Crete travel guide: discover three fascinating gorges on the island.
When you think about Crete, the first things that come to your mind are beaches, lagoons, monuments and possibly mountains. The gorges are definitely thought through in the second place, and there are actually a lot of them in Crete! In addition to the most famous Samaria Gorge, which is also the longest dry gorge in Europe, there are several other trekking routes worth trying. Even though they're shorter, it doesn't necessarily mean they're easier.
Below you will find three equally attractive, although definitely less popular gorges, the trekking of which may turn out to be the best attraction on the island!
Aradena Gorge
It is one of the deepest gorges in Crete, with steep slopes reaching 138 meters at the highest point! When getting ready to go, you need to remember to bring a supply of water and appropriate footwear, because trekking in this place can be demanding. For the persistent ones at the end of the gorge, however, there is a reward: the beautiful Marmara beach, where for a small fee you can relax on a sunbed and eat lunch in the local and only tavern located on a small hill.
Despite the fact that the gorge is fifteen kilometers long, most people start their walk halfway along the trail, in the village of Aradena, where there is a characteristic iron bridge and a parking lot where you can leave your car for free. Interestingly, the second highest in Europe bungee jumping takes place from the bridge!
One of the biggest challenges when hiking through the gorge is the nine-meter-deep walkway, where there is an iron ladder that you have to climb without belaying, which can be a problem for people with fear of heights.
It takes about three hours to cross the gorge, but the only way back to the parking lot is the same route, so it's best to plan the whole day on a trip to Aradena
However, there is a daily boat ride to Loutro at 5:00 PM from Marmara beach (€ 4 one way per person), but from there you still have to get by ferry at 6:10 PM to Chora Sfakion, from where you can catch a bus to the village of Aaradena.
Kourtaliotis Gorge
The Kourtaliotis Gorge is approximately twenty kilometers from Rethymno and is one of the region's most spectacular natural attractions. The passage at the bottom of the gorge leads through cliffs full of caves and holes, over six hundred meters high, through springs and a waterfall to Lake Preveli, and then across the river to the palm forest crowning the trip and opening the way to Preveli Beach.
The entire route is about ten kilometers long and can be challenging in places. Officially, it starts in the town of Koxare, but you can shorten it by entering the trail only at the height of e.g. the church of St. Nicholas Kourtaliotis, next to the aforementioned, worth visiting springs.
You can also get to the gorge from the Preveli beach. If you travel by car, head towards Preveli and go to the marked parking lot (€ 2 per car), from there hike down the slope to the beach which takes about 15 minutes. From the viewpoint on the way you can clearly see the river and the palm forest. The entrance to the trail is from the side of the hill where you go down.
Imbros Gorge
The Imbros Gorge is the third most visited gorge in Crete. Trekking there doesn’t require preparation, so it is suitable even for a family trip. The route is eleven kilometers long, and it takes about three hours on average to pass.
The trail starts in the small village of Imbros, where there is a ticket office a few meters behind the entrance. Admission costs € 2.50 per person.
Initially, the path is wide and the side walls are low, but with each successive section it gets narrower and deeper. The most impressive part of the gorge is called the Stenada. Here, the gorge walls reach 300 meters! The rocks are carved with very beautiful formations and on the slopes you can admire old cypresses, oaks and maples.
After this narrow point, the canyon widens to another impressive narrowing in Gremnaria. Right behind it is another landmark of the gorge, the stone arch of Xepitir. The exit from the gorge is located at the Komitades village. There are several tavernas just outside the exit and there are even more options in the village.
During the summer season, there are several buses from Chania to Imbros.
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