Nature And Outdoors in Hersonissos

Hersonissos sits on Crete's east coast, twenty-five kilometres from Heraklion, and nature opens from here in both directions. Eastward lies the Mirabello gulf with Spinalonga; westward, the whole island stretches to Balos lagoon — a full-day trip from Hersonissos via Kissamos, the longest route but the most striking, ending at sandbars between Gramvousa island and the shore where the water stays knee-deep for hundreds of metres.

The second way to see eastern Crete is from above. Hot-air balloon flights go at dawn over the plateaus and hills: an hour in the basket while the sun climbs over the Aegean, breakfast after landing. Lower down, quad safaris follow dirt tracks through olive groves and abandoned villages — a dusty but honest way to reach viewpoints no coach can.

The sea supplies the rest. A half-day catamaran leaves the harbour for roadless coves: anchor stops for swimming, snorkelling by the rocks, lunch on board. For more, day runs go from Hersonissos to Agios Nikolaos with Spinalonga, and even to Santorini — ferry from Heraklion to the caldera and back by evening, while the light still holds over the gulf.