You will be picked up at your hotel in the Chania area and then journey by bus to the Imbros Gorge in the eastern part of the White Mountains of Crete. Upon arrival you will enjoy an easy 3-hour hike through the narrow passages and marvel at the stunning rock formations, with an expert guide to teach you about the area.
During your descent you will see famous locations such as the Stenada, Mesofarango, and Xepitira Arch. You exit the gorge at Komitades village, where a bus will be waiting to bring you to Chora Sfakion for some relaxing free time at one of the taverns or cafes overlooking the sea.
Continue by bus to the south coast, and visit a beautiful beach for a refreshing swim in the Libyan Sea. You can relax and enjoy a traditional lunch before the bus trip back to the Chania area.
The gorge of Imbros is the second most popular gorge for walkers in Crete after the gorge of Samaria. It is much easier to walk than Samaria: walking distance is 8 km, total descent is around 600m and the average walking time is about 2.5 hours. The path is generally easier underfoot.This is the sort of walk that you could easily walk with children. It also would not need to take a whole day. After the hike we will be stopping for you to have lunch at a local restaurant with a majestic view. Our next stop would be Fragokastelo, a 14th century castle in front of the beach that will mesmerise you! Finishing the day we will stop by Iligas beach near Sfakia harbor where you have the option to have some drinks in a cave bar in front of light blue waters! Approximate duration is 8-9 hours. It’s a highly recommended tour if you are visiting Greece and want to have a special day spent around nature.
Discover Imbros Gorge, which runs parallel to the more famous Samaria Gorge. Although the Imbros Gorge is smaller, many people prefer to cross here because it offers a very different hiking experience than the Samaria Gorge. After your tour, enjoy a refreshing swim in the sea and lunch at a village taverna.
Enjoy hotel pickup and arrive at Imbros around 10 AM. Have breakfast and then hike about 2.5 hours to discover the beauty of this narrow natural passage. Learn about the rock formations and the legend of the 2 brothers that Imbros is named after.
For many years, the Imbros Gorge served as part of the trail that connected Chania to Hora Sfakion. Stroll through a piece of World War II history, as you walk where thousands of British soldiers passed through after the Battle of Crete to get to Egypt.
End your hike in Komitades Village and then depart for Sfakia. Take a swim in the refreshing Libyan Sea and eat lunch with the locals in the taverns before returning to your hotel.
After pickup from your hotel in the Rethymno area at approximately 7:30 AM, journey by bus to the Imbros Gorge in the eastern part of the White Mountains of Crete.
Upon arrival, enjoy an easy 3-hour hike through the narrow passages and marvel at the stunning rock formations. The Imbros Gorge is the second most popular gorge for walkers in Crete after the gorge of Samaria. This picturesque gorge is smaller (8km long) than the Samaria but is just as beautiful. During your descent you will visit various famous locations such as the Stenada (the gorge’s narrowest passage), Mesofarango (a wider passage) and Xepitira Arch (a natural stone arch).
You’ll then arrive at Komitades Village where buses will be waiting to bring you to Chora Sfakion for some relaxing free time at one of the taverns or cafés overlooking the sea. Continue by bus to the south coast and visit a beautiful beach for a refreshing swim in the Libyan Sea.
Relax and enjoy a traditional lunch before the bus trip back to Rethymno area at approximately 5:30 PM.
Frangokastello, meaning “Castle of the Franks”, is a renowned beach in Western Crete, steeped in history and folklore due to its age-old Venetian castle and the intriguing legend of the Drosoulites ghosts. This beautiful beach lies in a valley at the foot of the White Mountains, situated 13km east of Hora Sfakion and 80km southeast of Chania.
Fragokastelo’s main beach is an appealing spectacle with its sandy shoreline and shallow turquoise waters, a perfect setting for children and families. Despite being well-equipped with amenities and buzzing during the summer months, the beach is sometimes subject to bothersome northern winds that sweep the sand. However, the area boasts plenty of accommodations, dining options, shops, and an ATM, with the nearest hospital located in Sfakia.
To the west of the main beach, the expansive Vatalos beach and a significant wetland (in winter) offer a different experience, with a mix of sand, pebbles, and rocks perfect for snorkelling. A short 300m walk to the east from the main beach leads you to the breathtaking Orthi Ammos beach, renowned for its sand dunes.
Accessing Fragokastelo from Crete’s northern coast requires a drive along the National Road connecting Chania and Heraklion, exiting at Vrysses and following the road to Chora Sfakion (Sfakia). This route takes you across the Askyfou plateau and through the stunning Imbros Gorge to the southern coast of the Sfakia province. Fragokastelo is well-signposted from here, and the journey typically takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you’re coming from Rethymnon, take the road to Plakias, then head east to Rodakino before reaching Fragokastelo. This drive is around one hour and provides a less challenging but also less scenic route than through the Imbros Gorge. Alternatively, buses to Fragokastelo are available from Chania.
Orthi Ammos is a stunning sandy, shallow beach located next to Frangokastelo, 80km south of Chania, on the edge of a large valley with a warm climate. It has seen modest development compared to the neighboring tourist hotspot of Frangokastelo.
The beach is known for its vast sand hills and dunes, as well as its crystal-clear waters. Although it is affected by southern winds, the impact is mild. The eastern section of the beach has traditionally been a spot for nudists, though their numbers have dwindled in recent years. The beach can be reached by a 10-minute walk from Frangokastelo or by parking above the sand hills. But beware, the sand can get very hot on the descent to the beach!
Compared to adjacent Frangokastelo, Orthi Ammos is a peaceful beach. However, it offers limited accommodations and food amenities, without any sunbeds or water sports services. Its easternmost part, known as Kritama, is marked by high cliffs and turquoise water.
Legend has it that the sand of Orthi Ammos hid the unburied bodies of the 335 Greek heroes who fought against the Turks in the Battle of Frangokastelo on 17 May 1828. These heroes’ spirits are known as the Drosoulites, the famed “ghosts” of Fort Frangokastelo.
Situated 80km southeast of Chania and just 1.5km west of the renowned Fragokastelo beach, you’ll find the scenic location of Vatalos. Many Fragokastelo hotels and lodging options are found in the Vatalos area, which boasts fertile fields, breathtaking views of the south slopes of the White Mountains, and transforms into a significant wetland during winter. This wetland stretches about 2km to the west, starting from the castle.
Vatalos is dotted with peaceful coves boasting sandy beaches interspersed with pebbles and rocks. From the fortress, you’ll encounter the beaches of Iligas, Hodros Volakas, Mavro Nero, and finally, Vatalos. While most visitors prefer the shallows of the bustling Fragokastelo beach, Vatalos’ beaches provide an idyllic setting for peaceful vacations and snorkelling. Fragokastelo is noted for its medieval castle, the exotic beach, and the legendary Drosoulites ghosts.
The secluded Viglistiri beach is nestled between the peaceful town of Lakki and Orthi Ammos, near Fragokastelo. The primary way to reach this beach is by boat, given the complexity of the area’s dirt road network that makes it difficult to locate. Low vegetation provides a natural border to the beach. In 2014, the Sfakia municipality designated this beach as pet-friendly.
Near the fortress and the temple of Saint Cathreen (Agia Ekaterini), overlooking Loutro, traces of walls and buildings have been identified, belonging to the ancient town Anopolis, port of which was Katopolis or Phoenix, the ruins of which can be seen today west of Loutro. Anopolis was an independent town and had its own currency.
Its rival in the region was Araden (today Aradena), from which it was occupied in the 3rd century BC. This was probably the reason for the construction of the city wall that still stands today at the position Riza. A large cistern, the base of a large building (probably a sanctuary) and box-shaped tombs have also been identified.
During the Byzantine period, it was still well flourishing, which is indicated by the many churches of the area. Later, during the Ottoman Era, Anopolis and the entire province of Sfakia, due to the intense mountainous terrain, was never actually inhabited by the Ottomans.
The Profitis Elias Monastery, situated on a hill with sweeping views 20km south of Rethymno and adjacent to Roustika village, is a relatively lesser-known monastery in Crete. Founded during the Venetian Era, it is among the island’s most historic convents.
Throughout its history, the monastery was repeatedly destroyed by the Ottomans, with the last instance occurring during the 1866 revolution. The monastery played an active role in the resistance against Turkish rule. Consequently, the monastery’s buildings, aside from the temple, were constructed in their present form after 1866. Additionally, Profitis Ilias made a significant contribution to preserving Cretan history by housing the Historical Archive of Crete during the German Occupation.
The monastery features a fortress-like architectural design. At the center of the courtyard, visitors will find a three-aisled basilica with a dome dedicated to Prophet Elijah (celebrated on July 20), the Holy Trinity, and Agia Zoni (August 31). The belfry of the monastery, along with that of Arkadi Monastery, are the only surviving Venetian bell towers in Crete. Surrounding the courtyard are the two-story monks’ cells, an incomplete guest house, and the refectory.
Within the temple, visitors can admire the ancient wooden iconostasis, the throne (dated 1843), and the pulpit. Additionally, numerous relics are housed in the sanctuary, including sacred vessels, vestments, gospels, crosses, relics of various saints, a brocade epitaph, old books (dating back to 1640), and manuscripts (from 1620).
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In the heart of the Sfakia Province, nestled in the ruins of the village Kolokasia, a stream begins to form at the base of the Virgin Mary (Panagia) church. This stream, fed by the village’s water, meanders through the local olive grove before transforming into a rugged, small gorge known as Rechtas or Rektas – a name signifying ‘waterfall’ in the local dialect.
True to its name, shortly after the gorge’s onset, a breathtaking 20-meter high waterfall cascades down, barring further access to the gorge without the aid of a rope. Beyond this majestic waterfall, the gorge is adorned with awe-inspiring rock shelters and caves, once used by locals as animal paddocks.
The journey through the gorge also includes small waterfalls, a natural arch, and a grove of carob trees. Eventually, the canyon opens up, revealing an ancient trail that ascends up the eastern side, leading to a rock shelter. This shelter, perched high above the riverbed, provides stunning vistas of the gorge and the Fragokastello valley.
In recent years, this wild rock shelter has been transformed into a charming, cavernous temple, possibly the newest in Crete. This transformation was inspired by a priest from Sfakia, George Chiotakis, who received a divine vision from the Blessed Porphyrios of Athos, advising him to build a temple. Consequently, the church is unofficially dedicated to Saint Porphyrius, with his icons scattered throughout the temple, along with several icons of the revered Saint Anthimos from Cephalonia, who once resided in the Sfakia region.
The Kallikratis Canyon, a relatively small gorge located in the southeast of Lefka Ori (White Mountains) in the Sfakia province, forms part of the E4 European walking route. It serves as a passageway connecting the mountain pasture lands with the lowland villages of the Frangokastelo plain. A hike through this gorge offers a delightful walk and stunning views of the South Cretan Sea. The entrance to the canyon is situated at the Kallikratis plateau, accessible via a paved road from Askyfou, Asi Gonia, or Frangokastelo.
Kallikratis is home to the charming Panagia church, and from here, you can begin your descent through the gorge, which concludes in the village of Patsianos. From Kallikratis village, follow the asphalt road leading to Patsianos that runs parallel to the gorge bed. At certain points, you will need to follow the riverbed, which gradually deepens, with the road rising high above you. After about half an hour, the road will have risen considerably to the left, and the stream will be fairly deep. The trail has been slightly modified in some places due to debris from road construction.
The Skaloti Gorge, nestled within the extensive area of Fragokastelo, is one of many parallel canyons in the region. This compact canyon spans a distance of 2km, beginning from the picturesque Manikas plateau and concluding at the coastal village of Skaloti. The journey, which takes approximately 2.5 hours, involves hiking along an ancient path paved with stones and surrounded by steep inclines. Initially, the canyon is wide and open, but it gradually narrows and the walls become vertical. Vegetation in the area is primarily composed of bushes and undergrowth. The Perama stream traverses the gorge, finally emptying onto the shores of Lakki beach.
The Kapni Gorge, one of Eastern Sfakia’s most stunning canyons, remains largely undiscovered. The gorge begins as an open stream south of the Akones peak at Hionistra, located on the road between Askyfou and Asfendou villages. It concludes in the village of Nomikiana in the Sfakia province. In Hionistra, two streams in calcareous soils converge to form the Kapni Gorge after an hour’s walk. The canyon is extensive, requiring around four hours to traverse. It is among Crete’s challenging and perilous trekking gorges, with a rugged riverbed that forms dry waterfalls in certain areas, necessitating climbing.
It is not advisable for those inexperienced in mountaineering. The riverbed features several small caves that were previously used as sheepfolds. In one of these caves, there is drinking water, the only source in the harsh Kapni region. This water source is hard to find unless one is very familiar with the area. Kapni is home to beautiful vegetation, including maples and oak trees, and stunning walls of platy limestone in several places.
The name Kapni, meaning smoke, traces back to a story from the Venetian era. East Sfakia was once densely forested, providing refuge for Cretans fighting the Venetians. To counter this, the Venetians burned these forests, including the one in Kapni, which was so dense that the fire burned for weeks. The narrowness of the gorge created an oven-like effect, trapping the fire and significantly raising the temperature. The intense heat baked the mountain rock, similar to a lime kiln, and smoke lingered for days after the fire ceased. That autumn, a massive flood swept through the bare, fire-scorched hillsides, moving rocks with immense force to the gorge’s exit. This event resulted in a large deposit of sediment, creating the most impressive scree (locally known as sara) in Crete, visible from miles away. This scree starts at the gorge’s exit and extends to the village of Nomikiana.
Boasting air-conditioned accommodation with a patio, Nostos – Walk To Beach – AC WIFI is situated in Frangokastello. This holiday home is less than 1 km from Fortress of Frangokastello.
With free WiFi, this 2-bedroom holiday home features a cable TV, a washing machine and a kitchen with an oven and microwave. Towels and bed linen are available in the holiday home.
Popular points of interest near the holiday home include Frangokastello Beach, Vatalos Beach and Orthi Ammos Beach. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 89 km from Nostos – Walk To Beach – AC WIFI.
from
€166
/night
Featuring air-conditioned accommodation with a patio, Levantes – Walk To Beach – AC WIFI is located in Frangokastello. The holiday home is less than 1 km from Fortress of Frangokastello.
With free WiFi, this 2-bedroom holiday home provides a cable TV, a washing machine and a kitchen with an oven and microwave. Towels and bed linen are provided in the holiday home.
Popular points of interest near Levantes – Walk To Beach – AC WIFI include Frangokastello Beach, Vatalos Beach and Orthi Ammos Beach. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 89 km from the accommodation.
from
€166
/night
Just 150 metres from the beach of Frangokastello, Ledakis Studios features a traditional restaurant. It offers air-conditioned studios with patio overlooking the Libyan Sea and the Cretan mountains.
A kitchenette with cooking facilities, coffee machine and fridge is provided in all studios at the Ledakis. Each has a private bathroom with shower.
The owners’ restaurant serves traditional dishes such as the famous Sfakia pie and local spirits. BBQ facilities are provided in the garden.
Free Wi-Fi access is possible in public areas. Sfakia is at a distance of 14 km. Staff can arrange car rental and free private parking is possible on site.
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€55
/night
Set amidst lush gardens, the family-run Oasis Apartments is located in Fragkokastelo of Chania, just 50 metres from the beach. It offers free Wi-Fi in public areas and self-catering units with a balcony or patio.
Overlooking the garden, the Libyan Sea or the mountain, all studios and apartments have a well-equipped kitchenette or kitchen. Each unit is equipped with air conditioning, TV and a fridge. The private bathroom comes with a shower.
Guests can taste traditional Cretan flavours and fresh fish at the owner’s tavern, located next to the property. A mini market can be found within 150 metres away.
The famous Venetian Castle of Frangokastello is located 800 metres from Oasis Apartments. Chora Sfakion is 15 km away, while Chania International Airport is at a distance of 65 km. Free public parking can be found on site.
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