These images are powered by
The Diktamos Canyon, nestled within the White Mountains, commences 21km to the east of Chania, near the Katochori village at an elevation of 300m. It concludes 8km further east, at the Faragi village, situated at a height of 40m and in close proximity to the Stylos village in the Apokoronas province. Consequently, it is also referred to as the Katechori Gorge or Stylos Gorge. The canyon’s stream serves as the primary tributary of the Kiliaris River, gathering water from the northern slopes of the Mavri peak and discharging it onto the Kalives beach.
Navigating through the canyon can be challenging, with certain areas requiring extra caution and approximately 3 hours to traverse. The canyon is a stunning, verdant landscape filled with towering trees and steep inclines, home to dittany or diktamos, a herb endemic to Crete. In Stylos, you have the opportunity to explore the ancient church of Apostle John (Agios Ioannis Theologos), refresh yourself at the local springs, and replenish your energy at the village’s taverns.
Get directions to Diktamos Gorge
Diktamos Gorge is accessible via a paved road.
Diktamos Gorge is 7.5 km long.
Diktamos Gorge has a difficulty level of 3 out of 10.
It takes approximately 3 hours to hike Diktamos Gorge.
The altitude difference in Diktamos Gorge is 200.
Find below the list of things to do near Diktamos Gorge:
Before reaching Chania city and wander to the narrow streets of the old city, firstly stop at the peninsula of Akrotiri.
There it is the grave of the important politician Eleftherios Venizelos, where we can enjoy a fabulous view over Souda Bay.
Chania, the second largest city of the island of Crete will be next stop. After a city tour, your steps will leads you to the city port where you will enjoy some small Cretan specialties. Free time to explore the city on your own will be next. You can also visit the famous market hall here. We continue with the stop at the ruins of “Aptera” and spend some time for the sensational view over the north coast. Final stop is the freshwater lake “Kournas”, here you can end the day with a Greek coffee on a terrace from one of the numerous coffee shops.
Pick-Up or Meet-Up: We’ll either pick you up or meet you at our dive center, where you’ll meet your instructor.
Briefing and Theory: Following the excitement of your first dive, we’ll gather for a quick session covering essential theories behind safe diving practices, equipment basics, and safety tips.
Choose Your Gear: Your instructor will guide you in selecting the gear that best suits you
Beach Prep: We’ll head to the beach together, assemble our gear, and get ready for our first dive for about 45minutes.
After a refreshing break: we’ll change cylinders and then get ready for the second dive at maximum depth of 12 meters.
After we finish, we’ll return back to the dive center where you will receive your Basic Diver Certification .
Finally: Let’s get ready for the drop-off or if you have your own transportation, you are more than welcome to use it.
Book your beginner scuba diving today and let the exploration begin!
Are you ready for an unforgettable journey beneath the surface?
-Pick-Up or Meet-Up: We’ll either pick you up or meet you at our dive center, where you’ll meet your instructor.
-Theory and Briefing: Get ready for a quick session to cover essential theories behind safe diving practices and equipment use basics and safety tips.
-Choose Your Gear: Your instructor will help you pick out gear that suits you best.
– Beach Prep: We’ll head to the beach together, gear up, and get ready for our dive.
– Dive Time: Let’s dive in and explore the stunning underwater world together, for about 45minutes
-After we finish, we’ll return back to the dive center to get ready for the drop-off or if you have your own transportation, you are more than welcome to use it.
Our experienced instructors will take you through step-by-step instruction, before diving, covering everything you need to know in order to make most of it!
Book your beginner scuba diving course today and let the exploration begin!
Sail with us from Kolimvari Port along the gorgeous north coast of Chania on our large and comfortable sailing yachts and discover the island of Agioi Theodoroi, home of the famous Kri-Kri goats.
Our journey begins from the port of Kolimvari.
As we start, after a short safety briefing, you can admire the beautiful coastline and enjoy the feel of sailing.
About 1 hour later we arrive to our swim stop in the beach of Agioi Theodoroi island where you can enjoy the crystal waters and our water activities such as snorkeling and stand-up paddle boarding. While at anchor in the bay our crew will be happy to offer you any piece of equipment for our water activities and serve you plentiful drinks so, please don’t hesitate to request it from them.
About 2 hours later our delicious Mediterranean menu is served and includes Greek salad and several appetizers, while the main course is shrimp pasta (we also offer vegetarian and gluten free versions of the menu upon request). You can also accompany your meal with the finest wine, beer, ice tea or soft drinks. For dessert you can taste our special fruit mixture of local and tropical fruits. About 1 hour later we will set sails to head back to the port after a day full of great memories.
You can choose between the morning or the afternoon cruise with the sunset view.
Find below the list of hotels near Diktamos Gorge:
Featuring pool views, Samonas – Green villa Faskomilia provides accommodation with a balcony and a coffee machine, around 44 km from Archaeological Museum of Rethymno. It features pool with a view, a fitness centre, mountain views and free WiFithroughout the property.
The holiday home comes with 1 bedroom, 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.
A continental, vegetarian or vegan breakfast can be enjoyed at the property.
The wellness area at the holiday home is comprised of a sauna and a steam room. A car rental service is available at Samonas – Green villa Faskomilia, while walking tours can be enjoyed nearby.
Ancient City of Aptera is 12 km from the accommodation, while Historical – Folklore Museum of Gavalochori is 16 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International, 31 km from Samonas – Green villa Faskomilia, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Boasting pool views, Samonas – Red villa Fliskouni features accommodation with a patio and a coffee machine, around 44 km from Archaeological Museum of Rethymno. It has pool with a view, a fitness centre, mountain views and free WiFithroughout the property.
The holiday home features 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a balcony with sea views.
A continental, vegetarian or vegan breakfast can be enjoyed at the property.
At the holiday home guests are welcome to take advantage of a hammam and a steam room. A an indoor play area is also available at Samonas – Red villa Fliskouni, while guests can also relax on the sun terrace.
Ancient City of Aptera is 12 km from the accommodation, while Historical – Folklore Museum of Gavalochori is 16 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 31 km from Samonas – Red villa Fliskouni.
from
€175
/night
Samonas Traditional Villas is a group of two-storey houses with unlimited views to Apokoronas Valley, the White Mountains and the Cretan Sea. An outdoor heated pool with salt water, a gym and a steam bath are featured. BBQ facilities, an outdoor dinning area and a traditional cafe can also be found on site.
Each maisonette has a fully equipped kitchen with a complete set of cutlery and cookware, a dining room and a sitting area with a fireplace, Smart TV and CD/DVD player. All dwellings have their private courtyard or balcony with traditional outdoor furniture, while some have a rooftop terrace with panoramic views. Baby amenities can be provided on request and upon charge.
The reception area resembling a traditional coffee house serves local dishes and drinks. Local products and necessity items are also available here. In the entire region there are more than 200 caves, the nearest located next to the settlement. The Minoan olive trees and the Minoan tombs in the surrounding area are also impressive.
from
€155
/night
Offering sea views, Villa Vangelis Stylos Crete is an accommodation located in Samonás, 41 km from Archaeological Museum of Rethymno and 10 km from Ancient City of Aptera. This villa features a private pool, a garden and free private parking.
The 2-bedroom villa comes with a living room with a TV with satellite channels, a fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher and oven, and 2 bathrooms with a hair dryer. Towels and bed linen are featured in the villa.
Historical – Folklore Museum of Gavalochori is 13 km from the villa, while Conference Centre of MAICh is 18 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 29 km from Villa Vangelis Stylos Crete.
from
€254
/night
Boasting air-conditioned accommodation with a private pool, pool view and a patio, VILLA HALEPOURI is situated in Chania Town. This property offers access to a balcony, free private parking and free WiFi.
The villa has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace with sea views.
The villa offers a hot tub. Guests at VILLA HALEPOURI can enjoy walking tours nearby, or make the most of the garden.
Archaeological Museum of Rethymno is 40 km from the accommodation, while Ancient City of Aptera is 8.7 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International, 28 km from VILLA HALEPOURI, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Located in Chania Town and only 40 km from Archaeological Museum of Rethymno, Halepouri Apartment provides accommodation with mountain views, free WiFi and free private parking. This apartment offers air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony.
The apartment comes with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchenette, and a terrace with sea views.
Ancient City of Aptera is 8.7 km from the apartment, while Historical – Folklore Museum of Gavalochori is 13 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 28 km from Halepouri Apartment.
from
€84
/night
The Cyclamen Gorge, also known as Agios Georgios Gorge or Gorge Vandes, is nestled on the northern slopes of the White Mountains. Its starting point is the Aletrouvari settlement, situated at an altitude of 300m, and it extends east of Agios Georgios village, ultimately ending at the village of Vandes, which is at an elevation of 50m. The stream that runs through this gorge gathers water from the Drakona area, resulting in the formation of quaint, small ponds at certain spots.
However, this route is not recommended for novice hikers as it requires approximately 2 hours to traverse from Aletrouvari or about 1 hour from Agios Georgios. As visitors journey through this route, they will encounter a diverse landscape that changes along the river, all under the cool shade of towering plane trees and cypresses.
Positioned near the city of Chania, the Therisso Gorge (also known as Eleftherios Venizelos) is an awe-inspiring sight. This six-kilometre-long canyon is adorned with impressive vertical cliffs and lush greenery, rivalling any other gorge in the Chania region. Accessible by car, it’s worth combining a trip to the gorge with a visit to the historic village of Therisso, nestled at the foot of the White Mountains, just 15 kilometres from Chania. This village, steeped in history, offers an unforgettable experience to any visitor.
With a population of just over 100, the valiant village of Therisso has held a significant role in Crete’s modern history, mainly due to the resilience of its inhabitants against Turkish invasions. In 1866, the village was burnt by Mustapha Pasha Naili, forcing many, including the mother of future Greek Prime Minister, Eleftherios Venizelos, to relocate to Kythera and the Peloponnese. Therisso gained further historical prominence in 1905 when Eleftherios Venizelos and his allies initiated a revolution against the autocratic rule of Prince George, imposed by the Great Powers, charting a course for Crete’s union with Greece. Notably, the heroic Halides brothers, key figures in the 1821 revolution, also hailed from Therisso.
Sarakina Gorge is a short, easy hiking gorge near the village of Meskla, about 20 km from Chania town at the foot of the White Mountains. The gorge runs 3 km, rates 1 out of 10 for difficulty, and takes roughly 30 minutes to 1.5 hours to walk as a circular route that starts and ends beside the Church of the Panagia in Meskla. Water flows through the ravine until spring, and a developed path of dirt track, wooden and stone staircases, and metal walkways carries you between towering cypress and plane trees to a point where the limestone rock splits down the middle.
Sarakina Gorge is a compact hiking gorge hidden inside a deep ravine at the foot of the White Mountains. The gorge sits close to Meskla, a quiet village roughly 20 km from Chania, and its somewhat elusive location keeps it off the beaten track for many locals. That obscurity is part of the appeal, because it has kept the ravine an untouched natural spectacle rather than a crowded attraction.
The name comes from local lore that the Saracens once used the ravine as a hiding place. Do not confuse this ravine with the other well-known Sarakina Gorge in East Crete, near Mythi in the Province of Ierapetra.
Sarakina Gorge has a difficulty level of 1 out of 10, which makes it one of the gentler walks in the region. The gorge is 3 km long with an altitude difference of about 300 meters, so the effort stays light across the whole route. Walking it as a circular trail takes about an hour, and most visitors finish somewhere between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours depending on how long they linger at the rock formations.
No technical skill or climbing is needed here. Families with children and casual walkers manage the path comfortably, since local authorities have developed the trail with staircases and walkways throughout.
Reach the trailhead by driving to Meskla, where a paved road leads all the way to the gorge. The village lies about 20 km inland from Chania town, and the drive climbs gently toward the White Mountains. Park at the Church of the Panagia in Meskla, which marks both the start and the finish of the circular trail and offers the parking space for visitors.
Public transport into these mountain villages is limited, so the easiest way to arrive is with your own vehicle. Book a rental car for exploring inland Crete if you want the freedom to combine Meskla with the wider valleys around Chania town.
The walk opens with a ten-minute stretch on a dirt road that then joins a path running alongside the river. Wooden and stone staircases and metal walkways cross the water as you move deeper into the ravine, framed the whole way by cypress and plane trees. Water runs through this section until spring, adding sound and greenery to the shaded canyon.
After the first segment the landscape changes sharply, shifting from a gravel bed to solid limestone boulders. The highlight arrives where the rock appears split down the middle, carving out a breathtaking natural sculpture that gives the gorge its character. This limestone gallery is the reason most hikers make the trip, and it rewards a slow pace and a camera.
Pack for a short mountain walk with water underfoot. Bring the essentials below so the easy grade stays comfortable across the 3 km loop:
Meskla sits within easy reach of several other Chania gorges worth pairing with Sarakina on a walking day. Each offers a different character, from lush greenery to historic villages, and all lie in the same mountainous corner south of Chania.
For guided hikes and day trips that include transport, browse the full range of Crete hiking experiences. You can also compare the region’s ravines side by side on the Crete gorges.
Sarakina Gorge is a hiking gorge. The trail suits walkers of all levels and needs no climbing or canyoning gear.
Yes, water flows through Sarakina Gorge until spring. The river runs alongside much of the path, crossed by wooden and stone staircases and metal walkways.
Sarakina Gorge is easily accessible, because a paved road leads all the way to it. Parking sits at the Church of the Panagia in Meskla, where the circular trail begins and ends.
Sarakina Gorge is 3 km long. The circular route walks back to Meskla, so you cover the distance and return to your car without arranging a pickup.
Sarakina Gorge has a difficulty level of 1 out of 10. The altitude difference of about 300 meters is spread gently across the walk, keeping it suitable for families.
Hiking Sarakina Gorge takes approximately 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. Most walkers complete the circular trail in about an hour, with extra time for photos at the split-rock formation.
The Tromarissa Gorge, named after local legends of fairies and goblins that frightened passersby, is situated close to the village of Zourva. The spring of Tromarissa, which translates to ‘scare’ in Greek, is where these tales are said to originate.
Beginning beneath the Agavani peak of the White Mountains, this technical canyon concludes near Zourva, with the Ambelitsiotis River (also known as Zourvanos) flowing alongside it. A hiking trail passes through the gorge, with additional trails stemming from the spring area towards the White Mountains and Pera Gourgouthes. The stream’s course features around 40+ medium-height rappels (waterfalls), the tallest of which is 17m. It takes a small group of canyoneers approximately six hours to traverse the gorge. The Chania Mountaineering Club (ΕΟΣ Chania) has secured the descents to Zourva with double bolts.
© All rights reserved. Crete Locals
