Historically bound with Crete, these islands surround it like ‘guardian angels’, adorned with innumerable natural beauties and covered by a mythical web. Those are the unknown, yet so intimate islands of Crete… Distant, enchanting, with a heavy air coming from the countries of the East, with a scent one can never forget. They appear sometimes steep and isolated, sometimes serene, embraced in a sweet light. Those are the islands of Crete!!

Those islands are not known to the most of the visitors; however, they are so familiar to those seeking to discover forgotten, mysterious worlds!

Sailing along the coasts of Crete will certainly be an experience, as well as the key to open this gate of mystery and for your own eyes to unveil the majestic beauty of those islands!!

There are 34 islets along the coasts of Crete, besides the small skerries. The most sizeable among those islands are Gavdos, Dia, Spinalonga, and Gaidouronissi. Among those, only Gavdos is sparsely, yet permanently inhabited.

There are some more, smaller islands: Theodorou or Souda, in the bay of Chania, Psira, Dyonissades, Mochlos in the bay of Agios Nikolaos etc.

The only island accessible on foot is Elafonissi. The islet is separated from land through a narrow passage, whose depth does not exceed 1metre. This islet lies on the western coasts of Crete. It is surrounded by beautiful, sandy beaches with shallow waters, in an endless play of ever-alternating colours. It spreads over 3 square kilometers and it is uninhabited. On this islet, there is a large cave, where water drips.

The only natural monument is the island Chrissi itself. The visitor has access to it by the small ferries departing from Ierapetra, from April to October. In forty minutes, you will arrive to the island of the warm climate and the rare seafowl species. Besides, here lies the famous cedar-wood. There is something more for which this island is famous: its wonderful, golden beaches, formed by millions of seashells, powdered by the sea and the strong winds. That is how the beach took the name ‘Chrissi’ (‘The Golden’).

The southernmost border of the European continent and of the Greek territory as well is Gavdos, which lies 20 sea miles to the east of Chora Sfakion. Visitors arrive to Gavdos daily, through regular ferry itineraries, which depart from Paleochora, Chora Sfakion, as well as from Agia Galini.

The island is verdant with cedar-trees, carob-trees and fig trees. This is one of the most sizeable and most beautiful, Cretan islands, due to the combination of fantastic beaches with luxurious vegetation.

From Heraklion or Hersonissos, you can visit the island of Dia. This small island is rocky and deserted, yet it sends off an air of tranquility and serenity, along with a mystical atmosphere. Unbreakably bound with history, the island has borrowed its name from the king of the Gods, Zeus.

The islet of Spinalonga, with its famous fortress lies at a distance of approximately 6 sea miles to the northeast of Agios Nikolaos. The visitor can get to Spinalonga by ferry from Agios Nikolaos, from Elounda or from Plaka. In the ancient times, a fortress was built for the protection of the port of Elounda. This fortress, which is well preserved until our times, became subsequently the last leper-colony of Crete.

The history of this island, the exquisite view and the architecture of its tormented fortress is a pole of attraction for hundreds of visitors each year.

Discover yourself, the serene, pure, yet sometimes wild, full of challenge and dream, islands of contrasts.