White River Cottages

Hidden bays for swimming, away from the tourist centres in the quaint southeast of Crete. Holidays in the southeast of Crete also mean that you must be motorized for discovering the beautiful, hidden bays and the most beautiful beaches. The public road network in the south is rather poorly developed.

Crete's southeast shines with hidden romantic remoted like Makri Gialos, Myrtos Beach and the most beautiful beach is Xerokampos . Holidays in an authentic environment. The European hiking trail E4 runs in the inland from the mountain range Spathi to Kato Zakros.

We have put together the most beautiful tours for you for your destination southeast of Crete:
The links lead you to the detailed descriptions of the places with photos and some videos.

+The hidden beach Xerokampos in the southeast of Crete. The 3 beaches of Xerokampos are covered with white sand. The small Salt Lake of Xerokampos forming a lagoon. It is an ideal refuge for birds

+ A day tour to the mountain village Anatoli + A day tour to the most easterly town SITIA we say the forgotten city as there is less tourism and the most easterly beaches called surfers´paradise Palekastro

+ Visit the south-Coast City Ierapetra with the Arabic influence and then drive eastwards in direction Koutsouras about 1 km before you arrive the coastal village Koutsouras there is the entry of the “Red Butterfly Gorge”. 400 m from the Communal Park of Koutsouras is the starting point with the sign "Dasaki Butterfly Gorge Spring" the home of all butterfly species of Crete, especially the Red Butterflies”. It is a low-level hiking with red marks this hiking can also be done with children. After this 2-hrs-hike your bathing suits could be wet in the beach of the small coastal village Makri Gialos. This hiking tour can be done from May-October, not before my as the water level in the gorge is too high.

+ The Palm Forest Vai and its Monastery Toplou for this day trip you must start early in the morning. You must arrive there before the crowds arrive with the huge tourist-buses. Even it is over-crowded in the summertime, it is worth to see! A real paradise for bathing when you arrive there before the crowds. We started from Agios Nikolaos at 4 AM!

+A day-tour to the picturesque coastal villages Elounda and Plaka and visiting SpinalongaThe Spinalonga - Fort & Island Spinalonga is in the gulf of Elounda, it is one of the most famous places on the island! The rocky island is situated directly opposite the village of Plaka, the fortified islet is a classic excursion. The history of Spinalonga goes back to the antiquity when the islet contained an ancient acropolis and protected the ancient sunken city of Olous. The trips to the Island Spinalonga from is Agios Nikolaos Agios Nikolaos, Elounda or Plaka are organized tours. The archaeological sites are opened at least 9am to 5:45pm but it can be from 8am in Summer. In the wintertime from November to March it is closed, sometimes it may open on weekends if the weather is good.