ideal appropriate for swimming in the ponds formed along it, however fences have been installed to keep goats inside, thus it's a good idea to keep a cutter with you in case they are locked. There is only one point that needs a little attention, where there are large rocks and require some climbing.

Although Vamos is only 26 km south east of Chania town, the village remains untouched by tourism offering the typical view of an authentic Cretan village with two-storey stone houses, paved streets, renovated mansions and an ample square with plane trees. The village is surrounded by a wild scenery of mountains and lush greenery. In the wider region, there are many monasteries to visit, such as the Monastery of Agios Georgios, the 13th century church of Virgin Mary and the church of Agios Nikolaos in the square of the village.

The Sfakia region has about 2500 inhabitants, and is famous for its history of resistance against invaders, impressive nature, very hospitable people, splendid weather, quiet beaches with crystal clear sea water, good food and wine, and its marvellous opportunities to walk along the coast, hike in the mountains, and go through several of the gorges that cross the mountains. Sfakia, in the southwest of Crete, is Europe's southernmost point.

Preveli Beach in Crete is located about 35km south of Rethymnon and 10km east of Plakias. Preveli Beach, also known as Limni of Preveli (Preveli Lake) or Finikas (Phoenix), is located at the exit of the imposing Kourtaliotiko gorge, crossed bu the Great River. On the banks of the Grand River is a large colony of palm trees of Theophrastus, which gives the area a sense of African landscape. The river forms a large lake 1.5km long before it flows into the sea and has water all year round. You can walk along the river, under the shade of palm trees and other trees, and begin to ascend the beautiful gorge. The swimming in the river will certainly be a pleasant experience. At the exit of the river is formed a sandy beach with pebble bottom and very cool waters. In the eastern part of the beach there is a beautiful imposing rock, looking like a ship’s mast.