Page 249 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

5 DAYS

in Eastern Crete

Day 1 Day 3
Your east coast exploration starts at Malia You could spend a whole day lazing in
(p275), a short drive east of Crete’s the gentle, turquoise water at Voúlisma
capital, Iráklío. This bustling resort is beach, but limit yourself to the morning.
home to the little-visited Minoan palace Have lunch at venerable Ta Kohylia in
of Malia, one of the most important the little resort of Móhlos (p278), now
ancient sites on the island. After an hour a culinary destination, then take in the
or so of exploration, drive east to scenic nearby Moní Toploú (p278), a dramatic
Lasíthi plateau (p275). You’ll know you’ve fortress-church with spectacular frescoes
arrived when you see the windmills and and museum-treasury. It’s freshly caught
smell thyme in the air. Stop for lunch at fish on the menu at Agistri taverna,
family-run Dionyssos in Magoulás hamlet under the olive trees in little Angathiás
(Main road, Magoulás). The main attraction village, a short drive further around the
in this part of Crete is the eerie Diktean coast.
Cave (p275), the legendary birthplace of
Zeus; the path to the cave starts from the Day 4
small village of Psychró. After you’ve mar
velled at the eerie rock formations, head Váï beach (p279) is a slice of Jamacia in
to lively Ágios Nikólaos (p276) for dinner Crete, and a morning lounging on the
under the vines at friendly, traditional Avli palm-fringed bay is a dream. It does get
taverna (Prigkipos Georgiou 12). crowded, so escape to the Minoan palace
at Káto Zákros (p279), where you can also
explore the several excellent seaside tav-
Day 2 ernas. Suitably fortified, spend the after-
By daylight, Ágios Nikólaos is delightful, noon hiking in the Gorge of the Dead
situated as it is around Mirabéllo Bay and (p279), a misnomer as this landscape
the supposedly bottomless Voulismémni thrives with life. You’ve earned dinner
Lake. Wander around town, ending up at at water-front Votsalakia in Koutsourás
one of the lakefront cafés for breakfast. village, one of the best spots around.
After, hop back in the car for the short
trip to Kritsá (p266), a mountain village Day 5
known for Panagía Kéra, a Byzantine
church with magnificent, if dilapidated, After a night on the coast, get an early
frescoes, and for its local crafts – explore start to arrive in time for the 10:30am
the market and pick up some ceramics excursion boat from Ierápetra out to
or lace to take home. Drive on to Pláka Chrysí islet (p277) with its two beautiful
village, where you can catch the ferry to white-sand beaches, Caribbean-hued sea
Spinalónga (p277), a fascinating islet with and exceedingly rare juniper forests. After
a Venetian-fortress-turned-leper colony, a day spent exploring the island, head
made famous by Victoria Hislop’s novel back to the mainland and west towards
The Island (2005). Back at Ágios Nikólaos, the laid-back beach resort of Mýrtos. Park
have dinner at colourful Chrisofyllis (Akti yourself at a restaurant on the waterfront
Pagalou, Kitroplateia) on the waterfront. for the night, and toast to your trip.

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