Off the Beaten Track
For a really off the beaten track destination on your Crete holidays, look no further than Horafakia, close to Chania, on the western end of the island. This tiny traditional beauty would be very easy to overlook on your search for holidays to Crete, however its well worth making the effort to explore exactly what it has to offer, which might at first glance seem like not much.
However if you are seeking a taste of the ‘real’ Greece in some of the most beautiful surroundings that this island has to offer, then it’s definitely the place for you. Life here is all about chilling out and relaxing, slowing down the pace of life and simply taking each moment as it comes.
You have everything you need for a traditional Crete holiday right here in Horafakia; it has a bakery and mini-market for provisions and a few authentic tavernas with extremely welcoming hosts ensuring you have a truly Greek experience from start to finish.
The main attraction on Horafakia holidays has to be the beaches. Tersana Bay is just a fifteen minute walk away from the village centre and is definitely worth making the effort to get to. Relax on pure white sands and cool off in the crystal clear waters, before enjoying refreshments at the beachside taverna.
For a change of scenery, and a breathtaking one at that, head over to Stavros and its beautiful horse shoe shaped bay, and if you think it looks familiar then it probably does as this is where Hollywood epic Zorba the Greek was filmed. You can lie on the very sands where Antony Quinn and Alan Bates enthusiastically danced the Sirtaki in the films closing scenes. There are a few sophisticated cafes and bars here too, so why not stay a while and watch the sun set as you linger over a refreshing glass of wine.