Tailor made, self drive Family Holiday in CreteActive Crete

Family Holiday

Introduction

ACTIVE CRETE's Family Holiday is a self drive & tailor made holiday that offers you the opportunity to relax and enjoy several activities (depending on the age of the children and the parents' interests) in one of the most beautiful places of the Mediterranean. It can be extended regarding its length and its activities.

The holiday encourages guests to enjoy activities like walking in a typical Cretan landscape or at an ancient site, swimming or paddle-boarding, visiting a botanical park and learning about the plants, vegetables and herbs of Crete, visiting the amazing city of Chania and learning about the history of the island etc. Activities like biking, diving (or a complete diving course), snorkeling, sea kayaking etc. could be added if necessary. Several boat trips could also be added.

The accommodation of our guests is in the family run Sunny Bay hotel at the edge of the town of Kissamos; it is top rated by world famous hotel booking sites. The hotel is in front of the sea and has a large swimming pool and a garden.

There are several tavernas near the hotel, top rated by international holiday rating sites, offering excellent local food at prices of 10-15 Euros per person including local wine.

A part of the Kissamos area belongs to the European Programme NATURA 2000 which aims to protect its rich natural heritage and to promote eco-tourism. In the town of Kissamos there are shops offering local products, banks, a post office, a health center etc.

Dates, Prices and Accommodation

The holiday can start on whatever date you like from the beginning of May to the end of October.
The price depends on the season, number & age of the children and the type of rental car (eg: 950€ is the low season price for a couple with a child of less than 2 years and includes 7 X B&B and a small car like Hyundai i10). Payments can be made either in Euros or in GBP.
Accommodation is in the family run Sunny Bay hotel : https://activecrete.gr/sunny-bay-hotel/

Please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] for a quote.

Family Holiday Programme (example)

Day 1 - Arrival & start of your Crete Family Holiday

Chania airport to Kissamos : 55km, 48min
Heraklion airport to Kissamos : 175km, 2 hours & 18min

Your Crete Family holiday starts in Chania or Heraklion. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by the car hire company representative who will give you your car. Drive to your seaside hotel in Kissamos and check and settle in. Depending on your arrival time, your children can enjoy a splash or a swim in the children's pool or in the main pool or in the sea in front of the hotel.

Day 2 - Kissamos sightseeing - Snorkelling

You can stroll around in the picturesque town of Kissamos, which has something to catch everyone's eye. You can visit the small but impressive archaeological museum for the locality which is rich in history from Neolithic times; the impressive Greek Orthodox church of Agios Spyridon (our guide will take you around the church); the ruins of Roman baths and of the villa of Roman nobleman Pheidias. If history is not to everyone’s liking, there are traditional cafes and shops selling beach wear to locally made honey, wine, tsikoudia, herbs etc. There is ample time for a coffee, beer or ice cream either in the town centre or at the sea front. Further down the coast towards the main port there is the old fishing harbour, with boats, a cafe and taverna. Later you can swim in Kissamos Bay or in the pool of the hotel.
In the afternoon we have arranged a snorkellng boat trip . It will last about two hours and it will be a very interesting experience.

Day 3 - Falasarna sightseeing, swimming and paddle-boarding

Kissamos to Falasarna : 15km, 20min

It is hard to believe now that Falasarna was once a maritime power based around its harbour. Now it is one of the most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean with clear turquoise waters and pink sand. The northern part of the beach has trees for shade and a large natural sea-pool suitable for small children. On the central part of the beach you can rent paddle-boarding equipment and have hours and hours of fun. If you would like to visit the ancient harbour, you can follow the coastal road 5 minutes by car further north, where you will find the archaeological site in its present position. In the earthquake of 359 AD that caused the destruction of Falasarna and Kissamos, raising the coastline 6 meters higher, it was thrown inland. You can still see water channels and ancient mooring holes.

Day 4 - Chania Water Park (Limnoupolis)

Kissamos to the Water Park : 36km, 33min

Limnoupolis provides fun and excitement for people of all ages as they splash around in this wonderful water park: have an exciting time on the thrilling waterslides, or simply relax by the pools under the shade and enjoy the sunshine. There is something for everyone of whatever age. When you feel you’ve had enough excitement for the day you can always just relax and enjoy food and drink in one the restaurants or bars.
Younger children will love the children’s pool which has its very own island with water fun and Lilliputian slides. Parents can go in with them of course.

Day 5 - Chania sightseeing

Kissamos to Chania : 38km, 38min

The first thing you hear about Chania - the Venetian Harbour, the old port, the narrow shopping streets and waterfront restaurants, is that it is beautiful. Chania harbour is wonderful at any time of day as the light produces different colour effects. There are many old buildings of Venetian and Turkish design, that Crete once had across the island, since destroyed by the ravages of war and plunder. Much of the Chania you will want to see is clustered close to the harbour - old buildings, museums, churches and crafts shops (some with genuinely interesting and sometimes locally made products on offer). It is a fascinating place for adults and children to browse, shop and explore.

Food is offered in tempting varieties and places - there are many tavernas, restaurants and cafes all with their individual character, at which to relax with the enjoyment of some tasty food. Cretans are very friendly and especially kind to children and young people, so everyone feels welcome.There will be ample time for breaks, for example to drink a freshly squeezed orange juice or choose from the unusual ice cream flavours made by local shops.

Day 6 - Walk through the gorge of Deliana

Kissamos to Deliana : 17km, 26min

You can go by car to the village of Deliana. Just before the village you find a soil road, which goes through olive groves to the the entrance of the gorge. You can walk through the gorge, which is rarely visited, and encounter goats and wild flowers and if you are lucky we might see a buzzard or Griffon vultures wheeling above. There is a path through the gorge with places for breaks, stories or silence in the dappled sunlight of the shady gorge. On your return you might be glad of a beer or a meal in the welcoming and family run taverna ‘Maracaibo’ in Koleni.

Day 7 - The Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete

Kissamos to the Botanical Park : 36km, 37min

After driving to the foothills of the mountains behind Chania you reach the family owned Botanical Park, planted on the site of a terrible fire. This is a walking, educational and entertainment park -unique in its kind in Crete – waiting for young and old, locals and foreigners, to get acquainted with the more than 150 species of fruit trees from all over the world, together with dozens of herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants, while enjoying walking through the lush, shady environment.
This adventure in nature follows designed paths of unique natural beauty over two hundred square kilometers of hillside. There are animals too at the bottom: peacocks wandering free and native Cretan goats, to name only two.

At the entrance/exit there is a restaurant offering organic food grown onsite and other facilities, suitable for families.