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The Swallow Gorge, situated 33km south of Rethymnon city, is in close proximity to the renowned Preveli beach, known for its magnificent palm grove and breathtaking river. The gorge begins from Kenda peak (881m altitude), passes through Drymiskos village, runs nearly parallel to the Kourtaliotiko canyon, and concludes at Drymiskiano Ammoudi beach. It gets its name from the swallows that flock here every summer.
Unlike Kourtaliotiko, this lesser-known canyon is dry during the summer but is still worth a visit. The vertical, awe-striking rocks and the verdant riverbed (which flows in winter) are a sight to behold. The winding Swallow Canyon is relatively easy to hike and doesn’t require any specific skills, despite not being marked.
A significant portion of the canyon runs parallel to the road leading to Amoudi beach, which is where the easy trail to Preveli begins. To find this road, take a left at the picturesque arched bridge of Megalos Potamos that you’ll come across en route to the Preveli monastery. Therefore, even if you’re not much of a walker, you can still enjoy the beauty of the gorge during your visit to Preveli.
Get directions to Swallows’ Gorge (Chelidonia)
Swallows’ Gorge is a hiking gorge located in the region of Rethymno.
Swallows’ Gorge is a hiking gorge.
Swallows’ Gorge is generally dry.
Swallows’ Gorge is accessible via a dirt track.
Swallows’ Gorge is 6.5 km long.
Swallows’ Gorge has a difficulty rating of 2 out of 10.
It takes approximately 4 hours to hike Swallows’ Gorge.
The altitude difference in Swallows’ Gorge is 600.
Swallows’ Gorge is located in the region of Rethymno.
Find below the list of things to do near Swallows’ Gorge (Chelidonia):
On this Beach Safari, you will the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful and unique beaches of the south coast of Crete. We will visit Ammoudi, a slightly organised beach near Plakias, with crystal clear waters, as well as the most famous beach in South crete, the Palm Beach of Preveli.
Our first destination will be Ammoudi.
Ammoudi is a beach complex located 4km east of Plakias , where you will have about 2 hours to relax and enjoy the sun.
Its characteristic green slippery rock in the middle, is what makes it so special.
The beach is slightly organized, with umbrellas, sunbeds and some taverns nearby.
Ammoudi has thick white sand and rocky seabed, ideal for diving and snorkeling, and the waters have a bright green color.
Next to the beach there are many tamarisk trees, under which you can find shade and camp.
From there on a walking distance (~200m) you can find Klisidi and Ammoudaki (small ammoudi) two small yet gorgeous beaches with crystal-clear blue waters.
Next, we move to Preveli beach.
Beach of Preveli, also known as Lake Preveli or Phoenix, is located at the exit of the imposing Kourtaliotis gorge, where the Grand River (Megalos Potamos) flows.
It is undeniably the most famous beach in south Crete, accepting thousands of visitors every summer.
The area has nothing to envy from tropical seas, with palm trees reflected in the calm waters of the “Lake”.
Protagonists in our setting are the bodies of the mountains, the water, the canyon and at its exit an oasis, an exotic forest with Theophrastus palm trees.
You can walk along the river, under the palm trees and start ascending in the beautiful canyon and have the opportunity to swim in the cold ponds formed in the gorge.
Preveli is a protected beach (Natura 2000), therefor it is not well organized with umbrellas and sunbeds, but you can relax and enjoy the diamond waters of the Libyan Sea and the shade of the trees, in total harmony with the environment around you.
There is one tavern on one side of the beach where you can have a refreshment or a snack.
After 2 hours the van will wait you at the drop-off point in Preveli beach to take you back in Plakias, filled with joy and the most beutiful pictures of the most famous destinations in South Crete and ready for your next advanture with us!
Begin your day with pickup at the designated pick up location and head towards Damnoni. Make a stop at Spili or Asomatos village on your way for a coffee break in order to enjoy the beautiful historical village.
Continue on your journey, as guide will collect the money in order to bring you the ferry tickets. Arrive at Preveli beach where you will be able to stay there for 3 hours and explore the Kourtaliotis Gorge, the Palm Tree Forest, or relax at the beach.
Explore outside of Chania and see a gorge, river, lagoon, a palm forest, and wonderful sand beach all in one trip. See the beach, located near the exit of Kourtaliotis Gorge. Experience one of the most famous beaches in the South of Crete.
Admire the area behind the beach, where begins the second largest palm forest of 40 hectares, which hosts the endemic Cretan palm tree of Theophrastus, protected by the Natura 2000 Network.
Follow the marked path (and it is advisable not to step off it) and enjoy pictures full of greenery and listen to the sounds of running water. Immerse yourself in the beautiful nature and admire the natural scenery.
Make a stop at the end of the river, which forms a small lake at its exit to the sea with year-round water. Take the chance to have a refreshing swim in the large swimming pools that form every now and then.
Enjoy the beach in its natural state, as there are no sunbeds or umbrellas. Stop at the canteen where you can get the essentials if you need to.
Depart from Prevali beach and head to Damnoni where you will catch the bus and head to the village of Plakias as you will have free time to have lunch and drink at one of the taverns.
Make a brief photo stop on the return journey and enjoy the stunning view of Kourtaliotis Gorge, before being dropped back off at your pickup point.
Discover three famous beaches along the southern coast of Crete. Traverse the wild beauty of Kourtaliotis Gorge, stopping to admire its stunning waterfalls and the springs of the Preveli River that flow into Preveli Beach.
Begin your journey at Damnoni beach, where a boat awaits to take you to Palm Beach Preveli. Enjoy a swim in the clear waters of the Libyan Sea and take a short walk through the forest.
Head to a scenic viewpoint for breathtaking views and then board a boat to Preveli. Experience the mix of sandy beaches and lush greenery surrounded by palm trees and rocky cliffs.
Return to Damnoni beach for more relaxation before heading to the small resort town of Plakias for lunch, swimming, or shopping. Finally, make your way back to Rethymno via the impressive Kotsifou Gorge.
Discover Preveli on this Land Rover safari from Rethymno. Admire the beautiful scenery, taste locally-produced raki, take a swim, and explore the palm forest at Preveli before returning to Rethymno.
Benefit from pickup at your hotel. Start by taking in a breathtaking view of the Prasses Gorge. Look for resident wildlife, including the impressive vultures that live in the gorge. Continue to the Potamon Dam and admire the small church built by the lake as a reminder of the importance of religion on the island.
Pass through typical villages, such as Karines and Spili and learn about the local customs and habits. Savor an authentic raki produced in the village along with other specialties at a traditional tavern overlooking the Libyan Sea. Swim in the crystal-clear waters of Preveli and explore the palm forest.
Feel the wind in your hair as you get back to nature in the Kourtaliotiko Gorge. End with a panoramic view of Rethymno before drop off at your hotel.
Find below the list of hotels near Swallows’ Gorge (Chelidonia):
Just 30 metres from the beach, in Kerames of Rethymno, Chrysa Villa offers self-catering accommodation with panoramic views over the Libyan Sea. It is set amidst a blossomed terrace with sun loungers and offers free internet access via USB stick in all areas on request.
Opening to a balcony and a patio, the villas of Chrysa feature 2 separate bedrooms, a seating area and a well-equipped kitchen with dining area. Facilities include a washing machine, a dishwasher, a microwave and a satellite TV. The private bathroom comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Some units feature a private pool and a fireplace.
Ammoudi Beach, where taverns and mini markets are featured, is located 2.5 km away from the property. Rethymno Town and Port are 42 km away, while the centre of Kerames Village is at a distance of 5.5 km. The famous palm-tree beach of Preveli is 2.5 km away. Free public parking is possible on site.
Set in Kerames, 2 km from Agia Fotia Beach and 4 km from Preveli Beach, GIANNIS-KLEOPATRA HOUSE 1 offers a shared lounge and air conditioning. This holiday home offers free private parking and a shared kitchen.
The holiday home is fitted with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a patio with garden views.
A children’s playground can be found near the holiday home. A terrace is also featured.
The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 86.3 km from GIANNIS-KLEOPATRA HOUSE 1.
from
€81
/night
Boasting mountain views, The Village House offers accommodation with a balcony, around 35 km from Archaeological Museum of Rethymno. It has a terrace, sea views and free WiFithroughout the property.
The holiday home consists of 2 bedrooms, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen with an oven and a kettle, and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hair dryer.
Museum of Ancient Eleftherna is 46 km from the holiday home, while Psiloritis National Park is 47 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 101 km from The Village House.
from
€72
/night
Boasting air-conditioned accommodation with a private pool, sea view and a balcony, Endless Blue Beachfront Villa! is situated in Kerames. This beachfront property offers access to a terrace, free private parking and free WiFi.
The villa has 2 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a dishwasher, an oven, a washing machine, a microwave and a fridge. Towels and bed linen are offered in the villa.
Agia Fotia Beach is 1.9 km from the villa, while Kefala Beach is 2.2 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International, 100 km from Endless Blue Beachfront Villa!, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Boasting air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony, Traditional House Overlooking the Libyan Sea is situated in Kerames. It has mountain views and free WiFithroughout the property.
The holiday home has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace with sea views.
Archaeological Museum of Rethymno is 35 km from the holiday home, while Museum of Ancient Eleftherna is 46 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 101 km from Traditional House Overlooking the Libyan Sea.
Situated in Kerames, 4 km from the beach, Archontika Apartments features air-conditioned rooms, free WiFi access and free private parking. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant, serving traditional dishes.
Opening to a balcony, all rooms of Archontika are equipped with a flat-screen TV. Views of the sea, mountains or garden are featured in certain rooms. A private bathroom fitted with a bath or shower is included.
You will find a shared lounge at the property.
Preveli Beach is approximately 6.2 km from the property, while Rethymno Town is 45 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 120 km from Archontika Apartments, while Heraklion Airport is at a distance of 150 km.
Kourtaliotiko Gorge is a hiking gorge 22km south of Rethymno, Crete, Greece, known for its waterfall, its year-round springs, and the chapel of Agios Nikolaos at the base of the cliffs. Kourtaliotiko Gorge runs for 3km between the Kouroupa and Koules mountains, and a paved road cuts through the canyon so you can reach the main viewpoints and the trailhead without a long approach. This guide covers what the gorge is, the waterfall and chapel, how to get there and park, the difficulty, what to see, and the tips worth knowing before you go.
Approximately 1 km to the east of Spili, in the Agios Vassilios province, you’ll find the church of Agia Fotini, also known as Saint Photini. Like many places in Crete, it’s often referred to as Agia Fotia. Situated on the main road leading to Agia Galini, the church is adjacent to a spring that flows with water throughout the year. Nearby, you’ll see a large, old watermill. This area marks the end of the picturesque Agia Fotia gorge, which is small but incredibly lush.
The gorge begins at the Gious Kambos plateau, which is 750m above sea level, and concludes at the spring, which sits at an altitude of 500m, after a 1.5km journey.
Close to the gorge’s starting point, you’ll discover waterfalls of unparalleled beauty. In the springtime, these falls are abundant with water, creating a unique and breathtaking landscape filled with plane trees. The easiest way to reach the waterfalls is by walking from the spring along the gorge. Alternatively, you can access them from Gious Kambos, though this route is more challenging. It requires bypassing the waterfalls from the sides and descending the steep slope to the riverbed.
Located just 1km north of Kissos village in Agios Vasilios province and 34km southeast of Rethymnon, Kissano Gorge serves as a link between Kambos Kissou settlement and the small Gious Kambos plateau. The gorge’s river is a primary tributary of the Gorge Frati. The canyon, though not lush with vegetation, boasts small waterfalls, the tallest of which measure between 5-7m. These waterfalls make it an ideal location for canyoning, but it’s also possible to bypass them carefully from the sides without any specialized equipment.
The journey begins at the Gious Kambos plateau, a small haven of diverse flora. A 0 to 30-minute walk along or beside the riverbed leads you to a point where the river intersects the road connecting Kissos with Gerakari. Here, you’ll find a striking reddish rock peppered with numerous caverns known as Kokkinos Detis, leading locals to also refer to this area as the Kokkinos Detis Gorge.
While this marks the end of the main part of the canyon, the river continues its descent, creating more small waterfalls. It then passes through the 60-hectare artificial pine forest of Vatolakki, before continuing towards Spili and eventually to Frati.
Kakoperatos Canyon, situated near the village of Agios Vasilios in the province of the same name, is a tributary of the Megalos River (Kourtaliotis). Its name, which translates to “bad passage” in Greek, indicates the necessity of technical equipment for human access. This stunningly scenic and rugged canyon is perfect for canyoning. It is endowed with water for most of the year and features 7-8 remarkable waterfalls. These create deep ponds filled with clear turquoise waters, making them ideal for jumping.
It’s likely that no other canyon in Crete boasts such vibrant turquoise waters. The canyon’s exit is located adjacent to the last residences of Agios Vasilios, with its stream flowing through the village courtyards!
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