Chania Port (Souda) TO Gournes

---

Chania Port (Souda)

TransferPlan will transfer you from and to Chania Port in Souda as quickly, safely and comfortably as possible. Souda is located 6.5 km east of the town of Chania on the road to Rethymnon. The town stretches along the southern coast of the Gulf of Souda. Suda is the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean and it is formed by the main body of Crete and the Cape Meleha, called also Akrotiri.

The geophysical location and positioning of Souda, alongside with the size and suitable depth, makes it a safe harbour during the whole year. Its location in the centre of the eastern Mediterranean on the ancient sea routes gives a special strategic importance, accordingly causing the strong interest from ancient times until today. Souda Bay is one of the strategically important anchors of NATO in the Mediterranean. The port occupies the entire southwestern part of the bay and offers a modern commercial and passenger port and the main ferry link of west Crete with Piraeus.

Suda Bay has always been a large natural harbour and a strategic point of the eastern Mediterranean Sea through time for both commercial and military purposes. Consequently, most of the attractions located near Souda Bay, are directly related to the natural harbour. This port is much bigger than needed for ferries, so you won’t have any delays or get overcrowded.

Book your Chania port transfer now. Enjoy a high-quality service at the lowest prices. Best price guaranteed. That’s why we are Crete’s favourite airport transfer company.

Gournes

TransferPlan will transfer you from and to Gournes as quickly, safely and comfortably as possible. Gournes is a village located between Kokkini Hani and Gouves, 16km east of Heraklion Town. Gournes nowadays is part of the united beachfront which starts from Vathianos Kampos and ends in Malia, but it used to be a separate village.

The name Gournes means basins in Greek and it is believed that the name owes its origins to the many water places in the area in the past. There is still evidence of these basins as a river is running through the centre of the town till the sea. During summertime is quite dry, but in winter due to the rains and the surrounding mountains, the water rushes through this river.

Like most beaches of the north coast of Crete, the beaches of Gournes are vulnerable to north winds, that’s why it gets wavy. The beachfront of the area is full of small artificial small docks, used for absorbing the wave force and keeping sand in place. Thus, several sandy coves have been formed between these piers. On the west part of Gournes, you will find the long beach of the area, which is well organized with umbrellas. If you walk to the east, the coast gets rockier. Gournes has no big hotels, but you can find several small hotels, apartments and rooms to let. Here you will find all the basic amenities for tourists.

Gournes was a small village until the late fifties, when the big American Air Force communications base opened, occupying a large share of the town property. While the base population eventually grew to about 3,500 military staff and their families, the surrounding area kept pace. Many of the first hotels and apartments were built in Gournes to accommodate the families of the servicemen and visitors to the base and its civilian workforce. When the Gournes base closed in 1993, the area was a bit shocked, as about 1,000 locals became unemployed and hundreds of apartments and rooms were emptied.

If you come in Gournes it is worth visiting the picturesque church of Agios Ioannis Pezetis with the old paintings, which is built in the valley that comes through the village. Moreover, in the old village of Gournes, you’ll see the old church of the Annunciation. Nearby, a Minoan settlement and cemetery have been excavated, where many vases, small figures and seals were revealed. However, the most popular attraction in recent years is Cretaquarium, which was the largest aquarium in southern Europe when first built. The aquarium, which is located inside the former U.S. base, attracts thousands of visitors daily and worth’s a visit.

Gournes is ideal for families and it can easily be used as a base to explore Crete as it is located near Heraklion Town and the national road.

Book your taxi Crete transfers now. Enjoy a high-quality service at the lowest prices. Best price guaranteed. That’s why we are Crete’s favourite airport transfer company.