STUNNING BEACHES
Rethymno is a popular holiday destination in Greece, known for its stunning beaches with crystal clear waters and beautiful scenery.
Here are some of the best beaches 19 km from Lale’s House:
- Discover all five Bali Crete Beaches (Livadi beach, Varkotopos beach, Mythos beach, Limani/ Harbour beach, Karavostasi beach)
- Panormos is one of the nearest fishing village close to several great beaches, including Spilies Beach and Geropotamos Beach.
- Also, we would recommend you not to miss an excursion to southern Rethymno (Libyan Sea), in order to enjoy Preveli Beach with its famous palm forest, Calypso Beach and Damnoni Beach. The route may take 1 hour from Lales House, but the impressive scenery will reward you, especially when you pass through the Kourtaliotiko gorge.
SΚΙ, MOUNTAINEERING, HIKING & CYCLING ACTIVITIES
Psiloritis is the highest mountain of Crete (2.456m). Ski Mountaineering in Crete is a sport with more and more fans.
“Crete is a well-known destination, mainly connected with summer activities. But it now offers an excellent opportunity for skiing in spring. Without the use of a lift, on open slopes and with good quality snow, you can enjoy one of the 100 best descents in the world,” according to a recent entry by National Geographic.
UNESCO site in Crete: https://www.unescositesincrete.gr/en/activities-psiloreitis/
SKI & MOUNTAINEERINGS LEADERS, SKI LESSONS/RENTALS:
EXPLORE GARAZO VILLAGE
Garazo is a village in Rethymno Region and it is divided into two districts. The modern district and the old traditional district, that makes you feel like you have just travelled back in time, in the Venetian era and the Ottoman domination. In this district, there are the Turkish prisons and the old aqueduct, dating back to 1915.
A place of the village is worthy to visit a church that is devoted to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Charalampos (20 meters distance from Lale’s House). It is a temple copy of the monastery of Arkadi. To the east of the church is the Folklore & Olive Oil and Olives Museum (next to Lale’s House).
Directly in front of the Lale’s House begins a cobblestone path 1.5 km long that leads to a stone three-arched bridge (it was built in 1909-1910 and it has a length of 50 meters). There is also the orthodox church of St.George. It is a beautiful route of exceptional natural beauty, among broad-leaved plane trees, walnut trees and fruit trees. It is a total distance of 1.5km.
In Garazo there is a traditional Cretan tavern (Minas Place Tavern-cooks with pure home-grown products), 3 cafes, 2 supermarkets with delivery services, a pharmacy, a fuel station, car repair services, a full-sized football field with a carpet and in the central large impressive square of the village there is a basketball court and a playground.
The beaches of Bali, Geropotamos and Panormo are 19km away and the area is ideal for safari, trekking, ski & mountaineering experiences.
Health Center (12km distance, Perama village)
MINAS PLACE
Cretan Cuisine
“MINAS PLACE tavern in Garazo village (tel. +30 6972 326.988), where cook Eleni Zopiaki prepares proper home-style food, working mainly with the family’s own herbs, vegetables and meats, as well as with snails and legumes foraged from the area and cheese of their own making”, as mentioned in issue N.99 of the Aegean Airlines’ Blue magazine (Psiloritis Guide).
Moreover, it was awarded with the “Cretan cuisine” mark of the Agri-Food Partnership of the Region of Crete!
PANCRETAN FESTIVAL OF THE CITRUS FRUIT AT GARAZO
One of the Top Festivals in Crete You Shouldn’t Miss in August
A unique culinary event that usually lasts 4 days, attracts thousands of visitors to Garazo every year, as famous chefs with a remarkable career in the field of Greek gastronomy, prepare special recipes using the citrus fruit as the main ingredient. A variety of performances, including musical concerts by famous Greek artists, as well as important folklore exhibitions, are organized in the cultural center of the village.
Cultural Association of Garazo village:
INCREDIBLE PLACES & ACTIVITIES
PSILORITIS GEOPARK / The Nida Plateau the highest plateau of Crete (30 km) near famous ANOGEIA VILLAGE (16km distance).
Ideon Cave or Ideon Antron is located on the eastern slopes of Mount Ida (Psiloritis) just above the plateau Nida. According to legend, the greatest god of antiquity, Zeus, grew up.
https://www.psiloritisgeopark.gr/
info@psiloritisgeopark.gr
CAVING
Cave of Sfendoni (10km distance). It belongs to the Psiloritis Natural Park, which has been included in the UNESCO Geoparks. It has an area of about 3,000 sq.m., but visitors have the possibility to walk on a 270-meter corridor.
Cave of Melidoni (12km distance). It was one of the most important religious caves, even in the Minoan era. An ossuary has been placed in the central hall of the cave, with the bones of the heroes of 1824 (victims of the Turkish occupation).
MUSEUM
Museum of the archaeological site of Eleftherna (23km distance). The museum includes exhibits that highlight life in ancient Eleftherna through time, from the end of the 4th millennium BC. until Byzantine times.
Wooden Sculptures Museum of Georgios Koutantos in Axos (8km distance).
Potamianos Museum of Waxen Images in Zoniana (10km distance).
GREEK ORTHODOX MONASTERIES
Vossakos Monastery (16km distance). It is an active monastery of the 17th century located in an area of special natural beauty.
Diskouri Monastery (6km distance) It is considered one of the oldest monasteries in Crete. Its age is evidenced by the nearby richly decorated Byzantine church of Saint John the Baptist.
THE FAMOUS ¨THE SHEPHERD’S SHELTER¨ (13 km)
that offers daily experiential experiences (how to collect milk from goats, how to make cheese, etc.)
MARGARITES VILLAGE (19km distance)
Margarites village is renowned for its pottery tradition, which dates back to the Minoan period. The village’s unique clay soil and the local potters’ skills have made Margarites pottery one of the most famous in Crete. Visitors can visit the local workshops and witness the potters at work, using traditional techniques to create exquisite pieces of art. The pottery shops in Margarites offer a vast array of products, including vases, bowls, jars, and other decorative items, which are perfect souvenirs to take home.
BIRDWATCHING ACTIVITY
The area is ideal for bird watching all year round. There are many species such as birds of prey and bats. One of the most impressive birds of prey that lives in Psiloritis is the vulture or kokalas, as the locals call it. The vulture is a critically endangered species and Crete is its last refuge in Greece and the Balkans.
In the area we meet golden eagles, peregrines, Bonelli’s eagles, common magpies and common kestrels.