Anyone holidaying on the island of Crete has the choice of many wonderful beaches on which to while away their days, but if the lure of the sea and sand starts to wane then the inland areas of Crete have much to offer. The countryside seems littered with ancient ruins, some from Minoan times and dating back over 3000 years. They may now be nothing more than a crumbling muddle of block shaped stones but when you consider when and why they were built, they become all the more remarkable. A good guide or an informative book is very useful.

A good guide is also recommended for one of Crete's other treasures - the proliferation of caves on the island. It has been estimated that around 2000 caves have been explored on the island but there are reputed to be many more that have yet to be discovered. Many of the best archaeological finds on Crete were found in caves and their role as religious symbols as well as places to live is fascinating. The biggest tourist cave is the Diktaean cave, just a short walk ( or Donkey ride if you prefer) from the village of Psychro. Its deep, dark inner caverns are huge, but the location is the most visited of all the caves on Crete and can get very busy. try to go early in the day or during off-peak times if you can.

Other caves are located in Skotino, Inatos and the cave of Profitas Ilias which lies south of Iakleio each have their own story of their use by the Greek Gods. As civilizations progressed, the stories about the caves change to places of worship, hideaways and even scenes of great tragedy. When exploring caves, safety is important and visitors should go well prepared, preferably with an experienced guide.