Hidden gems in Crete: 10 ways to escape the tourist trail

1. Go east to discover the dramatic Valley of the Dead

Far from the crowded western streets, Crete's eastern half is a real treasure chest of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.

Head for the high-flung mountain village of Zakros and hike the Valley of the Dead, a spectacular gorge squeezed between towering cliffs pocked with caves used for Minoan burials, which easily rivals Chania's Samaria.

Alternatively, seek out deserted coves lapped by pristine seas, panoramic hiking trails and tiny traditional villages near east Crete's capital Sitia, home of the island’s UNESCO-listed geopark.

2. Venture to secluded sands like Xerocambos

Reached via a spectacular-but-scary mountain road that corkscrews down from the remote village of Ziros, Xerocambos's toddler-friendly silk-sand beaches in the east of the island are rarely crowded, even in the height of summer.

Triopetra's horseshoe-shaped swathe of sandy beach, an easy hour's drive from Rethymnon's cobbled shop-lined streets further west, is also perfect for secluded sun worshipping.

And if you really want to escape the world, pack water and sunscreen and head for Agiofaraggo. This hidden pebbled beach is an hour's drive south of Heraklion and can only be accessed by hiking for half an hour through a narrow gorge. The effort is worth it.

3. Get your thrills in the abandoned village of Aradaina

If you fancy some creepier thrills, pull on stout walking shoes and hike out to see the ghost village of Aradaina.

High in the wild and wonderful Sfakia mountains of southern Crete, this atmospheric hamlet, which is reached via a rickety metal bridge strung high above the thyme-scented Aradaina gorge, was abandoned (according to legend) in 1948 because of an argument over a sheep’s bell.

Wander the narrow paths to peek inside the hamlet’s old stone houses or visit the tiny church teetering above the Aradaina gorge.

Feeling really brave? Contact Liquid Bungy. It's a local company that organises bungy jumping sessions from the 138m-high (453ft) bridge and is the highest bungy jumping spot in Greece.

4. Tour the countryside on Heraklion's wine trail

Get to grips with the local grape juice while discovering tiny traditional villages – such as neoclassical Archanes – by following Heraklion's well-waymarked wine trail.

There are more than a dozen wineries along this 60km-long (37 miles) route, including the Scalarea Estate, where you can take a wine tasting tour with their resident sommelier and the Lyrakis winery, where they produce some of the island's best reds.

Be sure to make a detour to visit the Minoan site of Vathypetro, home to the world's oldest wine press.

5. Get a feel for rural life on the Lastithi plateau

You'll need wheels (or wings) to explore this rarely visited plateau high in the Dikti Mountains, where hundreds of white-sailed windmills pump water from deep wells to water a vast patchwork of crop fields.

To see one of Crete’s most mystical hidden gems, pay a visit to the Dikteon Andron. This stalagmite- and stalactite-studded cave is where, legend says, Zeus was born.

Then, head for the country town of Tzermiado. Here, you can barter for bright, hand-woven textiles or just pull up a chair at one of the local kafeneions to sip raki and munch on meze snacks as you watch the farmers go by.

6. Embrace farm-to-table traditions with locals

The best way to escape the tourist hordes and sup on a slice of local lifestyle is to follow your taste buds.

Near the tiny hamlet of Drakonas, on the pine-studded slopes of Lefka Ori (The White Mountains), farmer Stelios Trilirakis at Dounias cooks with clay pots over a log fire to produce slow-cooked kleftiko lamb and other delicious local dishes using his own produce.

Slightly more upmarket, Agreco Farm near Rethymnon is a sprawling property where you can feed the farm animals and watch raki being made, before sitting at a long trestle table to feast on wheat-stuffed zucchini flowers, antikristo lamb grilled over an open fire and other Cretan specialities.

7. Explore remote routes via safari or sea kayak

Since many of Crete's remote sights and out-of-the-way beaches are only accessible via dirt track roads, a four-wheel safari adventure is the perfect way to explore.

Take the pot-holed Katharo route to discover natural springs, ancient plane trees and traditional kafeneions high in the mountains, or head out on the Trypiti tour, which will lead you – via remote chapels and traditional villages – to one of Crete's most isolated beaches.

Prefer your adventures on the water? Hop on one of Enjoy Crete’s two-day sea kayaking trips through the Samaria National Park to spend sunny days paddling to remote villages and starry nights sleeping on deserted beaches.

8. Swap beach resorts for under-the-radar rural retreats

Crete's beach-strewn coastline is littered with luxury hotels and resorts but if you head further inland, you'll find more authentic (and often better value) accommodation.

A cluster of beautifully renovated stone-built houses surrounded by olive groves near Arkadi (the island's most famous monastery), Kapsaliana Village is a blissful hidden gem in Crete away from the crowds.

Built to resemble a typical Cretan village – complete with vine-shaded terraces, a small farm and a restaurant serving hearty Cretan food – Enagron Ecotourism Village, near Anogeia, is another rustic haven worth discovering.

9. Find traditional Greece in villages like Kritsa

If you really want to get off the beaten track on Greece's largest island, hire a car and head east. After Agios Nikolaos, the capital of the lovely unspoilt Lasithi region, you'll discover a string of traditional villages.

Ones not-to-miss include Kritsa and Mochlos. Sitting on a steep hillside ten minutes from Agios Nikolaos, ancient Kritsa is renowned for its handmade textiles, while Mochlos, a small beach hamlet between the seaside resorts of Istron and Sitia, is famed for its feet-in-the-water tavernas serving brine-fresh seafood.

10. Chill on Crete’s secret islands

Some of Crete's best hidden gems aren’t on the island at all. Head south and you’ll find a coastline dotted with little islets that are rarely visited by tourists.

Would-be Robinson Crusoes will love Chryssi (golden) Island. Reached by a speedboat, which buzzes out once a day in summer from Ierapetra, this dazzling deserted island has dozens of talc-soft beaches.

Alternatively, head further east to the low-key seaside resort of Makrigialos and hop on a boat to Koufonisi. This exotic dune-studded islet in the middle of the Libyan Sea is littered with secret sand-lined coves where you can laze all day without seeing another soul.