Premium Hotel Paralos Lifestyle Beach (Adults only)

Visit the famous historic palace of Knossos and its many frescoes, the ancient leper island of Spinalonga, wander through the maze of narrow streets of Rethymnon and explore the Roman ruins of Gortyne: theatres, temples and thermal baths.

Healthy, tasty cuisine: dakos, a kind of Greek-style bruschetta, gyros and souvlaki (grilled meat kebabs), different mezés for aperitifs (olives, humus, dips with tashi or halloumi).

Set off by bike to discover the Lassithi plateau, the rural heart of Crete, and pedal through 5,000 stone, steel and canvas windmills and orchards of pear, almond, apple, olive and cherry trees.

Take a hike through the superb Samaria Gorge, past geological wonders, abandoned churches and carpets of wildflowers, and if you're lucky you'll spot a kri-kri, the Cretan wild goat.