Crete is one of 13 regions of Greece. It is the largest island in Greece and the second biggest in the East Mediterranean. The island itself has a beautiful coastline which is just over 1045 km long and lies approximately 160 km South of the Greek mainland.
The islands population is 650,000 people and straddles two climatic zones, the Mediterranean and the North African. Crete is extremely mountainous and is defined by a high mountain range crossing from East to West, formed by three breathtaking mountains. These are the White Mountains (2452m high), the Idi range (2456m) and the Dikti Mountains (2148m high). These mountains have gifted Crete with fertile plateaus like Lasithi, Omalos and Nidha, caves like Diktaion and Idaion and gorges, the most famous being the Gorge of Samaria.
The climate in Crete is primarily temperate. The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea. The winters on the island are fairly mild and snowfall is practically unknown on the plains but quite frequent in the mountains. The summer months are truly beautiful and temperatures are often seen in the 30's. One of the best times to visit the island is in the Spring and Autumn when the flora and fauna are seen at its very best.
The capital city of Crete is Heraklion and is a very popular holiday destination. Within the last 5 years Crete tourism has increased by 53% and is now established as a booming investment island of Greece. The island is easily accessible with three significant airports you can fly into, these are located in Heraklion, Chania and Sitia.