Mountaineering - Walking
Crete and particularly the prefecture of Rethymno invites the visitor to
not only enjoy the sea and the infrastructure of organised tourist resorts, but also to explore the multifarious beauties of the countryside and the mountains, where he can come into closer contact with the every-day-life of the locals in the villages.
While you enjoy the landscape, which includes harsh and remote areas as well as lush green, cultivated areas, you will also come to know the mountains and gorges and the inhabitants of isolated and often almost deserted villages. You will be given the opportunity to follow the trail of the history and the civilisation of the area at archaeological sites, historical monasteries, churches and settlements.
Furthermore, the grandeur of nature becomes obvious through the aromatic herbs and wild flowers, which grow prolifically on Crete.
- The European Path E4, which starts at the Pyrenees and continues through Europe and Greece, runs through Crete from the village of Kasteli /Kisamos to the village of Zakros. The adventurous visitor, who is attracted by mountaineering and walking, has the opportunity to follow this path through the Prefecture of Rethymno. We would like to describe a few of the most distinctive and sensational walking tours below:
- Kallikratis - Argyroupoli: It will take you approximately 5 hours to cover the distance of 16 km.
- Argyroupoli - Angouseliana: The distance of 23km can be covered in approximately 8 hours and is easy to walk.
- Spili - Gerakari: The total length of this tour, which will lead you across Mount Kedros and therefore includes a few difficulties, is 18,5km, a distance which can be covered in approximately 8 hours.
Mountain Bike
Rethymno provides one of the more interesting opportunities for tourists and locals to enjoy Cretan nature due to the fact that the countryside is only a small distance from the town and can be reached within a very short time. Beautiful provincial roads leading through lush vegetation with aromatic herbs and wild flowers invite the aficionado of mountain biking to experience this unique landscape. You can either participate in organised biking tours, where the routes are decided on, or you can rent a bike and choose an individual route of your own preference simply by following the map.
Water sports
Rethymno is situated between two seas, the Cretan and the Libyan Sea. This position has played an important role with regard to the development of a strong relationship between the locals and the sea. Genuine islanders that they are, the people living in coastal villages at least, love the wet element, which has become part of their lives either professionally or as a hobby. They became familiar with the secrets of the sea, which have been passed on from generation to generation, and have managed to combine entertainment and relaxation in this relationship. The most obvious was to take advantage of the abundant possibilities of the sea and to develop various activities, which both the locals and the visitors, who also enjoy the sea, to take pleasure in. Most of the organised beaches of Rethymno offer the opportunity of enjoying sensational activities such as water skiing, wind surfing, sea parachuting and many others.
One can also take part in diving excursions, which various diving centres offer, or take diving lessons and experience the unique underwater
world of our seas.
