From the palace of Minoas to the cool gorge
Many people know its existence, its history and have visited it. It is Knossos, the house of Minoas. It is known to everyone living in Crete or visiting it....
Travel ...
Destination to the Lion of Cleopatra
From the picturesque village of Vassiliki we are heading to the gorge of Agios Savas, the first station on the beach of Tripiti. Near Tripiti the gorge narrows...
Heraklion Original Routes
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Aradena gorge
Location Aradena Gorge is located in Sfakia, Crete, and extends from the abandoned village of Aradena to the sea Length The gorge stretches over approximately…
Chania Canyons
Samaria Gorge
Location 42 km south of Chania city Length 18 kilometers, with a hiking duration of 4-8 hours National Park Declared in 1962, part of the UNESCO…
Chania Canyons
Sfakiano gorge
Location 2 km east of Chora Sfakion Natural Landscape Rocky terrain, steep cliffs, rich flora with holm oaks, pines, cypresses, and stone pines Hiking The…
Chania Canyons
Mili gorge
Location 8 km south of Rethymno Trail About 1.5 hours of easy hiking through lush greenery Natural features Rich vegetation with plane trees, fig…
Rethimno Hiking Canyons
Patsos Gorge
Location 30 km from Heraklion Length 5 km, with an estimated walking time of 1 hour Trail Easy and accessible year-round, with dense vegetation and…
Rethimno Canyons
Kourtaliotiko gorge
The imposing Kourtaliotiko gorge starts from the Koksare village of the Rethimno prefecture, about 22 kilometers from Rethimno and ends to the amazing beach of…
Rethimno Canyons
Loutra Gorge
Location 16 km from Lentas Gorge Length Approximately 8 km, starting narrow and widening near the sea Access Dirt road connecting Trypiti with Loutra,…
Heraklion Canyons
Knosano gorge
Location Starts from Ano Archanes and ends near Knossos, Crete Length Approximately 6 km Main Points Sylamiano Gorge (accessible by car), Kato Mylos,…
Heraklion Canyons
Gorge of Portela
Location It starts from the village of Hondros, municipality of Viannos, and ends near Keratokampos Length 4.6 kilometers River The Keratokampitis…
Heraklion Canyons
Gorge of Arvi
Location The gorge is located in Arvion Mountain, near the village of Arvi Waterfall The Kapnisti waterfall has a height of approximately 80 meters Access Ideal…
Heraklion Canyons
Ampa Gorge
The impressive Ampa gorge is near Pananimfoi, in the Arxanes-Asterousia Municipality. Ampas is known to the locals for its natural beauty that includes also the…
Heraklion Canyons
Gorge of Venerato
The gorge of Venerato is a very small gorge, 500 meters long and with a natural beauty. The gorge is between Venerato and the Paliani Monastery and 17 kilometers…
Heraklion Canyons
Agios Charalampos gorge
The gorge starts from the small Agios Charalampos church in the south of the Ano Asites settlement. The small gorge is easily accessed, particularly in the summer,…
Heraklion Canyons
Gorge of Agios Nikolaos
The path to the green gorge of Agios Nikolaos with the amazing waterfalls starts from the Zaros Lake and ends to one of the forest of Greece, the Rouvas forest.…
Heraklion E4 Canyons
Gorge of Vorizia
The entrance of the gorge of Vorizia is in a dense planted area full of oaks, in the east of Vorizia. The gorge ends to the amazing landscapes of the Nida plateau.…
Heraklion Canyons
Gorge of Eligia
The entrance of the secured gorge of Eligia is in the dirt road that connects Kapetaniana with the coastal settlement of Agios Ioannis. A few meters before the…
Heraklion Canyons
Gorge of Achentrias
The beautiful gorge of Achentrias crosses the Asterousia mountains and reaches the Cretan sea. The Achentrias gorge starts from the settlement of Achentrias and…
Heraklion Canyons
Gorges of Astrakias, Kunavi and Karteros
The gorges of Astrakias, Kunavi and Karteros are parts of the wide geographical cluster from where the E4 European long distance path passes by. Its total length…
Heraklion Canyons
Milonas gorge
Location 18 km east of Ierapetra Hiking Route Approximately 20-minute hike on a moderate trail, accessible from the village of Agios Ioannis (elevation…
Lasithi Canyons
Richtis gorge
Location Northern Lasithi region, near Exo Mouliana village, 25 km from Sitia Length Approximately 3 km Waterfall Richtis Waterfall, about 20 meters…
Lasithi Canyons
Nekroi gorge
The gorge of Nekroi in Zakros is a very beautiful and important archaeologically gorge. Its name (“nekroi” means the dead, in Greek) came from the large number…
Lasithi Canyons
Gorge of Sarakina
The gorge of Sarakina or Sarantapichos starts from the Mithoi settlement of Ierapetra and ends to the coastal Mirtos settlement. Its entrance is about 16 kilometers…
Lasithi Canyons
Kritsa gorge
The Kritsa gorge is in a very beautiful area. It starts from the north-east side of the Kritsa settlement and ends after about 12 kilometers, to the Tapes village.…
Lasithi Canyons
The healing herbs
The flora of Crete is very important due to the mild and hot climate. There are 2000 different plant species and 160 of them are indigenous. The large number of…
Crete Cretography
Agiofarago climbing spot
The Agiofarago climbing spot is in the Agiofarago gorge, in the south of the Heraclion prefecture, of Festos municipality. It is the southernmost climbing place…
Crete Climbing
Cave of Agia Sophia
Location: 50 km from Chania in the village of Topolia Chapel of Agia Sophia Inside the cave is a charming chapel dedicated to Saint Sophia Natural Decor: The…
Chania Caves
Tavris Refuge
Location Tavris Plateau near Askifou Altitude1,200 m Access 7.5 km dirt road or a 2-hour hike from Ammoudari Facilities 45 people capacity,…
Chania Shelters
Kallergi Refuge
Location Southeast of the Omalos Plateau, at an altitude of 1,680 meters View Panoramic views of the Cretan and Libyan Seas, the Samaria Gorge, and Gavdos…
Chania Shelters
Fragokastelo
Location South of Sfakia, 75 km from Chania. Historical Interest Venetian castle and the legend of the Drosoulites. Beaches Main beach, Orthi Ammos,…
Chania Beaches Towns and villages
Theriso
Location 16 km from Chania, nestled at the foot of the White Mountains Main Attractions Theriso Gorge, Cretan Revolution Museum, Venizelos’ headquarters…
Chania Towns and villages
Loutro
Location 71 km south of Chania Access By foot or boat from Sfakia, Agia Roumeli, Sougia, Paleochora, Gavdos. History Connected to the ancient city…
Chania Beaches Towns and villages
Agia Roumeli
Location 58 km south of Chania Natural Environment Exit of the Samaria Gorge Access By hiking or sea transport Beaches Main beach split…
Chania Beaches Towns and villages
Sfakia
Location 75 km southeast of Chania History Unsubdued by conquerors from the Arab period through the Turkish occupation Activities Hiking on the E4…
Chania Beaches Towns and villages
10. Omalos - Agia Roumeli
The tenth route of the E4 European long distance Path is about 18 kilometers and lasts 6 hours and 30 minutes. The time it has to be followed is from May to October(due…
Chania E4
9. Sougia - Agia Eirini - Omalos
The ninth route of E4 European Long Distance Path is 13,5 kilometers and takes 7 hours and 30 minutes to follow it. The best season of the time to follow it is…
Chania E4
8. Sougia - Koustogerako - Omalos
The eighth route of the E4 European Long Distance Path is about 24,5 kilometers and lasts 8 hours. It is better to follow it in spring or autumn, it is not a difficult…
Chania E4
6. Agia Roumeli - Loutro
The sixth route of the E4 European long distance path is about 13 kilometers and lasts 3 hours and 30 minutes. The best time to take it is the whole year and, especially…
Chania E4
5. Sougia - Agia Roumeli
The fifth route of the E4 European Long Distance Path in Crete is 20 kilometers long and lasts 8 to 9 hours. You should follow it from April to September and the…
Chania E4
4. Palaiochora - Sougia
The fourth route of the E4 European long distance Path is about 14,5 kilometers and lasts about 4 and a half hours. The ideal time of the year in order to visit…
Chania E4
3. Elafonisi - Palaiochora
The third route of the E4 European long distance path is about 22 kilometers and lasts 5 hours. Its best visiting time of the year is spring, summer and autumn.…
Chania E4
Plakias
Location South of Rethymno, 35 km away Amenities Hotels, cafés, tavernas, shops, post office, guesthouses Activities Water sports, boat trips to…
Rethimno Beaches Towns and villages
Potamon dam
Location Rethymno, 25 km from Rethymno and 95 km from Heraklion Ecological Significance One of the most important wetlands in the southeastern Mediterranean…
Rethimno Lakes
Kourtaliotis River
The Kourtaliotis River is the most famous in Crete as the Preveli palm forest is near the place where it discharges. Kourtaliotis is called “Megalos Potamos” (i.e.…
Rethimno Rivers
Arkadi monastery
The Monastery of Arkadi combines the natural beauty with its important history and legends. It is about 23 kilometers from Rethimno, in a very green plateau, in…
Rethimno Monasteries
Nida plateau
Nida is the highest plateau in Crete as it is about 1.450 meters above the sea level and surrounded by the imposing mountains of Psiloreitis. It is a very beautiful…
Rethimno Plateaus
Spili
Spili is a traditional, mountain settlement of the Agios Vasileios municipality in the Rethimno prefecture. The settlement is built amphitheatrically, on the western…
Rethimno Towns and villages
Sellia
Sellia is a village of the Agios Vasileios municipality and the Rethimno prefecture. Its local community is consisted of the settlements of Souda and Plakias. According…
Rethimno Towns and villages
Rodakino
Rodakino is one of the largest villages of the southern Rethimno prefecture. The village is on the foot of the Krioneritis Mountain, above the Rodakino beaches.…
Rethimno Beaches Towns and villages
Cave Chapel of Panagia at Vithano
Location 75 km from Heraklion, 13 km from Lentas Access Dirt road from Krotos village, 4 km to the hill, 10-minute walk to the church Tradition Miraculous…
Heraklion Beaches Canyons
The myth of Neraidospilios
Neraidospilios is 20km south of Heraklion, in the green gorge of Astraki. According to the legend, in the Fairy Cave of Astrakas located in the gorge of Karteros,…
Heraklion Lakes Hiking
Milliarades
Location on Mount Dikti, 53 km from Heraklion Elevation 1,188 meters Inhabitants Around 230 Natural Environment The village is the endpoint…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Ano Viannos
Location 38 km from Ierapetra Altitude 560 m Attractions Agia Moni Monastery, churches of Agia Pelagia, Agios Georgios Population 900…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Fourni
Location near Kato Archanes Activities Hiking, mountain biking Archaeological Significance Largest prehistoric cemetery in the Aegean (2400 B.C.…
Heraklion Archaeological Areas Forest
Vorizia
Location 53 km from Heraklion, on the southern slopes of Mount Psiloritis Attractions The Monastery of Varsamonero, dating back to the 18th century, is…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Agiofarago
Location 80 km from Heraklion, secluded beach with towering cliffs and emerald waters Attractions Chapel of St. Anthony, with a well of drinking water,…
Heraklion Beaches Canyons
Palaiokastro
Location 8 km from Heraklion, a coastal village in the Malevizi municipality. Historical Significance Venetian fortress built on the acropolis of the…
Heraklion Historical Sites Beaches Towns and villages
Chondros
Location 64 km from Heraklion Attractions Picturesque chapels such as Saint Theodore, Saint Fanourios, Saint Nicholas, and Portela Gorge Population Approximately…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Keratokampos
Location 70 km southeast of Heraklion Beach 7 km long, with coarse pebbles and golden sand Gorges Portela Gorge History Ruins of the ancient city of Keraia…
Heraklion Beaches Towns and villages
Kato Simi
Location 74 km from Heraklion, 30 km from Ierapetra. Natural environment A lush valley with rich vegetation and fruit-bearing trees Natural attractions Blavopotamos…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Agios Antonios Monastery
Location Exit of Arvi Gorge, 90 km from Heraklion History Built on the ruins of the temple of Arvios Zeus Religious significance Two churches dedicated…
Heraklion Monasteries
Arvi
Arvi is a coastal settlement of the Viannos municipality, 80 kilometers from Heraklion and 35 kilometers from Ierapetra. The settlement is in front of a valley…
Heraklion Beaches Towns and villages
Agia Eirini
Just a few kilometers north of Heraklion, only 8 km from the city center, lies the picturesque area of Agia Irini, a green haven of peace, perfect for a quick escape…
Heraklion Forest Monasteries Towns and villages
Treis Ekklisies
The Treis Ekklisies (i.e. three churches) coastal settlement is behind the imposing Asterousia Mountains in the end of the Ampas gorge. It is an area that makes…
Heraklion Beaches Towns and villages
Spiliotissa monastery
The picturesque Panagia Spiliotissa monastery is between Agios Vasileios and Choudetsi and 22 kilometers from Heraclion. In order to reach the monastery, you have…
Heraklion Monasteries
E4 Asites - Profitis Ilias
The path in the Agios Charalampos gorge is a part of the E4 European long distance route. Following the route, you can go through the impressive Agios Antonios…
Heraklion E4
Kerasia
The Kerasia settlement is built on the eastern sides of the Chalepa hill, 340 meters above the sea level, on the 20th kilometer of the national Heraclion-Mesara…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Venerato
Venerato is a village of the Heraclion municipality, 20 kilometers from the Heraclion city. Administratively the district is consisted of Venerato, the Paliani…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Avgeniki
Avgeniki is a village of the Heraclion municipality, on the 20th kilometer of the Heraclion-Timpaki road. The entrance of the Venerato gorge is near the settlement…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Ano Asites
Ano Asites is a settlement of the former Malevizi district of the Heraclion municipality. It is a village of a high environmental, cultural and archaeological interest.…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Monastery of Agios Nikolaos
The small temple of Agios Nikolaos from the 14th century is only preserved today from the important Zaros monastery. The church is 900 meters from the southern…
Heraklion Monasteries
Zaros
The beautiful and interesting town of Zaros is built 45 kilometers from Heraclion and is included in the Festos municipality. It is in the southern foot of the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Agios Savvas
The Agios Savvas gorge is one of the most beautiful and imposing gorges of the Asterousia Mountains. Its length is 4 kilometers and, then, it is connected with…
Heraklion Canyons
Sokaras
The picturesque village of Sokaras is 50 kilometers from Heraclion between olive trees and fertile vineyards and garden produce of the plain of Mesara. Places of…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Lentas
The coastal settlement of Lentas, of the Gortyna municipality, is built on the ruins of the ancient city of Levin ( «Λεβήν»). Lentas is in the southern sides of…
Heraklion Towns and villages Beaches
Koumasa
The small settlement of Koumasa is famous for the imposing gorge of Agios Savvas that starts from the southern side of the village and it is 4 kilometers long.…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Monastery of Koudoumas
The monastery of Koudoumas is very well protected by the imposing Asterousia Mountains, in the south of the cape of Martelos, and by the Libyan sea in the south.…
Heraklion Monasteries
Vasiliki
The Vasiliki village is near the Asterousia Mountains, 260 meters above the sea level and 56 kilometers from Heraclion. The Vasiliki community includes Vasiliki…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Agios Ioannis
The settlement of Agios Ioannis is a few meters from Kapetaniana, after a winding, dirt road. It its built along the Ponta peninsula . A wonderful beach with blue…
Heraklion Towns and villages Beaches
Maridaki
The coastal settlement of Maridaki is about 65 kilometers from Heraclion, behind the Asterousia Mountains. The small village is built at the end of the imposing…
Heraklion Towns and villages Beaches
Kounavoi
Kounavoi, the traditional village of Archanes-Asterousia Municipality, is where the Minoan city of Eltinia was. The settlement dominates in a small plain in the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Ethia
One of the most beautiful and traditional Cretan villages of Crete is Ethia in the Archanes-Asterousia Municipality. The village is about 55 kilometers from Heraclion,…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Damania
The small settlement of Damania is about 35 kilometers from Heraclion, built in the Southeastern sides of Ofis hummock and 420 meters above the sea level in the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Paths of Achentria
In the Achentrias settlement, in the Archanes-Asterousia municipality of the prefecture of Heraclion, there are many hiking options. You can either wander in the…
Heraklion Hiking Trails
Achentrias
The picturesque mountainous village of Achentrias is 60 kilometers from Heraclion and 680 meters above the sea level. Administratively, it falls under the Archanes-Asterousia…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Astritsi
In Kato Vrisi, in Astritsi, someone can find a forgotten part of the paradise. Administratively, Astritsi belongs to the Archanes- Asterousia Municipality,…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Astraki
Astraki is famous for its beautiful gorge that goes by the same name and it starts from there and also for the old Turkish quarter. The village is from the 12th…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Agies Paraskies
Agies Paraskies is built on a 360-meter hummock with a magnificent view. It is 20 kilometers in the south east of Heraclion and, administratively belongs to the…
Heraklion Towns and villages
Monastery of Agios Ioannis Kapsas
Location 9 km east of Makry Gialos Church Two-aisled cave church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and the Holy Trinity Buildings Monks' cells,…
Lasithi Monasteries
Plateau of Lasithi
Location 70 km from Heraklion Altitude 900 meters History Inhabited since the Neolithic era, it remained uninhabited during the Venetian era due…
Lasithi Plateaus
Preveli monastery
The Preveli Monastery is about 35 kilometers in the south of Rethimno and the famous and beautiful palm forest is next to it. The monastery is in the west of the…
Lasithi Monasteries
Kserokampos
Kserokampos is one of the most beautiful beaches of the eastern Crete. Kserokampos is a settlement about 48 kilometers from Siteia and 28 kilometers from Palaikastro.…
Lasithi Beaches Towns and villages
Minoan Palace of Zakros
The Minoan Palace of Zakros is the fourth largest ancient palace in Crete after those of Knosos, Festos and Malia. It is 500 meters from Kato Zakros, 8 kilometers…
Lasithi Archaeological Areas
Zakros
Zakros is one of the most picturesque villages of Crete that combines the natural beauty with the alternative activities and the important archaeological sites.…
Lasithi Towns and villages
Cha climbing spot
The Cha gorge of the Ierapetra municipality and Lasithi prefecture has about 25 descents, slides and jumps. Water dominates and creates many waterfalls and places…
Lasithi Climbing
Mirtos
Mirtos is a picturesque and tourist coastal settlement of the Lasithi prefecture. It is built near the banks of the Krios River, close to the exit of the imposing…
Lasithi Beaches Towns and villages
Makris Gialos
Makris Gialos is a small coastal settlement 24 kilometers in the east of Ierapetra, 35 kilometers in the west of Siteia and 60 kilometers from Agios Nikolaos. Makris…
