The best way to discover Crete may just be on foot. The island is ideal for walks, with mountains, valleys, villages, plains and an expansive coastline to explore. Crete has over 200 gorges which are accessible by walking

The best times of year for walking in Crete are winter and spring, as summers become extremely hot for long hikes out in the intense Cretan sun. You can sign up for guided walks followed by traditional Greek lunches afterwards.

For those who have booked flights to Crete this summer, it's good to know that the island has some of the Med's best beaches. Elefonisi Beach is a popular beach located in the far south west of Crete and it feels like a tropical lagoon with its pink-tinged sand and swaying palms. This spot is popular for its amazing surroundings and great amount of snack bars to grab a bite to eat.

If you want a quiet beach, then head for Falasarna in the peaceful north west of the island.

Frangokastello has a huge fortress and a long expanse of sandy beach located on the south eastern end of the island. It's also well known for clear waters - great for snorkeling.

On the south coast, Sweetwater Beach is as lovely as its name, with fresh water springs nearby that keep the water clean. If nude sunbathing and swimming sounds appealing, then Sweetwater Beach is the place you may want to spend the rest of your holiday.

On the north-east corner of Crete, you'll find Vai Beach, which is stunning but also hugely popular with tourists. This beach is responsible for the large amount of flights to Crete each year. Vai has has the largest natural palm forest in Europe and has been declared as a protected area. The beach here is clean and the palm forest worth a visit alone.

The food of Crete is hearty, nutritious and fresh. Some dishes to try include fakkes which is a lentil soup in a tomato base; kalamari (deep fried squid); tyropita (cheese filled pastry); skorthalia (garlic-infused mashed potatoes) and fricasee (greens and lamb in a creamy lemon sauce). Desserts include theepless (honey dipped fired batter), loukoumade (greek style doughnuts) and galactobouriko (custard filled filo dipped in a light syrup).

Crete is loaded with many resort hotels, villas, and B