Authentic Crete – Why Not Conquer the Island by Camper Van?
We continue our slow travel through Greece, exploring some off-the-beaten-track destinations with our local experts. Today, we discover the Mediterranean dream island of Crete! But hold on - isn't that already a popular tourist destination? Well, yes, and for good reasons. This stunning island is jam-packed with beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, natural wonders and picturesque towns, which are well worth exploring. But why not explore the island on your own terms, combining the popular with the undiscovered? If you know me, I love a road trip and I love a good camper van. Therefore, we discover Crete today with Lazy Snail, a local camper van rental company for a bit of a different trip.
Crete is the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean sea, located about 160 km south of Greece’s mainland. With its nearly North African climate, it is an attractive holiday destination all year round.
Greece has been inhabited since the dawn of times, showing remnants of rich and diverse history. Between 2700 to 1420 BC, the Minoans lived in Crete, even making it the centre of Europe’s first advanced civilisation. Over the centuries, Crete had been ruled by the Roman empire, the Byzantine empire, Andalusian Arabs, the Venetian republic and the Ottoman empire. You can imagine the eclectic mix of cultural influences on the island, making it even more exciting to explore.
Today, Crete is one of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations. Millions of annual visitors flog to Crete’s sunny shores to enjoy the sun, beaches and beautiful sights. But there is still a way to discover the island off the beaten track. Why not conquer the island by camper van, exploring the lesser travelled roads?! The best way to enjoy Crete is by travelling in a camper van to really get to know this diverse island with mountains, gorges, lagoons, beaches all throughout.
The North
The North is more developed with a strong touristic infrastructure and home to all the big-ticket items Crete has to offer. The island has two airports you can fly into – Heraklion is the main airport and Chania is the slightly smaller airport in the northwest of Crete.
The capital city of Heraklion is a stunning town with a rich history and the centre of the island. The famous Knossos ruins are situated just outside Heraklion, Matala Beach and its caves as well as the stunning Balos lagoon in the west. In between, you can explore the coastline to find more breathtaking bays, beaches and beautiful little villages. Did you know that Crete even has its very own wine region? Just about 20 km outside of Heraklion, you’ll find the village of Dafnes, the centre of Crete’s wine region. Situated on the foothills of Mt. Psiloritis, this fertile area is an agricultural hub, producing not only wine but also spirits, vegetables and olive oil. Chania, located in the northwest of Crete has a beautiful old Venetian harbour inviting visitors to dine in one of the many restaurants or explore the old town on foot. Between Heraklion and Chania, you find Rethymno, with yet another beautiful old town centre and plenty of natural and historical highlights worth exploring.
With so many highlights located in the northern part of the island, it is no surprise that most tourists base themselves here. Stay a few nights in the bigger cities before your road trio to soak in the atmosphere and explore on foot. Have a look on Booking.com to treat yourself to a nice hotel before hitting the road!
The South
Less busy and developed, the South is a great area to get away from it all and really discover the hidden side of Crete. The most popular place to visit is the pink beach of Elafonisi in the island’s southwest corner. Travel along the southern coastline to explore hidden bays and visit quaint little villages. Visit, for example, the fishing village of Loutro with its typical white houses and crystal clear turquoise waters. Continue on to explore Agia Roumeli, Makrigialos or Sfakia villages to try some proper local food and enjoy the Greek hospitality.
Explore the area around Preveli with its stunning palm forest, located between the Preveli monastery and the Kourtaliótiko gorge. If you are interested in exploring nature on foot you have to hike along the Samaria Gorge. With 16 km the Samarian is Europe’s longest gorge and a stunning place to explore and enjoy nature. The South is just as worth visiting as the North, inviting you to slow it down and to get away from the crowds!
Travel vs. Holiday
Instead of flying in, plonking down at a beach and just rotating between beach and restaurant, why not explore Crete? This island has so much to offer, from mountains and gorges in the middle of the island to obviously stunning coastline and traditional villages. It would be a shame to spend all your time in one place! Therefore, don’t holiday but rather travel the island to appreciate all its different sides, history and natural wonders
As an avid slow traveller, plan enough time for your visit to Crete to have time to discover as much or as little as you like. Of course, you can easily rent a car with Localrent and stay in accommodation on around the island. But why not try something new? Something a bit different, you wouldn’t expect when travelling to the Greek islands! Why not travel around the island in a camper van?
Meet LazySnail Campers
Thanks to our friend Efi from Life Lovers Greece, I saw her article featuring camping in Crete with LazySnail Campers! I was immediately hooked on the idea since I had never heard from anyone that they went on a camping holiday to Crete. It surely sounds right up our alley!
This small family-owned company has been set up in 2017 and is operated from Crete’s capital city Heraklion. LazySnail is specialised in camper van rentals & camper van holidays in Crete. The idea to set up a camper van rental business in Crete was born after owner Dimitris Michalomanolakis took his own journey around the world in a motorhome. The bohemian life and the freedom of travelling with your own home is the ultimate way to travel. Take each day at your own pace, be autonomous, with no schedule or limitations. Explore the island on your own terms and find destinations that were never on your schedule. The LazySnail Campers team generously share their knowledge of the hidden Cretan gems and promise memorable camper van travel in Greece!
The Fleet
LazySnail Campers offer a great range of vehicle options, entirely depending on your needs and preferences. If you are travelling as a family, looking for a longer stay at one campsite with more comfort, a motor home would probably best suit your needs. If you are looking for a taste of #vanlife definitely go for one of LazySnail camper vans! Equipped with everything you need yet smaller and more agile than a motor home, you can really taste the freedom of the road! The more adventurous explorer should definitely go for a 4×4 vehicle with a rooftop tent. If you are looking to discover the more remote corners of Crete, the 4×4 vehicles are perfect to get off-piste.
No matter what vehicle type you are going for there is no need to worry about any of your camping basics. All vehicles come equipped with bedding, towels, cooking equipment, folding camping chairs and a table.
Peruse their website and see what suits you best and start dreaming of your own individual Crete exploration. Depending on the season you travel in and the vehicle you are looking for, you can on average calculate 80 – 100 EUR per day for your rental. Have a look here to decide on your preferred season and rates!
Crete's Campsites
Crete is well equipped with campgrounds all throughout the island. Especially the more remote South offers a good selection of campsites for all modes of transport. While travelling in a camper van gives you the flexibility to stay or leave however you like, it is recommended to book in advance if you are planning to stay for a few days in a specific place. The summer months July and August are considered high season and the busiest time of the year. If you are planning on travelling during this time, definitely book your campsites ahead. On the other hand, during the off-season between December and March, most campgrounds will be closed so once again. Just make sure to check before you go.
Now, the big question is if you can camp wild in Crete? Officially, it is forbidden to camp – meaning to pitch a tent – in the wild. However, especially in the more remote South of the island many people do. Police raids are common, mostly in nature reserves or close to inhabited areas. If you sleep under the stars on the beach you can do that anywhere you like since it’s not considered camping. As long as you don’t leave any waste behind, treat the area and nature around you with respect, you should be able to get away with the odd night in the wild.
Did you know you can also find campgrounds on Booking.com? If you want to make sure to not get stuck, book your camping spot online in advance. And maybe the occasional night in a nice hotel doesn’t hurt either. Treat yourself, it’s your adventure after all!
Driving in Crete
The island has a good network of roads that can easily be navigated even with a bigger vehicle. Like the rest of continental Europe, driving in Crete is on the right side of the road. The roads on the island are almost all in good condition and perfect to drive on. Even though mountainous and often windy, the roads are suitable for any type of vehicle. Just take it slowly and don’t speed. It’s your holiday, so why rush? You are a slow traveller, after all, so go at LazySnail speed!
Most roads in Crete are paved, but if you have chosen the 4×4 vehicle option, there is literally no road on the island you cannot take on. Should you have chosen the motor home or the camper van option, the only place you might have difficulties are the tiny village roads. Those are often extremely narrow with many blind spots making it more challenging to navigate in a bigger vehicle. Driving in the bigger cities is a bit more challenging with busier traffic and limited parking spots. Keep that in mind in case you plan a longer stay in one of the cities. Other than that driving in Crete is a piece of cake.
I hope you got some inspiration out of this to explore more about road tripping Crete in a flashy cool and most importantly local camper van hire. See the island on your terms and get some off the beaten track tips from the friendly LazySnail crew. Getting out of your comfort zone is always the most rewarding experience. Why not try it in a beautiful place like Crete?!
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Have a fabulous week and until next time!
