Tour of Western Crete: Rethymnon - Chania - Kourna Lake

The West side of Crete is so green with its lush gardens and plantations. Here you’ll find the only lake on Crete and the most breathtaking views of the White Mountains. A trip to the West is a trip to the past which will reveal the beauty and the secrets of ancient Crete.

Our tour starts in Chania. It’s the old capital of Crete. Chania city is quite unique because it’s been influenced by many cultures over the centuries. We’ll walk through the narrow streets of Old town, and you’ll see just why Chania is considered to be Cretan's most beautiful city.

From here we’ll move to Rethymno but first, stop at wonderful Kournas lake. You can take a catamaran to sail here.

And finally, we are in Rethymno! It’s more relaxed and less crowded, however, it’s still very vivid and captivating. We will, of course, visit the famous Fortezza fortress and see the amazing Rimondi fountain - the next symbol of Rethymno.

Itinerary:

Chania Town

Chania is a paradise of Greece At the beginning of the sightseeing tour we will make our way towards the west of Crete – the town of Chania. This resort is amazing because of: Its variety of landscapes. Favourable climate. Clean, well-furnished beaches. Original architecture. Since the town has a rich historical past and more than once was conquered by various nations, here you can find interweaving of different cultures: Greek, Byzantine, Ottoman and Venetian. Today Chania consists of two parts: old and modern. Most of the attractions are localized in the old part, called the Old Town. Structures erected during different epochs remained substantially untouched in wartime and have reached our days in excellent condition. The Old Town includes 5 well-developed quarters with small cosy houses located close to each other. Narrow streets give a special flavour thus creating a homely atmosphere. The attribute of the town is the Venetian Port.

Lake Kournas

Kournas Lake We will also have a unique opportunity to visit the largest freshwater lake on the island called Kournas. Previously, it was called Korecia (in honour of the ancient Greek goddess, whose temple is located nearby). The lake will win your heart with picturesque mountain landscapes and clear water. The lake is shrouded in numerous legends. According to one of them, the girl turned into a lake when her father came up with the idea of something wrong. Another legend has it that the residents of a nearby village had the wrong lifestyle. The whole settlement was punished. There is an opinion that Kournas has no bottom. In fact, its depth is quite impressive – 25 meters.

Rethymno Town

Rethymnon is the most beautiful town in Crete The next destination is Rethymnon. Here you will find a lot of interesting things: Buildings built in the Middle Ages; Majestic cathedrals built in the Venetian style; Temples and mosques; Beautiful fountains; Picturesque rural landscapes. One of the main attractions of the town is the Fortezza Fortress built in the port (XVI century). From here you can see the beautiful views of the entire town. It was built as a defensive construction, so it was made properly and is perfectly preserved to this day. An unforgettable reminder of architecture is the Venetian lighthouse against a background from which you can take original photos. On Platanos Square there is Rimondi Fountain attracting the attention of visitors. On the pedestal, you can see 3 heads of lions. The fountain was built by the Venetians.