Crete is hiking territory for all seasons. In the winter, when snow and rain showers sweep over Central Europe, moderate temperatures are characteristic here. Spring unfurls its colourful carpet of flowers over the island early in the year. There is still snow on the high mountains, but in the valleys, trees are resplendent with oranges, ox-eye daisies and poppies colour the fields, and rare kinds of orchids display themselves to hikers. In the summer and autumn, however, the higher destinations beckon travellers - especially the White Mountains and Ida Mountain. The sun of the Mediterranean is ever-present. This Rother hiking guide presents hikers with a wide variety of entertaining tour recommendations which include all regions of the western part of the island: from strenuous excursions to hidden bathing bays, to hikes through solitary mountain regions in the 2000-metre category, to the perhaps most spectacular hiking destination on the island: the massive, well-visited Samari� gorge. - The trips are selected so as to take all interests into account. Thus, equal attention is paid to hikes leading along the sunny coast, up to the peninsulas, surrounded by the sea, as well as to hikes to delightfully -located ancient sites or deserted monasteries. Other paths lead through the mountainous interior of the island, through deep gorges and up high mountains. Many of the 50 trip suggestions can be undertaken without hesitation by families with children or by older hiker