On the outskirts of the village of Agia Pelagia, just 25 km from Heraklion, is the Peninsula Resort & Spa, built amphitheatrically on a peninsula of particular natural beauty, between the bays of Psaromoura and Mononauti.

It has a variety of 270 different rooms, with earthy tones and fantastic sea views, which stand out for their elegant and minimalist aesthetics.

Take advantage of the hotel's all-inclusive facilities and enjoy delicious dishes of authentic Cretan and Mediterranean cuisine as well as themed dinners at the two restaurants and a variety of delicious snacks and delicious juices at the four bars of Peninsula Resort & Spa.

The Tsimento Beach Bar stands out in a magnificent spot, perched on a concrete platform next to the sea and is the ideal place to relax with a refreshing cocktail.

The spa services promise to treat you to a holistic rejuvenation treatment that will stimulate your senses with massage rooms, hammam and sauna, while young children aged 4-12 years are creatively engaged in the Mini Club with the trained Animation team.

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In the village of Agios Myronas, just 18 km from Heraklion, are the traditional guesthouses of the village, which keep alive the memories and the flavour of the area, inviting visitors to experience the traditional Cretan way of life.

It consists of triple and quadruple renovated stone-built apartments, fully equipped with their own bathroom, hydro-massage and shared hammam, surrounded by the lush vegetation of the area, with olive groves, vineyards, pine trees, etc. They have been classified as preserved monuments by the Ministry of Culture due to their special architectural, morphological and technical elements and offer a magnificent view of the peaks of Juktas and Psiloritis.

Explore the area with short excursions to the surrounding villages to get in touch with the tranquility of the countryside or choose one of the beaches with blue flags located within a radius of only 15 km for games and relaxation in the sea.

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Beside the beach of Ammoudara, Civitel Creta Beach is located, ready to offer you an all-inclusive experience with unique moments of relaxation.

It has 150 rooms, of exquisite aesthetics and many choices for food and drinks, in the hotel's restaurants, which offer excellent gastronomic proposals from Mediterranean, international and local cuisine, as well as in its bars, where you can choose between healthy snacks and refreshing cocktails for relaxing days and nights by the pool.

Civitel Creta Beach promises to entertain you with many activities such as live music, theme nights and sports facilities, with the more active ones choosing tennis courts, mini golf, beach volley and ping pong.

Children of all ages can be creatively entertained in the mini club with sports, crafts and various sports activities while parents enjoy a unique experience in the specially designed spa areas for facial treatments, relaxing Cretan massage or chocolate therapy.

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Agapi Beach invites you to discover the island of Crete from a new and fresh perspective, next to the long, sandy and warm beach and through the all-inclusive Cretan hospitality it offers, alongside with its 318 luxurious rooms.

The hotel provides five different dining options and four bars, all inspired by Cretan cuisine with authentic local recipes and fresh, seasonal products of the Cretan land. You can taste traditional dishes at the Greek taverna "Akrogiali", street food dishes at Taka-Taka and Italian favourites at Piazza d'Italia.

The entertainment doesn't stop at Agapi Beach, with plenty of activities for young and old alike. The children's club with a daily programme of activities offers moments of fun and play for the younger ones, alongside the experienced and accomplished staff, at the same time as adults can be entertained with live music, water sports, yoga sessions, healthy cooking classes or try a workout hour in the equipped on-site gym.

On the other hand, if you want to relax and rejuvenate, then the Aegeo Spa is the ideal choice. Expert therapists offer you a full menu from facials to body treatments, inspired by the Greek elements of earth and nature, using only the purest ingredients.

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Fodele Beach & Water Park Resort, is built in an idyllic location that is breathtaking, next to a 400 meter long sandy beach, in the area of Fodele, birthplace of the internationally renowned painter, Dominikos Theotokopoulos.

It has 412 rooms built in Renaissance style that seem to spring from the unparalleled beauty of the gardens, impressing visitors with the combination of Cretan tradition and Mediterranean style.

It operates on an all-inclusive system, with a variety of amenities that will impress you. In its restaurants, you can expect a variety of flavours from Greek to French and Italian, as well as plenty of cocktails and drinks to choose from at the pool and beach bars.

If you're the family holiday type, then Fodele Beach is a safe choice for children, as it has a kids club, with a playground and pool, with plenty of educational activities always supervised by professionals. At the same time you can take advantage of the countless sports options for all levels with tennis, basketball, volleyball courts, with a fully equipped gym, a water sports centre and a diving centre, ready to offer you unforgettable experiences.

In the hotel's facilities you will find a wellness centre, with unique services focused on beauty and stress reduction and the award-winning water park, which guarantees unforgettable moments of fun and carefree moments.

If you wish to combine travel with work, the large meeting rooms provided by the resort will satisfy your requirements. Fodele Beach also has a private chapel and many wedding packages to choose from, in order to make the happiest day of your life an unforgettable experience.

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In 2024, the Almyros karst spring in Heraklion was recognised as one of the most significant karst springs globally. 

This acknowledgment came through the MIKAS (Most Important Karst Aquifer's Springs) programme, conducted by the International Union of Hydrogeologists in collaboration with UNESCO. 

For those unfamiliar, a karst spring occurs when water emerges from caves. 

In geological terms, it denotes a water source (groundwater outflow) within a karst hydrological system, formed by the dissolution of rocks like limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. Such systems are characterised by sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage networks.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons