If you have started to think about your vacations next year, the islands of Greece are magical destinations. I use the plural here as they really all have their very own individual flavours, their own fauna & flora, customs, landscape antiquities and microclimates. The islands range from the very large (Crete being about the size of Jamaica) to the tiny (many like Hydra and Spetses do not even have cars). [...]

We are very lucky to live in a place where there is ample good hiking country, around Paleochora, our small town in South west Crete. We have a wonderful coastline as well as dramatic mountains and picturesque gorges to explore and hiking seems be more and more popular.

There are two broad types of hiker; the experienced, well-equipped type and the hopelessly equipped tourist who decides to take to the [...]