When the time comes to decide for holidays, always the same questions appear. Where to go, How to go, what I must visit, which are the top things I must visit, what other things are near to visit and finally what to do there.

Is it better to rent a car and drive to this place, or is it better to book a trip to go. Which is the cheapest option, which is the best option. You would like to know everything about the place you visit.

Here you will find a brief travel guide and we try to cover all these questions. We cooperate only with local enterprises. With people that live on Crete and knows Crete, its customs, its traditions, its land.

They will be always by your side, before the trip, during the trip and after the trip.

Feel free to contact us and ask for any information about Crete, you would like to have.

The cars come with fully comprehensive insurance at 0 risks. They have free pick up and drop off at Heraklion airport, Chania airport, Heraklion port, Souda port and at all the major touristic places. There are no hidden costs and no cancellation charges. Road assistance all over the island in case of breakdown,

Insurance is also included in the price of the bus tours. The busses are air-conditioned, the pickups are from your hotel or at the nearest meeting point. Tourist guides are available in your language.

After the introduction, you can start to read the brief travel guide.

Elounda - Plaka

Elounda, called sometimes the San Tropez of Crete, was once a picturesque fishing village. It has a spectacular coastline, shaded beaches, crystal clear waters and is of archaeological interest. It is neither too busy nor too isolated. In Elounda, you will find one of the most important archaeological sites of Cretan history, the sunken city of ancient Olous. 

Olous is located a kilometre east along the waterfront from the modern harbour at Skisma. On a calm day when there are no waves on the sea, you will be able to see the rubbles of the streets and alleyways of the sunken city just by standing at the water’s edge. It is a great place for snorkelers and divers to explore.  

Just 5 km north of Elounda, located in Mirabello bay, you will find the tiny fishing village of Plaka. In Plaka, you can find picturesque fish taverns and wonderful traditional houses that give the impression that time has stopped. It’s a quiet tourist resort, with few accommodation choices (apartments and studios) and 2 beautiful pebble beaches. Exploring the region you will find north of Plaka the Vrouchas village that has some old windmills. You can continue east to approach the lighthouse of the Cape of Aforesmenos which is at the northwestern point of the great Gulf of Mirabello. Just before you will meet the modern version of the windmills of Vrouchas, i.e. the large wind farm of the area.

Opposite Plaka you can see the famous leper colony, the island of Spinalonga. The island has a rich history starting from ancient times. Due to its strategic position, it was fortified and through the times it had different uses. 

During the times of Ancient Olous, it protected and guarded the port of the town. Later on, during the Venetian rule, the Venetians created salt pans around the island and harvested the salt. Because of the pirate threat and the expansionist aspirations of the Ottomans they improved the defence facilities making Spinalonga a fortress island. When the Ottomans occupied Crete, Spinalonga was inhabited by Turkish families because of the security it was offering. Merchants and sailors used this security to control the trading routes of the Eastern Meditteranean. 

 

In 1903 the island became a leprosarium until 1957. The lepers formed a little community of their own in their exile. They continued to work, get educated and live with dignity until 1957. During the Second World War, they remained unaffected as the Germans did not dare to install a guard which gave the sick people freedom. We can take a glimpse of how the lives of the lepers were from the famous novel The Island by Victoria Hislop, a historical novel that was later made as a tv series. In 1970, Spinalonga was declared a protected archaeological site. You can find excursions in both Plaka and Elounda.  

How to go to Elounda?

Elounda is just taking approximately 50 min drive from Heraklion international airport (HER) and 2 hours 50 min from Chania Airport (CHQ) International Airport. You can collect the car directly at Chania airport or at Heraklion airport ( HER) so you can get on the road at once. Alternatively, if you are arriving by boat, a car rental in Souda Port or Heraklion Port can be brought to you when you disembark.

Also, you can collect the car directly outside of your hotel or apartment.

Boats depart daily for Spinalonga from Plaka, Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. You can combine it with a visit to the cosmopolitan city, Agios Nikolaos and a boat trip to Spinalonga.

The journey to Elounda can be made either by renting a car which is the best way to explore Crete, for travellers who prefer to make their own itinerary. Many interesting villages and settlements, Cretan beaches, monuments, cosmopolitan cities and reveal the magnificent of Crete.

Our local car rentals offering affordable and value-added car rental services to all types of travellers.

Choose from luxury and economy packages and enjoy fleets of quality cars, all protected by fully-comprehensive insurance policies and equipped with different amenities to help make your trip more comfortable. You can easily book a vehicle online using our website, or by calling us at (+30) 6970980918. ( Whats app & Viber)

Visit and choose one of our cars or,

with an organized excursion for a small group of people. Get the peace of mind experience you deserve through our hassle-free services.

Travelling is an uplifting experience as it changes people's perceptions of life, while at the same time endows each trip with a special meaning and memories that can last for a lifetime. We can provide you with an exceptional travelling experience, we can tailor our tours to suit your needs.

You can request a quote.