Vai palm grove is an extremely beautiful beach and the largest palm grove in Europe due to the 4500-5000 palm trees located nearby. The palm trees are endemic in the area, but, according to many, there used to be palm trees in Crete since the antiquity and Vai just had the optimal conditions for flourishing into a forest. The magnificent scenery is supplemented by the golden beach that spreads in front of the forest. This place was unknown since the 70's when the hippies settled in there. In the 80's, it was decreed a protected area, an area that you should definitely include in your excursion if you find yourself in eastern Crete.