The New York Times Highlights Crete as Best Spring Skiing Destination

Photo source: @Incredible Crete

Crete and its mountains are highlighted as the best spring skiing destinations in an extensive feature that was recently published on the website of The New York Times.

Writer Biddle Duke traveled to the Greek island in February 2020 for a skiing expedition on Lefka Ori. He was impressed by Crete’s landscape and imposing mountains.

“From the deck of the overnight ferry from Athens, the sight of the massive snow-covered Lefka Ori range, rising abruptly behind the ancient harbor town of Chania on the island of Crete, was astonishing and strangely unexpected,” he says.

According to Duke, skiing on Crete may be little known, but local reverence and respect for the mountains runs deep. In summer, the rocky valleys, ravines and summits form vast, blazing hot deserts. In winter, the snow is often meters deep.

The Greek island has no lifts, no lodges, no trail maps. “But for those willing to climb for their turns, it’s got miles of wide-open terrain, dependable spring snow and no crowds,” Duke notes.

Referring to the article of The New York Times, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias reiterated Greece’s efforts to promote its mountainous areas and winter tourism options.

“The New York Times present Crete as an ideal ski destination: Dazzling landscapes, untouched snow and a unique sense of freedom overlooking the sea… With the support of the tourism ministry and regional authorities, Crete, with Psiloritis and its (other) mountains, becomes a winter destination,” he wrote on twitter.

Οι @nytimes αποθεώνουν την Κρήτη ως ιδανικό προορισμό για σκι: Εκθαμβωτικό τοπίο, απάτητο χιόνι & αίσθηση ελευθερίας με θέα τη θάλασσα. Με την υποστήριξη @MinTourGR & @CreteRegion η Ορεινή Κρήτη με τον Ψηλορείτη και τα βουνά της γίνεται χειμερινός προορισμός. pic.twitter.com/brwhoR9amo

— Vassilis Kikilias (@Vkikilias) January 10, 2022

Last December, the tourism ministry launched a new campaign with the aim to promote Greece’s winter destinations.

The new “Greece does have a winter” campaign, part of the country’s main “All you want is Greece” campaign, is aimed at promoting winter tourism and all the activities guests can enjoy during the season.