00:00Incredible nature.
00:01Some of the world's best beaches.
00:03Layers of history.
00:04Welcoming people.
00:07There are so many reasons why I love the Greek island of Crete.
00:10We'll explore nature, taste fresh local dishes,
00:15check out a slow tourism project,
00:17visit a world-famous beach,
00:19paradise,
00:21and we'll experience local culture firsthand.
00:23But first, Hanya, framed by the White Mountains.
00:27Hanya is Crete's second largest city
00:31and one of the most beautiful cities in Greece.
00:34You can see its layers of history wherever you look.
00:37In the old town, you'll find picturesque streets
00:40lined with Venetian mansions and Ottoman balconies.
00:43I've rented a car, which is a must to properly see the island.
00:47Due to the mountainous terrain, distances are very far in Crete,
00:51so I suggest you pick one area to explore as much as possible
00:55to make the most of your time.
00:56Our first stop is Milya Mountain Retreat,
00:59a pioneer of ecotourism on Crete.
01:01The philosophy is simple,
01:03to minimize human impact on the environment.
01:06Hello, I'm Sarah.
01:07Hi, Sarah. Welcome, welcome.
01:09Come to show you.
01:10Come to see you.
01:11To learn more, I meet Tasos, one of the co-owners.
01:15Two families built this complex
01:17on an abandoned 15th-century settlement 31 years ago.
01:21Milya stays open until January, however, many accommodations in Crete
01:27close between November and April, so do keep that in mind
01:31when you're planning your vacation.
01:32And they also offer hikes in the surrounding area.
01:36Today, Tasos is taking me somewhere very special.
01:39Topolia Gorge.
01:41Streams carved Crete's limestone into deep ravines.
01:44They're home to rare plant species you won't find anywhere else.
01:48But weather in the mountains can change quickly.
01:51We already have some clouds rolling in here.
01:54So safety first.
01:55And Tasos, I know you have some things to say about that.
01:58Good butch, for sure, plenty of water.
02:03And for sure, if they want to do a long hike,
02:06they must have a local guide with them.
02:09It's time to try something Crete is famous for.
02:12It's food.
02:13Wow.
02:14Oh, my gosh.
02:15This is quite a view.
02:18The west is the greenest and most fertile part of the island.
02:24This is something on the house for the start.
02:28Ridiculously large portions.
02:31So generous.
02:32Obviously meant to be shared by multiple people.
02:34Chestnut stew.
02:36Gilopites pasta with meatballs.
02:39Xenohondros, goat's milk and wheat with mushrooms.
02:42Calitsunia pies with wild greens.
02:44And braised lamb with garden beans.
02:47My next stop is the village of Tsuruniana,
02:50with a population of just five people.
02:53But the three members of Potolo Cooperative
02:56are helping to bring this former wine-producing village
02:58and its land back to life.
03:03I want to know a little bit more about this project.
03:06What are you guys doing here?
03:08Why are you in this village?
03:09Our main goal is actually to regenerate the land,
03:13but also to rejuvenate the village.
03:15Delicious Romeico,
03:16the most characteristic variety of the Hanya region.
03:20Tastings here are meant to be discussions.
03:23We try to promote, if I can say, slope tourism,
03:27which is the opposite of the over-tourism that we've got
03:32in Cleet and in the region of Hanya.
03:34And they hope to inspire others to regenerate rural areas too.
03:38And they hope to have a lot of fun here.
03:41After an hour's drive south,
03:43we've reached the beach segment of this video.
03:48Built partly on the ruins of the ancient city of Calamidi,
03:52Palio Jora is a little bit touristic,
03:54but it makes a great jumping-off point
03:56for exploring the southern coast by boat.
03:59We're taking a speedboat called the Cursaros,
04:02the Pirates,
04:03with Captain Manos to check out two unmissable beaches.
04:07First stop, Cedro Dazos Beach.
04:10The water is very, very calm, very blue.
04:14Irema.
04:16Look in, look at this.
04:18And now, the famous beach of Elefonisi.
04:23We're the first people here!
04:27Elefonisi is a small island connected to the mainland
04:30by a sandbar, which you can easily walk across.
04:34Off-season and early, in my opinion,
04:37are the best times to come.
04:38Cretan beaches, paradise.
04:43Night falls in Palio Jora.
04:48I couldn't let you leave the island
04:49without experiencing one of the most unique aspects
04:52of Cretan culture,
04:53and that is its traditional music.
05:00And as the Greeks say,
05:05Thaleme.
05:06See you next time.
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