Greece

Crete is Greece's largest and most southerly island. Not far from the African coast, it still has a pleasant climate (not too hot) because of its mountains. A huge variety of wild flowers blanket the island, with pretty sea-daffodils, oleanders and jujube trees all abundant through spring and autumn. Ornithologists will appreciate the spectacular variety of birds. The White Mountains have golden eagles and lammergeyers. At lower altitudes you get bee-eaters, hoopoes, blue rock thrush, and golden oreols. Bring the binoculars!

Cretan culture goes back millennia, and was the foundation of Greece's elaborate mythology. The mysterious Minoans ruled the Aegean from here, their complicated palaces giving rise to the later myth of the Cretan labyrinth. Exquisite Minoan ceramics and jewellery, dating back almost to 3000 BC, can be seen in many towns. Successive invaders have left fine buildings behind, so that in a day you might come across a Turkish fortress, a lost Dorian city, and a Venetian mansion house.

Walking on Crete

We leave the touristy eastern part alone, and go walking among the unspoiled natural splendours of western Crete. Here, among the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) are spectacular gorges, friendly villages, and the flower-filled meadows of the Omalos Plain, 3000 feet above sea level. There's the famous Samaria Gorge, of course. But there's so much more!

You'll find deep cool gorges blanketed with flowers and aromatic herbs. Ancient mountain tracks, through landscapes of stunning natural beauty, used only by goats, shepherds and donkeys. You pass through vineyards, olive groves and orange orchards. You get a warm welcome wherever you go, with curious villagers crowding round wanting to know all about you, from how old you are to whether you have children.