Aspes (Mavri) beach

Skiadaki, a mesmerizingly tiny beach, is found at the exit of the wild Kakoperatos canyon. It’s nestled 66km south of Heraklion and 10km south of Achendrias village on the eastern flank of the Asterousia Mountains. This beach, one of the most secluded on Crete, boasts beautiful pebbles and is enveloped by steep rocks.

Access to the beach is primarily by boat, though adventurous souls could trek for an hour west from the Agios Nikitas Monastery, traversing two small gorges in the Petrigiari area. However, the boat remains the simplest method of travel. The surrounding region is a haven for fishing enthusiasts. If you arrive by boat, ensure you take the time to explore the gorge and marvel at the rugged landscape, culminating in a dead-end with waterfalls that dry up in the summer months.

The beach’s name, Skiadaki, translates to “small shade,” a homage to the shady, dark bottom of the gorge produced by the towering cliffs. Indeed, if you visit Skiadaki, there’s no need for an umbrella as you’ll find ample shade throughout the day.

Kaminaki Beach, a secluded pebbly beach ideal for fishing, is situated 58km south of Heraklion, on the southeastern fringes of the Asterousia Mountains. The rugged mountains surrounding the beach create a quintessentially Cretan landscape, featuring hard-to-reach gorges, bare rocks, steep cliffs, and isolated beaches mostly reachable by boat. The beach lies at the end of the wild Perivoliano Gorge, also known as Gerontzou.

Access to Kaminaki Beach is primarily via sea, given the difficulty in descending the gorge and the beach’s distance from the nearest road. The closest harbour can be found 3km west in Treis Ekklisies. A smaller beach located 400m west in the Agio Pnevma area is not as aesthetically appealing as Kaminaki.

On the opposite side, a striking beach with turquoise waters and a unique Δ-shaped sea cave can be found 700m east of Kaminaki. The beach is nestled in the embrace of Alykevra Bay, at the Sfakidia location, and is well-shielded by Cape Alykapounda. Heading west beyond Alykapounda Cape, you’ll find Alykevra, where a small rocky bay houses a freshwater spring. This spring was historically used by local shepherds to quench their flocks’ thirst. The area of Alykevra features a single beach situated at the mouth of a narrow canyon at the Prikovlyhada location. Despite its small size (1.5m in width), the pebble beach of Prikovlyhada is exceptional, with the canyon walls providing sunshade and nearby caves adding to its charm.

Situated 65km south of Heraklion on the eastern flank of the barren Asterousia Mountains is Agios Nikitas. The most common means of reaching this location is by navigating a rugged dirt road beginning from the village of Ahendrias, leading to the Monastery of St. Nikitas, 15km away. The captivating journey takes you past precipitous cliffs and jagged rocks, characteristic of the Asterousia landscape.

Overlooking the South Cretan Sea from a hill, the Agios Nikitas monastery was initially a retreat for monks from the Koudoumas monastery. The monastery’s church, dedicated to St. Nikitas, was constructed in a cave around 1640. Inside, you’ll find ancient frescoes and a smoke-stained roof, allegedly blackened during pirate attacks. A small indentation within the church produces water used as holy water. Despite the area’s dry climate, mango and avocado trees flourish in the monastery’s gardens.

A brief trail from the monastery leads to Agios Nikitas beach, accessible via 230 steps. This secluded pebble beach features crystal clear waters with a deep green hue, offering no typical tourist amenities. Nudism is considered disrespectful near monasteries, so it is not recommended here.

To the east of the main beach is a twin beach, Kalogerou Arolithos, primarily accessible by boat or swimming. A large smooth, steep rock separates the beaches, believed to bear the footprints of Saint Nikitas’ horse, according to legend.

Further east, a small cottage houses a secluded pebble beach, accessible via a small stairway originating from the cottage. Named Hiromili, this beach is typically empty.

Walking westward from the main beach, one would soon encounter the cape Gerani, home to a solitary palm tree overlooking the expansive Libyan Sea.

A brief 300m journey westward from St. Nikitas leads to the picturesque white-washed chapel of St. Anthony and a small carob wood. Adjacent to the chapel is a stream flanked by Theophrastus palm trees, constituting the third largest colony of the Cretan date palm in Crete, known as the small palm grove of Saint Anthony. Several small isolated coves in the area, known as Kalami, are ideal for swimming and fishing. The nearest place for water and food supplies, aside from the monastery, is the village of Maridaki, 2km to the east.

Located on the southern slopes of the Asterousia Mountains, Voidomatis or Vouidomatos, which translates to ‘ox’s eye’, is situated 62km south of Heraklion and 2.5km east of the Treis Ekklisies settlement. The breathtakingly rugged gorge of Mesosfinis, known for its towering walls and wild cliffs, a common sight in Asterousia, leads you to Voidomatis.

Upon exiting the gorge, you’re greeted by a beautiful beach with sandy shores and crystal clear blue waters. Notable features of this beach are two large rocks in the sea and an impressive sea cave, the ‘ox’s eye’, situated at the eastern end of the beach. This location can be reached via the old dirt road that connects Treis Ekklisies to the Mournia village. Surrounding Voidomatis, you’ll find several secluded bays with stunning beaches, usually only visited by locals.

Just 100m east of Voidomatis, lies the small yet captivating Plysimo Beach, which can be reached through a challenging climb. The beach, known for its coarse sand, is positioned at the exit of another smaller gorge in the area. This beach gets its name from the local shepherds who would wash their sheep here. Locals still refer to the beach as Tsagaraki’s Plysimo, named after Dimitris Tsagarakis who used to wash his sheep at this location.