Crete, with its miles of beautiful coastline and clear, clean waters – visibility is typically 30 metres or more – has long been an attractive destination for divers and snorkellers. There are several superb diving centres on the island and snorkels can be bought or hired from any beach with general facilities. For those new to scuba, the calm bays are ideal for learning the basics, while more experienced divers can find an array of challenging and interesting sites.

Snorkelling in Crete

Snorkelling is a popular holiday activity and one that requires no previous expertise and little in the way of equipment. Once you have bought or hired your snorkel and mask – flippers are optional – all you need is a beach! Here’s where the fun really begins. The best beaches for snorkelling are those with superb visibility and warm, clean waters with no currents, and those with a range of fishes and other sea life. Beaches with a rocky seabed tend to have the best sea life, both in terms of quantity and diversity. You might come across starfish, moray eels and even octopus, as well as sponges and various marine plants.

Many beaches in Crete tick all those boxes, so how do you choose from amongst them? In general less crowded beaches are better for snorkelling, as crowds create noise and activity which can disturb sea life. Fortunately, the most crowded beaches tend to be those long sandy stretches that are not ideal for snorkelling anyway.

Many of the best beaches for snorkelling are found in the south, where there are plenty of rocky coves and inlets and sheltered bays. They include Elafonissi, a beautiful island reached via a shallow lagoon; Souda, a lovely, quiet cove; Plakias, a nearby resort with excellent facilities; and Matala, an outstandingly beautiful beach with caves and clear waters.

The northern beaches tend to be busier, but several of them are suitable for snorkelling. They include Pachia Ammos near Stavros, an excellent sand and limestone beach; Gerani, a quiet pebble beach in a beautiful natural cove setting; and Anissaras, a more populated beach with excellent facilities.

If you want a little more adventure, why not try out a snorkelling tour? Many hotels organise day-long snorkelling trips to some of the finest spots around the island. This gives you the opportunity to further escape the crowds and take advantage of local knowledge to find the clearest waters and best diversity of sea life. Snorkel (and scuba) sites include Dia Island, a small island off Heraklion; Chrissi, an island south of Ierapetra; and Thedorou, near Platanias.

Dive centres, offering equipment hire, lessons and day trips, can be found at many of the busier resorts, including Rethymno, Gouves, Agia Pelagia, Malia, Plakias and Vai. Beginners may want to take a PADI course, starting from two day courses with theory, pool dives and open water dives. Junior courses are available for those aged 10 to 14. Various advanced and speciality courses are also on offer.

Some of the finest beaches for snorkelling are a little out of the way and few have accommodation options. Unless you happen to be staying at one of the above beaches and are happy to spend your entire holiday there, searching out the best snorkel sites and getting to the dive centres is often easier with your own transport. With car hire the island of Crete becomes very easy to navigate and drive around, making the service very reasonable. Having your own transport also means that you get to experience some of the spectacular scenery to be found along the coastal and inland roads – you may even be tempted to spend more time on land! But whichever beaches you choose, the clear turquoise waters of Crete are sure not to disappoint – it is the perfect destination for a diving or snorkelling holiday.

Me at Santorini!

Santorini

Best for: Quiet, romantic breaks

The first destination on my list is the lovely island of Santorini. Famous for its volcanic landscape and characteristic blue-domed churches, it has a truly romantic atmosphere, which I think makes it a real gem for couples in particular.

One of the best things about coming here is the chance to see its amazing sunsets. I realise that might sound a little odd, considering that’ll occupy just a few minutes of any given day, but they really are spectacular. Make sure you head north to the village of Oia to see them, since from here you get the best view.

Crete

Best for: Hiking

As Crete is Greece’s largest island, it perhaps won’t come as a huge shock to hear it’s also one of the most diverse when it comes to the kind of attractions it offers. In terms of relaxation, it really does provide a fantastic mix – think scuba diving, historical sites (the ruined Minoan palace of Knossos particularly stands out) and hiking.

Personally, it’s the hiking element that I think is best-suited to relaxing breaks; after all, challenging walks in scenic countryside really make you feel as if you’re getting away from it all. And, if you are a keen hiker, you’ll find Crete provides plenty of challenges; the 16 km long Samaria Gorge in White Mountains National Park is especially exciting.

Peloponesse

Best for: Seeing historic attractions and walking

For my next top destination, we’ll head over to mainland Greece. Peloponesse is the southernmost region on the mainland and, unlike many other scenic spots in Greece, receives relatively few tourists and has retained an authentic atmosphere. In my book, this makes it a great place to relax.

It’s crisscrossed with kalderimi (mule paths) that are fantastic for walking; these are excellent if you fancy a gentle stroll rather than a long, arduous hike. Meanwhile, Peloponesse is also home to an impressive sprinkling of historic sites, including Olympia – the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

Halkidiki (Sani)

Best for: Family holidays

The resort of Sani in Halkidiki is the last destination on my list. Famous for its series of family-friendly, luxurious hotels, it is a place that provides virtually every activity and facility parents and kids could possibly want, without compromising on luxury.

In fact, I think this is one of the most attractive elements of Sani, since parents often have to sacrifice experiencing the upper end of luxury so that their children can have the facilities they need. The beauty of coming here is that parents can take advantage of the spas, great walking opportunities, fine cuisine and high-quality childcare, while younger visitors can have fun in the kids’ clubs, playing in the pool or getting tutored in various sports. It’s a win-win destination!

Of course, no matter where you choose to stay, picking the right hotel is massively important when it comes to making sure your holiday is as relaxing as possible. So, I think it’s well worth booking through a company (like Sovereign) that specialises in luxurious accommodation where you can really be pampered.