Alternative tourism

Alternative tourism Crete 

If you wish to relax while listening to the sounds of nature, to get in contact with the traditional way of life of the farmers, to help in the preparation of the

dishes of the Cretan cuisine or to go riding in the mountains and the plains of Crete, agro tourism and ecotourism units are for you.Alternative tourism in Crete poses a challenge to the visitor: To match the contrasts, discover the lights and the colors, the dream, the unique endemic plants, the miracle of the Cretan diet, to experience the magic of a culture based on special codes of behavior.

Crete is the flagship of tourism. Because of the particularity of the island, the

morphology of the ground, the insular landscape, the big differences between the north and the south and between the sea and the mountains, the wealth of colors, feelings and products Crete is an ideal place for the development of alternative forms of tourism. 

Alternative tourism aims at making everyone feel at home by familiarizing them with the local values, landscapes, foods, songs, dances, painting, walking paths. Creativity is combined with holidays.

Alternative tourism is for those looking for a new style of holidays, which is connected with the protection of the local culture, the protection of the natural environment and the avoidance of organized mass tourism services.





Agrotourism Crete 

Experience the unique "return to nature" feeling through the alternative

tourism facilities of the island.
Visitors can return to nature, from which they have been violently separated because of the modern way of life. In these facilities one can experience a way of life forgotten by modern humans and experience the joy of creation – literally – as one participates in farming activities. Here, simple foods, like bread, vegetables and fruit, are more than delicious, as they are the result of your personal work.



Religious Tourism Crete  

Crete is a land of saints and heroes. It has a long spiritual tradition, which

includes its historical monuments, its churches, monasteries and country churches, as well as its mountains, gorges and other places of rare natural beauty.

These places send messages from the past and offer the visitor a different perspective, which fight against the alienation and decadence of modern times.

The modern man, tired of the overwhelming way of life in the world’s big cities, arrives in Crete, an island with a special personality and identity, and discovers human warmth and communication, hospitality and answers to metaphysical questions, as the relation between the earth and the heaven is still tangible here.



Conference Tourism Crete 

Dozens of conferences take place in Crete every year. The modern

technological opportunities offered by the congress centres of the large hotels in combination with holidays in a place full of natural beauty and monuments make it an ideal place for a successful conference or congress.

There are public and municipal places which are ideal for exhibitions, events etc. The ultra-modern facilities of the the University and the Technical University of Crete offer a large number of chambers and amphitheatres which are fully equipped with audiovisual systems.



Gastronomic Tourism Crete 

With the term gastronomic tourism we actually describe a subcategory of

cultural tourism (gastronomy is considered to be an expression of culture). Travelers are after unique gastronomical experiences and it is one of the ’ most important trends in the sector of tourism worldwide.
Examples of gastronomic tourism services:

Seminars of Cretan Cuisine, gourmet’s and wine connoisseur’s events, visits to places where traditional products are produced, cooking events etc

Given the gastronomic and cultural wealth of Crete, as well as the quality and genuineness of the local products, it is obvious that there is an opportunity to develop Gastronomic Tourism on the island and establish it as a Gastronomic Destination.



Ecotourism Crete 

Ecotourism is a form of tourism associated with various forms of tourism

activity in nature (“nature tourism” or “naturalist tourism”).
Ecotourism is a form of tourism associated with various forms of tourism activity in nature. These are activities that do not necessarily contribute to the protection of the natural environment, but include all those activities organized in the natural environment. The rich natural environment of Crete is suitable for a variety of activities (see Explore and Alternative Activities).
Areas with special protection status

The Landscapes of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Heraklion are the following:
•    Western Asterousia (from Agiofarago to Kokkinos Pyrgos)
•    Asterousia Mountains (Kofinas)
•    Mount Dikti: Omalos, Viannos (Symi-Omalos)
•   The part of Krasi of Mount Dikti
• The Oak Tree of Madalenis in Korfes
• The Cretan Cephalanthrera, Kamares



Wine tourism Crete 

With whitewashed villages that cling to steep hillsides, which drop

precipitously toward the deep blue sea, few people think of the Crete as a wine destination. But if you look carefully, you will see that the island of Crete is essentially one large farm, has terraced vineyards is home to a variety of white and red grapes. The island has excellent choices for lodging and fine dining, and the network of ferries and short-hop flights make visiting one or more of these convenient and simple.

There’s no better place on Crete to taste wine while watching the spectacular

view of the mainland than Domain Paterianakis. Order a flight of six wines and pair them with specialties including cheese, olives, bread and spreads made from tomato and fava beans. Before leaving, visit the newly renovated boutique to purchase wine and locally grown products. Sit back in a comfortable reclining chair, sample a variety of wines and learn about the history of Greek winemaking at Boutari state-of-the-art Theater. 




Scuba diving Crete 

Crete is one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations. It is a

destination in the heart of the Mediterranean, surrounded by crystal clear waters.
Scuba diving tourism in Greece took its first tentative steps in the early 90’s. The largest number of diving centers and training centers are located in Crete, Corfu and Athens-Piraeus.

The Greek seas constitute one of the most important archaeological sites, as sunken cities, coastal prehistoric settlements, towers, shipwrecks and ancient ports lie in their depths. According to publications one of the most significant efforts for the detection of shipwrecks in Greece was that of the famous French explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau with the well-known ship “Calypso”. In 1975, the

Greek Foreign Ministry and the National Tourism Organization invited Cousteau in Greece in order to film movies on “Finding Atlantis”. Greek archaeologists, as well as a multi-member research team from the newly established Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology (HIMA) participated in the mission.  Cousteau’s investigations were conducted in several regions including Crete: in Heraklion, in the islands Dia and Pseira, in Cape Sidero and in Agia Pelagia Bay. The findings of the mission were particularly important as they provided information about the Neolithic period, they covered the antiquity and they were reaching up to the World War II. In the uninhabited islet Dia, opposite of Heraklion, four ancient shipwrecks, Venetian anchors and an underwater port aged 3000 old were found.

A very important discovery was the “relic” of the French fleet’s vice-flagship

“La Thérèse”, which was sunk 344 years ago. The ship’s secrets remained in the bottom of the sea, until 1976, when Jacques Yves Cousteau and his team (with Cretan scuba-divers among the team’s members) pulled up 129 objects of everyday use, such as coins, as well as war material (mostly bullets). But what led to the identification with “La Thérèse”, was a bronze cannon with the emblem of Charles IX of France and the personal belongings of Duke de Navaille. Today, many of the findings are kept in the “Koules” fortress as well as in the Historical Museum of Crete.

We should note that the existing legislation in Greece enables the Greek

Archaeological service to bind every inch of the Greek seas and to allow diving in specific points which are limited in number and size. Also, according to an article concerning the underwater legal protection and management, the Hellenic Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, characterizes as “historic” every shipwreck over 50 years old and diving is prohibited within 300 meters away from it. However, most of the divers disagree with this decision and call the Ephorate of Underwater antiquities to indicate which part of the sea and the seabed is an archaeological site, in order to leave the rest part free for the enthusiasts of the sea world and the life hiding inside it.

Apart from these sunken cities, the ordinary swimmer can easily discover the beauty of the seabed and the rich marine life in most of the beaches of Crete.
There are many diving centers operating throughout the island (mainly in the northern part of the island), ready to serve divers of all categories, in any period, with safety and responsibility. The bottom of the Libyan sea in Northern Crete, with crystal clear waters everyday throughout the year, has a rich marine life and the most interesting rugged seabed terrain in the Mediterranean.



Medical tourism Crete 

Tourists don’t just come to Crete for the sun and the sights. Hundreds of foreign patients each year are now traveling to receive treatment in private hospitals in Heraklion, Chania , Rethymno  and other Greek cities.
Fertility treatments, spa & wellness, dental treatments, and hemodialysis are the Medical Tourism top treatments in Crete.