www.kretaeiendom.com a better quality of life

Imagine Crete...

Index

Welcome to a Better Quality of Life 2

About Kreta Eiendom 3

Why Choose Crete? 4

Good to Know about Crete 5

Rethymno - You Never Want to Leave 8

Rethymno - Something for Everyone 10

Properties for Sale in Projects 12

Build Your Dream Home 16

Luxury Villas for Sale 18

Real Estate for Sale 20

After Sale Services 21

Buying Property in Greece 22

Additional Expenses When Buying Property 23

Our Customers 24

Golf on the Island of Crete 25

Activities in Crete 26

Transport to and around Crete 28

The information in this catalogue is valid as per the current legislation in Greece and is subject to change at any time. Our company assumes no responsibility for any errors contained or omissions made in this catalogue. Rethymno, June 2014

For over a decade, Kreta Eiendom has helped hundreds of people turn their dreams of owning a property on Crete into reality. It’s easy to fall in love with this wonderful island, as it has so much to offer. Whether you are looking to acquire a new permanent residence, a holiday home or just make a solid investment, there’s no better place and no-one more experienced than Kreta Eiendom to help you achieve your goal.

This brochure contains a wide variety of properties for your perusal, plus general information regarding the purchasing process. However, if you would like a more in depth guide, please refer to our website www.kretaeiendom.com.

ellen HansenGeneral director

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Welcome to a Better Quality of Life

About KretA eIendom Established by Ellen Hansen in 2002, Kreta Eiendom has rapidly become one of the most reputable property developers on the island. The main office is located in the old town of Rethymno on the north coast. Easily accessible, Rethymno is approximately half way between Hania in the west and the capital city of Heraklion towards the east.

As an international company, we are proud to say that we are able to communicate in many languages. This enables us to maintain our philosophy of assisting our clients with simplicity and ease throughout the whole purchasing procedure.

In 2004 Kreta Eiendom formed its own construction company, Estia Construction. They retain complete control throughout the entire building process on both multiple developments and individual private homes.

In 2008 Kreta Eiendom’s own property maintenance company ‘Alpha to Omega’ was created to deal with the growing demand for their high quality after care service. Alfa to Omega provide a comprehensive package tailored to suit the client’s individual requirements during their absence.

Kreta Eiendom. You can be secure in the knowledge that from start to finish and beyond, your home really is in the best possible hands.

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Welcome to a Better Quality of Life

Land of the gods and the island of dreams, Crete is steeped in history, myths and legends dating back thousands of years. Ancient monuments and architectural treasures blend with mod-ern day structures creating a warm Mediterranean atmosphere. Every-thing you’ve ever imagined a magical place to offer can be found on this wonderful island. Exciting night life, archaeological wonders, spectacular scenery and unique flora and fauna, the list is endless. With a lower cost of living than the rest of Europe and an even lower crime rate, Crete is a very desirable place to be!

The largest and most southerly of all the Greek islands, Crete has over a thousand kilometers of spectacular coast line. Long sandy beaches, hidden coves and far reaching peninsulas, surrounded by the Ionian Sea on the north and the Libyan sea to the south, Crete is one of the most fascinating and diverse places in the world.

Divided in to four counties; Hania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Lasithi, each county of Crete has a character of its own. As you travel across the island, the rolling landscape and breath taking scenery may change, but the warm and friendly hospitality of the local people always remains the same. They open their hearts and their homes, eager for you to share their culture, learn their traditions and sample their cuisine. Family unity is an important part of life here, revolving of course around the kitchen table! Due to the consistently good climate, agri-cultural and live stock farming are still the most common industries. Fruit and vegetables are grown all year round. This produce, togeth-er with their world renowned olive oil create some of the tastiest and healthiest dishes you will ever enjoy. No wonder Cretans have one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world!

Away from the tourist areas, life moves at a much slower pace. As you make your way in the sunshine, through charming villages and up into the mountains you’ll find time rarely moves on. Many of the locals still wear traditional costume, farm the land man-ually and in some places the donkey is still a popular form of trans-port! However, Cretans no matter where they live, soon pick up the pace when it comes to enjoying themselves. Preserving strong ties with their ancestors, traditional music and folk lore songs are an essential part of every celebration. Both Greek and Cretan steps are danced long into the night. Cretans take to the dance floor at every opportunity, sometimes even dancing on the tables!

WHy CHoose Crete?

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Good to KnoW About Crete

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Location: South east Europe.Size: 8261 square kilometers.Dimensions: East to West 260 km. North to south: max 60km, min 12km.Population: Heraklion (capital city) 151.000 approx. Hania 60.000 approx. Retymno 40.000 approx.Local time: GMT + 2 hoursCurrency: Euro PublIC HolIdAys

There are many public holidays in Greece. The main ones are as follows: 1st January, 25th March, 1st May, 15th August, 28th October, 8th November (Rethymno only) 25th December and Easter Sunday and Monday.

oPenInG Hours

The Banks open from 07.30 am until 14.00 Monday till Thursday and 07.30 till 13.30 on Friday.

Throughout the summer season most of the shops remain open from around nine am until late into the evening, Monday to Saturday. You will even find many shops open on a Sunday. Normal opening hours throughout the remainder of the year however, are somewhat different. 9.00 - 14.00 Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. On the remaining days Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, the shops retain the same opening hours in the morning as the other days, but also re-open in the evening from 17.30 until approximately 21.00.

Supermarkets open 8.00 and remain open throughout the day until approximately 20.30 Monday to Saturday.Many of the local Mini Markets remain open until late in the evening and also open on Sundays.

PlACes of WorsHIPPlease remember when entering an Orthodox Church or inhabited Monastery to dress appropriately. Both men and women should remove any head wear. Shoulders and knees must be covered by everyone especially the ladies. The wearing of shorts for example is not acceptable and you may be asked to cover up or leave.

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Falassarna beach, Chania

A lot can be said about Crete, but keep in mind that the ultimate experience is to come and discover it for yourself...

Rethymno Old Town White Mountains, Chania

Chania

Karoti village, RethymnoArgiroupoli waterfalls, Rethymno

A lot can be said about Crete, but keep in mind that the ultimate experience is to come and discover it for yourself...

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Due to the sheer size of the island it would be impossible for us to cover it all. There’s just so much to see and do...

Rethymno was carefully chosen by Kreta Ei-endom, not only for its beauty, but also for its location. Situated in the heart of the island, Rethymno is within easy reach of Hania, Her-aklion and the un-spoilt south coast. There’s something for everyone and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.

With the White Mountains to the west and Psiloritis to the east, the prefecture of Rethymno is the most diverse and moun-tainous of the four counties. Flourishing val-leys and wonderful ravines meet rocky coves and sandy beaches. The natural beauty and greenery is not only astounding, but in many

ways unique. The fauna and flora include over two hundred species of plants and trees that can-not be found anywhere else in the world.

There are forty thousand inhabitants residing in Rethymno County. The city itself is the third largest on the island. Rich in history, the old town was almost completely rebuilt during the Venetian occupation. The Venetians of course were not the first to occupy Crete. The Romans, Arabs and Turks to name but a few, all invaded at some point, until 1913 when Crete officially joined Greece. Today the Old town of Rethymno still retains its aristocratic appearance. Venetian, Byzantine and Turk-ish influences are strongly visible throughout the narrow streets. Arched doorways, Minorets and stone steps are common sights, with the beautifully preserved Old Venetian Harbour and prominent Venetian Fortress, said to be one of the finest examples of fortification in the world, taking pride of place.

The whole island of Crete is extremely interesting from an archaeological point of view. The most fa-mous sites being ‘Knossos’ and ‘Festos Palace’ located an hour away in the capital city of Heraklion. There are, however, prominent archaeological sights to be found locally. ‘Arkadi Monastery’ is not only close by, but also very important to the Cretans and to the people of Rethymno in particular. Devout to their Orthodox religion, the monastery represents freedom and heroism. During the Cretan War of Independence, the monks along with nine hundred refugees chose death over being captured by the Turks and blew themselves up inside. The anniversary of this heroic and tragic event is known as ‘Arkadi day’ and is remembered annually on November 8th. If you are generally interested in the Or-thodox religion or its churches you won’t have trouble finding one to visit, there are over four hundred churches in the County of Rethymno alone!

retHymno – you never WAnt to leAve...

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A short drive from Arkadi monastery, in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, is one of the most important archaeological discoveries on the island. Located in the village of ‘Eleftherna’ at the foot hills of Psiloritis, this most recent archaeological find includes a Roman tower, Christian basilica preserved in the hillside and a fabulous Hellenistact bridge. These monuments, along with over five hundred artifacts of clay, bronze, silver and gold illustrate the long history of Eletherna village and its surrounding area spanning from at least the fourth millennium BC until the twelfth century AD.

Rethymno Old Town

Venetian fortress in Rethymno Arkadi Monastery

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retHymno - sometHInG for everyone

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Returning to the present day and the city of Rethymno itself, you will discover that shopping is a must. There are said to be an astonishing two hundred jewellry stores alone! But if jewel-lery doesn’t tempt you, we’re sure that you will find something to purchase in a city that sells just about everything from leather bags and shoes, to herbs and spices, clothes, souvenirs and so much more. Apart from shopping there’s always something hap-pening; Rethymno is a city that very much caters to the needs of its visitors.

Throughout the year various events and festivals are organised by the local people. The wine festival is held usually in July. This two week celebration of Cretan culture takes place in the mu-nicipal gardens and follows a different program every evening. Exhibitions by local artists, activities for the children, Cretan mu-sic, dancing and of course the opportunity to sample the local wines and gastronomic delicacies are all part of the itinerary.

In July or August a large Renaissance festival is held with night-ly theatrical performances in the open air Venetian Fortress included in its program. The main event of the year is the Carnival. The second largest in Greece, Rethymno Carnival lasts for two days. However, many activities such as the city treasure hunt take place over the three week period leading up to the Carnival’s colourful and exciting finale. The whole celebration is known as ‘Apokries’. Drawing crowds from all over Greece, the main procession takes place through the city on the last day of ‘Apokries’ with thousands of people joining in the fun. The date of the Carnival changes annu-ally to fall in line with the Orthodox Easter and the start of ‘Lent’ which commences the following day on ‘Clean Monday’.

If you prefer a more sedate way of life, participating in the local past time of watching the world go by is a good way to soak up the atmosphere. There are a whole array of café bars, taver-nas and restaurants catering to every taste in which to sit back and relax. During the evening and carrying on into the night the pace picks up. Lively nights out are part of Cretan life and there are plenty of bars and night clubs to choose from. The Greeks certainly know how to enjoy themselves and their hospitality is famous, especially in Rethymno. It was, after all, the home of Zeus, the God of Hospitality!

As you can see Rethymno has a lot to offer and the island as a whole even more. As a famous poet once said ‘Crete is not a place you leave, but a place that you return to’. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves and are sure that you’ll agree.

Preveli, South Rethymno

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Rethymno

Chania

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ProPertIes for sAle In ProjeCts

7. trIton seA vIeW 8. PlAKIA PAnorAmA 9. PlAKIAs resort 10. mACArIs APts. & sPA 11. IonIA resIdenCe 12. PAnormo seAfront

1. KArotI resIdenCe 2. PlAKotI vIllAGe 3. PlAKotI APArtments 4. PIGI PArAdIse 5. mIlI GAte 6. KyrIAnnA olIve Grove

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Agios Nikolaos

HeraklionHeraklion

Agios Nikolaos

7. trIton seA vIeW 8. PlAKIA PAnorAmA 9. PlAKIAs resort 10. mACArIs APts. & sPA 11. IonIA resIdenCe 12. PAnormo seAfront

1. KArotI resIdenCe 2. PlAKotI vIllAGe 3. PlAKotI APArtments 4. PIGI PArAdIse 5. mIlI GAte 6. KyrIAnnA olIve Grove

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13 13. eloundA dIAmond

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Panormo Seafront

Plakoti Apartments

Pigi Paradise

Plakia Panorama

Plakoti Village

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Karoti Residence

Plakias Resort

Macaris Apartments & Spa

Ionia Residence

Elounda Diamond

Triton Sea View

buIld your dreAm Home!

Imagine choosing your land, building your own private villa and spending lazy days and relaxing nights living your dream. Now imagine building your dream villa but with someone else doing all the work... Imagine Kreta Eiendom...

Over past few years Kreta Eiendom has handed many clients the keys to their ‘dream home’, ready for them to live the reality of a better way of life. Building a villa on Crete is a lot easier than you think, especially when you have a team of experienced professionals to do everything for you, from start to finish and beyond.

We’ll find you a suitable plot of land in just the right location if you don’t already have one. You can design everything yourself, right down to the tiniest detail working along side one of our architects or you can choose from one of our ‘pre-designed’ plans just adding your own personal touches should you wish to do so. Location, design, landscaping, contents and budget, you choose and through our own construction company Estia Construction, Kreta Eiendom will turn your dream in to a high quality reality.

Advice is on hand from our engineers throughout the whole construction process, before, during and after the completion of your home. Progress reports and photographs will be readily available for your perusal at every stage of construction. Nothing could be simpler.

Once you have chosen your land and the design of your home, Kreta Eiendom will prepare the construction contract. This document will include a fixed price for your completed ‘key in the door’ property ready for you to move into. We will also handle all the legal requirements relating to the property’s construction. Our standard completion time for a private villa is approximately twelve months from the day the Building Permit is granted.

Your dream villa constructed and finished to your requirements, on time and within your budget.

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luxury vIllAs for sAle

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Kreta Eiendom has a selection of luxury properties for sale with exquisite design, marvelous panoramic views, infinity pools, private beaches and much more...

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reAl estAte for sAle In addition to its own developments and previously owned properties, Kreta Eiendom also acts as a broker for many other developers. Our extensive listings include: privately owned villas, apartments, stone houses, land and hotels. For more information on this constantly changing market, please visit our website www.kretaeiendom.com.

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After sAles servICes

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When owning a property outside of your own country, there are certain practicalities that need to be considered. General maintenance and repairs, cleaning, tax declarations and payment of bills to name just a few. With these practicalities in mind, and the ever increasing demand for high quality after care services, Kreta Eiendom formed its own property maintenance company ‘Alpha to Omega’. Professional, experienced and with good local contacts to professional tradesmen, the company has gone from strength to strength. Having security, peace of mind and a reliable service enables the clients of Alpha to Omega to relax and enjoy their time on the island knowing that their property is in good hands.

If you would like more detailed information regarding the trustworthy and personal service that Alpha to Omega can provide, please visit our website www.alphatoomega.gr.

The staff of Alpha to Omega

Buying property in Greece is different than in many other parts of Europe, but certainly not difficult. Kreta Eiendom’s personal service includes guiding you through the whole purchasing process and beyond.

The simplest way to buy property as a ‘Non resident’ in Greece is through ‘Power of Attorney’. As all buyers are required by law to have legal representation when purchasing real estate, you will need to retain a lawyer whether you chose to use the power of attorney process or not. If you don’t already have a lawyer we can assist in finding one for you.

We recommend that you chose the ‘Power of Attorney’ option as it allows the whole purchase and construction process to be completed quickly and simply in your absence. Your lawyer will be able to open a Greek bank account in your name, obtain an obligatory tax number (AFM), make payments on your behalf and deal quickly and efficiently with any paper work pertaining to the purchase and construction of your home.

To instigate a ‘Power of Attorney’ you simply need to complete a form with your personal details and provide a copy of your passport(s). The Power of Attorney will need to be stamped by the Greek Consulate. If you don’t have a Consulate in your local area we will inform you of a simple alternative procedure at the time.

If you would like further information regarding the benefits and procedures to obtaining a ‘Power of Attorney’ please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Please note that the majority of legal documentation pertaining to property transactions is in Greek. Although a verbal translation is always provided, any official translation of such documentation will be at the Buyers expense.

”By using Kreta Eiendom the legal process of buying a property will be much easier than you imagine. We just do it all!”

ProPerty buyInG In GreeCe

Anthula mumutziLawyer, Kreta Eiendom

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AddItIonAl exPenses WHen buyInG ProPety Property purchases in Greece are subject to taxation. It is obligatory for the purchase tax to be paid prior to signing the deeds. The amount of tax is calculated on the value of the transaction.

oblIGAtory fees

fInAnCInG your ProPerty It is possible for a ‘Non Greek’ to obtain a mortgage from a Greek Bank. Kreta Eiendom has good local connections with local financial institutions who offer competitive terms based on the Central European Banks interest rate. If you would like further information regarding local financing, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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In many countries when purchasing a property, a lawyer is responsible for the draf-ting and the registration of the sales contract. In Greece however we have a separate legal profession known as ‘Notaries’. A notary is responsible for drafting all and any legally binding contracts. Buying a property in Greece cannot be completed without their participation. The notary fee is calculated in most cases at 1.6 % including tax and the ‘Land Registry’ fee is calculated at 0.475 - 0.575 % plus 23 % VAT respecti-vely. The notarial fee is decreased as the the amount of the transaction is increased.

The legal fee is a matter of agreement but usually it is 1% of the property price or a minimum of 1.500 euros plus taxes. Naturally the legal fee is also determi-ned by the extent of the service provided by the lawyer.

Connections to all amenities: Water, Electricity and Sewage are the responsibility of the purchaser. The charges vary from location to location, but an estimation of 1.500 – 2.000 euros for a newly built property, should be allowed.

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On properties where the Building Licence was issued before January 1st 2006, real es-tate transfer tax is charged at 3,09% of the price.

On properties where the Building Licence was issued on or after January 1st 2006 and the seller is a developer-contractor, taxation of 23% of the purchase price will apply.

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On one of our visits to Crete

in 2004 we were invited to

come to Rethymnon by a

friend who worked for Kreta

Eiendom. He just wanted to

show us the town and its sur-

roundings.

When he took us up to Plakoti, stopped the car in the

middle of an olive field with a fantastic view over the

Mediterranean and told us that holiday houses were

to be build here, we lost our breath. But we had no

intension at all to buy a house in Crete or anywhere

else in the world.

Three weeks later we had signed a contract for our

lovely house in Plakoti Village and have never re-

gretted since! After an exciting building period for

18 months we moved into our house in June 2006.

Kreta Eiendom did a great job in this period . Since

2006 we have been here at least 10 weeks each year,

and we go back to Norway each time with sorrow in

our hearts, but filled up with new strength in body

and soul.

Thank you Kreta Eiendom for letting us in to this

paradise on earth and for all your assistance!

Kirsten and Ulf Henriksen

Plakoti Village

our Customers

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Summer in Nor-way can be great, but it is short and capricious. We had traveled a lot and eventually decided to get us our own place where the cli-mate is milder. The reason that Crete was the first choice was our previous good

experience with Greek culture and mentality,

that Crete is the southernmost point in Europe

and that the island has both beaches and

mountains. We were very excited about Crete and after a

few visits we had meetings with three developers

including Kreta EIendom.

Kreta Eiendom became quickly our “preferred

partner”. After considering several options, we

decided in 2010 to buy an apartment in Karoti

Residence. Our experience with Kreta Eindom is

the best. They have been very responsive to our

needs and are quick to act. Toril and Arne BergKaroti Residence

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During the last 15 years together with my wife Marina I’ve been travelling around the world and finally we came to Crete – a place we fell in love with from the beginning.One day we came into the Kreta Eiendom office out of curiositity and walked out with a signed purchase contract. But how could we not sign it? The prices are in comparison to Moscow very low – there you cannot buy even a barn for the same money. And on Crete you purchase a house ready to move in! Also included are terraces which you can use all year around.

In this Norwegian company we found the mixture of Scandinavian and Greek character which created a very nice, familiar atmosphere in the office and at the construction site.Viktor and Marina Grebenchikov Karoti Residence

After we decided to buy a house in Crete, it was important to find a local company that could give us a se-cure feeling during the construction process.

Kreta Eiendom was this company who gave us peace of mind right from the start. We had many dreams about how our house in Crete should be and now these dreams have come true 100%. Kreta Eiendom has refuted our many require-ments in a positive way, and given us good advice on matters that we had not thought of. Also it has been a huge advantage for us that we could speak with Norwegians who actually live in Crete. Now we enjoy our home in Plakias several times a year and so do our children. Home good, but Crete best! Gunn Mari and Kurt Inge HyllestadPlakia Panorama

Please contact our office for more references from our customers!

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Golf on tHe IslAnd of Crete The Crete Golf Club in Hersonissos is the only eighteen hole golf course on the island. Built to international PGA standards by architect Bob Hunt, a member of the PGA himself, the golf course is one of the most impressive throughout the Mediterranean. The surrounding land-scape provides spectacular panoramic views of both the mountains and sea, while the course it-self offers unique challenges and a wonderful experience to its many year - round visitors. The natural climate on the Island of Crete and the location of the Golf course in particular, make it pos-sible to play golf throughout the year. Steady gentle breezes are cooling during the summer months, while the milder south Mediterranean climate provides ideal golfing conditions during the winter time.

The golf club houses extensive practice facilities including two putting greens, a three hundred yard double-ended, covered driving range and a short game area. For those who would like to learn to play, there is also a Golf academy for both adults and teenagers.

Aqua Plus waterpark 2km away The club house

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ACtIvItIes In Crete

There’s more to the Island of Crete than sun, sea, beaches and bars! Below we have given you a few ideas of activi-ties you may already enjoy doing and some that you may never have thought of! HIKInG And treKKInGThis is a fabulous way to see and feel the ‘real’ Crete ; there are so many places to explore. Apart from the famous ‘Samaria Gorge’ known as the ‘Grand Canyon of Europe’ there are also smaller but equally beautiful gorges all over the island and many of them right here in Rethymno. Myloi Gorge (pronounced Mili) is not only any easy trek but one of the greenest and most interest-ing. Passing through the new village of Miloi you can de-scend into the gorge and visit the old deserted settlement. With its abandoned houses, caves and watermills, cool running streams and an abundance of wild life, you are guaranteed to delight in this green and undisturbed place.

WAter sPortsThe crystal clear warm waters and sunshine provide the perfect setting for active water sports. Along most of the public beaches you will find water sport centres offering Jet skiing, Wind surfing, Parasailing, Banana boat rides and much more.

sCubA dIvInG And snorKellInG A great way to see Crete underwater is by snorkelling or scuba diving. There are plenty of diving centres in Rethym-no and around the island as a whole, which organise diving not only for certified divers, but also for those who have never dived or snorkelled before. The shores of Crete are full of under water life and with the good visibility provided by the Mediterranean Sea, diving and snorkelling make for an excellent day out. tHe seA AQuArIumApproximately twenty minutes outside of Heraklion, lo-cated in the former American Air base at Gouves is the Sea Aquarium. Thirty two tanks containing two and a half thousand organisms are housed here. With information available in many languages, interactive touch screens provide information regarding the behaviour of every spe-cies and their natural habitats. Under water remote con-trol cameras have also been installed in the larger tanks, providing you with the opportunity to tour the aquariums’ hidden depths and get a real insight into their inhabitants’ under water world.

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Trekking in Smaria Gorge

WAter PArKsWater parks provide fun and relaxation for all the family. There are four altogether on Crete. Three of the water parks are in the vicinity of Hersonissos on the east of the island and one is located in Hania to the west. You will find that all water parks here on Crete are very safe and secure.

Horse rIdInGSaddle up and explore this fabulous island on horse back. The spectacular landscape provides the perfect backdrop for heading off and discovering the ‘real’ Crete. Through vast olive groves and hidden paths or along deserted beaches, one of the riding centres in the area will take you off on a trail of discovery. bunGy jumPInGApproximately fourteen kilometres west of Hora Sfakion is the famous Vardinogiannis Bridge. During the week-ends you can see people hurling themselves from the bridge onto the Aradena Gorge one hundred and thirty eight me-tres below. If you’d like to jump from the highest ‘Bungy Jumping’ site in Greece, head for Agios Ioannis, stopping at the cantina by the bridge to ask for exact directions to the remote refuge. If seeing the gorge from a more ortho-dox angle sounds more appealing, access can be gained by rambling through the ruins of the old village.

tHe botAnICAl PArK of CreteBetween Rethymno and Hania lies the green oasis of the Botanical Park. Covering an area of twenty hectares, this wonderful garden provides not only the opportunity to re-lax in the countryside and admire the many plants and animals indigenous to the Mediterranean, but also the op-portunity to learn about their history and way of life.

CulturAl ACtIvItIesCrete is one of the most important cultural and archaeo-logical locations in Greece. Famous historical sights are dotted all over the island including: ‘Knossos’ the largest of all the Minoan Palaces ever constructed and second in archaeological importance only to the ‘Pathenon’ in Ath-ens. The palaces of Festos, Malia, Gortys can all be vis-ited along with the many museums now housing artefacts found during their excavation.

Please keep in mind that it is possible to go on organised excursions to most of the fore mentioned activities. If you would like any further information or discover what else there is for you to see and do on the island, just contact Alpha to Omega www.alphatoomega.gr.

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trAvellInG to And Around Crete

There’s so much to say about the island of Crete. Of course the ultimate experience is to come and discover this fascinating place for yourself. With good connections to the rest of Europe, travelling to Crete by air or sea is easy.

trAvellInG by AIrThere are three airports on the island. Heraklion airport is the largest and most centrally located. Hania is situated in the west and Sitia airport services the east. During the summer season; April until the end of October, many charter companies offer direct flight-only deals from all over Europe. In the win-ter months the main option is to fly to Athens and take one of the frequent short flights that head for Crete on a daily basis. For further information please visit the following websites: www.aegeanairlines.com and www.olympicair.com

trAvellInG by seAIf you prefer to sail, there are numerous ports to choose from; Heraklion, Souda Bay Hania, Rethym-no, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia and Kissamos. Fares start as low as thirty euros. Each destination and ferry company has its own schedule and services using Super fast ferries, Hydrofoil etc and the following websites contain all relevant information for travelling by sea. www.cretanlines.gr, www.anek.gr and www.minoan.gr.

GettInG Around by PublIC rAnsPort And tAxI Once you arrive, there are several ways of getting around. Public bus services are efficient and reason-ably priced for both local trips and longer journeys across the length and breadth of the island. Tickets for short trips can be bought at the local kiosk and ny mini markets. For longer journeys tickets need to be purchased from the bus station and can be acquired in advance. They’re not dated so if your plans change you can always use them on another day.

It’s always best to check the bus time table, especially if you are heading further afield or your journey falls on one of the many public holidays.

Taxis are a quick and easy option. They can be ordered by phone, (a small call-out charge will apply) picked up from one of the many taxi ranks or hailed in the street. Be sure to agree the price before you set off or make sure that the metre is running. Prices for longer distances, to the airports for example, can usually be found listed out side major taxi ranks. Just remember that Greeks are very economically minded. It’s not unusual for taxi drivers to stop on route and pick up a second passenger travelling in the same direction. You don’t get your journey any cheaper, but the driver doubles his money!

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www.kretaeiendom.com

Kreta eiendom sAtel.: +30 28310 21430 - fax +30 28310 21439 post@kretaeiendom.noArkadiou 1 - 74100 rethymno - Crete, Greece