Surrounded by olive trees and orange groves of the Chania region, the beautiful isolated beaches around Tavronitis can feel a million miles from the busier beach resorts on the island of Crete. A beachside villa in Tavronitis makes an ideal destination for couples and families looking to escape the hordes, while still being within easy reach of different activities available on the island.
The beaches around Tavronitis are much less busy than those around the major Crete resorts, so offer the ideal place for visitors to relax in the sun with a book. A dip in the sea is a great place to cool down on a summer day, and snorkelling is a great way to explore the rocky outcrops and bays around the area.
Visitors in self-catering accommodation in Tavronitis can stock up on fresh local produce at several small, local shops in the area, an experience in itself. There are also several restaurants down along the beach in Tavronitis, where visitors can sample traditional Greek food and occasionally see traditional Greek dance performances.
The mountainous nature of the area around Tavronitis lends itself well to hiking, and there are several trails around the area for visitors who want to get out and explore the region. In the mountains near the village there are also opportunities for mountain biking, rock climbing, canyoning and horse riding.
There are also plenty of opportunities for other activities in other resorts on Crete such as Platanias including Scuba diving, mini-golf, fishing, dolphin watching, go-karting and bungy jumping.
Just 22km down the road from Tavronitis is the town of Chania, which is home to Minoan remains as well as ancient Greek and Roman ruins. There are also several museums in the town, including the Archaeological Museum, which offers a history of the many different sets of ruins and lost cities which may be seen in the area. The War Museum and Naval Museum are both also worth a look.
The location of Tavronitis on Crete means that summers are hot and dry, with temperatures of 24C to 27C on most summer days, and very rarely a rainy day throughout June to August. The weather remains mild and relatively dry throughout the autumn and spring, making a villa in Tavronitis a pleasant escape when the summer crowds have gone.
Heraklion, Crete’s main city, is also well worth a day-trip from Tavronitis where visitors can see the town’s ancient fortress, Knossos Palace. There are of course also plenty of shopping opportunities in the town where visitors can pick up souvenirs, and lots of bars and restaurants for a lively night out.
Tavronitis is served by Heraklion Airport (HER), which is located in the centre of the north coast, 160km from Tavronitis. Hire cars are available from the airport to reach your self-catering accommodation in Tavronitis, or there are also shuttle buses which operate from the airport across the island.