A villa in Crete means a holiday in Greece full of days of seaside fun, incredibly beautiful scenery, and lots of great beaches to choose from, with some particularly famous and noteworthy examples among them. One of the most well-known, beloved, and interesting of all of the beaches on the island of Crete, however, has to be Vai Beach. This picture-perfect gem is just the kind of incredible looker that one might come to expect of beaches in Crete and it is a wonderful place for some sun and fun but it is also a rather unique example among the other equally lovely strands in the area. Home to the largest palm tree forest in all of Europe, Vai Beach isn't just a pretty place to enjoy a day by the sea, it is an important natural gem of great ecological importance.
Located 24km from Stia, Vai Beach is actually in quite an isolated position with no village or resort alongside it, quite an unusual trait of such a large and impressive beach along the coast of Crete. However, despite this, you won't have to go without anything when you visit. In fact, you'll still find some great facilities have been established on site as the immense popularity of the beach as a tourist destination has led to all sorts of vendors setting up shop in the carpark alongside the strand throughout the summer. Food, drinks, beach supplies, umbrella and lounge chair rentals, and more are all available nearby and for full Greek meals of local favourites there is a restaurant run by a monastery in the area that is positioned right on the beach. Snorkelling is popular in the impossibly clear waters of the beach and snorkels can almost always be purchased from the various vendors but there are also companies working out of Vai that offer jet-skiing and wind-surfing if you are interested in getting active and trying out some exciting water sports.
Initially, “discovered,” by hippies who were living and travelling in the area in the early 70s, word eventually got out about this part of Crete and the beach of Vai, in particular. It was the backdrop for an advertisement for the popular Bounty bar and more and more people began to visit. As such, by the 1980s Vai had become a permanent camping site for thousands of visitors and had been transformed from a natural paradise into a rubbish tip. Thankfully, the beach became a protected area in the same decade and was cleaned up. Today, it is considered one of the best beaches in all of Greece and has been awarded a Blue Flag by the European Union. The palm forest, too, is now protected by the ICUN. Tucked into a valley behind a fresh water pond and creek, the forest of Phoenix Theophrasti palms that are unique to Crete hosts native birds like the Cretan Marten and other animals like the small native stoat. It is, therefore, not just a beautiful feature that further enhances the incredible aesthetic appeal of this special and stunning beach but an important and unique ecosystem that hosts important native species.
A long, perfect, sandy stretch with pebbles, crystal-clear water, wonderful surroundings, and good amenities, this very famous and beloved beach, understandably becomes rather busy during the summer months. While it is large enough for there to be some space, the crowds can become quite intense during the height of the summer so it may not be suitable to everyone's needs. If you have found a vacation rental in Crete and are planning a getaway in Greece in the late spring, early summer, or in autumn, however, you will find quite a different beach with far fewer people and more space to truly enjoy this amazing looker.
Initially, “discovered,” by hippies who were living and travelling in the area in the early 70s, word eventually got out about this part of Crete and the beach of Vai, in particular. It was the backdrop for an advertisement for the popular Bounty bar and more and more people began to visit. As such, by the 1980s Vai had become a permanent camping site for thousands of visitors and had been transformed from a natural paradise into a rubbish tip. Thankfully, the beach became a protected area in the same decade and was cleaned up. Today, it is considered one of the best beaches in all of Greece and has been awarded a Blue Flag by the European Union. The palm forest, too, is now protected by the ICUN. Tucked into a valley behind a fresh water pond and creek, the forest of Phoenix Theophrasti palms that are unique to Crete hosts native birds like the Cretan Marten and other animals like the small native stoat. It is, therefore, not just a beautiful feature that further enhances the incredible aesthetic appeal of this special and stunning beach but an important and unique ecosystem that hosts important native species.
A long, perfect, sandy stretch with pebbles, crystal-clear water, wonderful surroundings, and good amenities, this very famous and beloved beach, understandably becomes rather busy during the summer months. While it is large enough for there to be some space, the crowds can become quite intense during the height of the summer so it may not be suitable to everyone's needs. If you have found a vacation rental in Crete and are planning a getaway in Greece in the late spring, early summer, or in autumn, however, you will find quite a different beach with far fewer people and more space to truly enjoy this amazing looker.
Photo credit: Mihael Grmek / CC BY-SA 4.0