Koutris Apartments features mountain views, free WiFi and free private parking, located in Falasarna, 200 metres from North Beach.
The apartment provides guests with a terrace, sea views, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and an oven, and a private bathroom with shower and a hair dryer. A fridge and kitchenware are also featured, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle.
Koutris Apartments offers a picnic area.
Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at the accommodation, while cycling can be enjoyed nearby.
Popular points of interest near Koutris Apartments include North Falasarna Beach, Falasarna Beach and Ancient Falassarna. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 65 km from the apartment.
Phalassarna 73400
Find below list of things to do near Koutris Apartments:
Start your day of adventure from Falasarna Big Beach. From here you will set-off on a jet ski ride to Balos Lagoon that will last an exhilarating 25-minutes. Feel comfortable in the presence of a guided boat that will follow you throughout your tour.
Stay at Balos Lagoon for 1-hour to swim, take photos, and relax on the turquise shallow watrers. On our way back we will also have a quick pass from the island of Gramvousa, to take some nice photos of the shipwreck. Enjoy the flexibility of choosing one of the three time slots. Morning one for the calmness that area offers as you wil be reaching Balos Lgoon before the crowds,in between at 14.00, or join the 17.00 group as the temperature is ideal that time of the day.
This evening trip pairs a 110-minute horse ride near Falasarna with drone photography and a tavern dinner on the sand. Falasarna faces west, which makes it the best sunset on the north coast of Crete, and the ride is timed so you are in the saddle as the light goes. HappyTravellersTours runs it over 6 hours from €250 including hotel pick-up, and it holds a 4.9 rating across 17 reviews.
The evening moves from stable to saddle to table across about 6 hours. Three parts make it up.
First you choose a trail, and the choice is made on riding ability rather than preference. Beginners take the countryside route through green trails, local herbs and mountain views as the sun starts to drop. Experienced riders take the coastal route along the shoreline with an unobstructed view of the sunset, beach rides are restricted to experienced riders for safety. Second, a drone follows the ride, producing photos and video you keep. Third, the evening ends at a beachfront tavern with a tasting of local dishes, eaten with your feet in the sand.
The ride itself lasts 1 hour 50 minutes, which is long for a holiday trek.
The evening happens on the far west coast of the Chania regional unit.
The €250 covers transport, the ride, the photography and dinner.
Included:
Not included:
A liability waiver is required, and the tour runs for a minimum of 2 people.
We recommend this for the timing more than the horses. Falasarna is the sunset on this side of Crete, west-facing, unobstructed, and far enough from Chania that most visitors never get there for the evening. Being on the beach at that hour, on a horse, with somebody else driving you home, is a well-designed evening.
The reviews are unusually consistent about why it works, and the answer is one person. The guide, Yannis, is named in almost every review we read, by guests from the United States, Canada, France, Finland, Japan and the UK. What they describe is not horsemanship but hosting: tailoring the evening to what people wanted, taking the drone footage himself, showing people around, and being, in one American reviewer’s words, an extremely passionate and genuine local. Every dimension, guiding, transport, value, scores a flat 5.0 out of 5.
Beginners are well handled. One American guest rode for the first time and rated the day five stars, which is the split the operator’s own trail system is designed around.
Two things to be straight about.
The review base is small. Seventeen ratings is not many, and a 4.9 across 17 tells you far less than a 4.5 across 500 would. Nothing negative recurs in what is published, but there is not much published to go on.
Be honest about your riding level, because the operator asks you to and the reason is safety. Beach rides are restricted to experienced riders; declaring yourself experienced when you are not puts you on a beach at speed on an unfamiliar horse.
Wear long trousers, declare your real riding level, and expect a late finish.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included, and the whole evening runs about 6 hours. A liability waiver is required, and rides are at your own responsibility.
Bring comfortable clothes, long trousers and closed-toe shoes, plus a hat and sunscreen.
The ride itself lasts 1 hour 50 minutes, inside an evening that runs about 6 hours including transfers and dinner.
Beach rides are for experienced riders only. Beginners take the countryside trail, which the operator restricts for safety reasons.
Dinner at a beachfront tavern is included, served as a tasting of local dishes with your feet in the sand.
Drone photos and video are included, shot during the ride and given to you afterwards.
Wear long trousers and closed-toe shoes, which the operator requires, plus a hat and sunscreen.
The tour requires a minimum of 2 people to go ahead.
Check dates and prices for the Falasarna sunset horse riding with dinner.
Come and experience a Greek Night with traditional cuisine, traditional Cretan dances and learn more about the history of Cretan food and culture. Our outdoor seating venue is located in the center of Kissamos in an old cobble stone road.
At night you will see an old church close by being lit up while we eat, laugh and dance!
Break a Plate with us while dancing like a local!
** Starting time: 18H00 / 6 PM
We will kick off the evening with local Cretan Beer & Wine tasting at 6pm
(Please be at the venue 10 minutes prior, to secure we start on time)
This Experience is held at The Greek Cook Out. The Venue was first an old Greek Prison and is now transformed into an experience to dance, enjoy Cretan cuisine, and make new friends.
Welcome to our table, the longest dinner table in Greece – 15,3m
We can’t wait to meet you!
Terra Creta is a working olive mill in the Kolymbari region west of Chania, and this one-hour tour walks you through production from harvest to bottling, ending with a guided tasting of three oils. The estate sits in the heart of Kolymbari’s groves, one of the recognised olive-growing areas of western Crete. Tickets start at €10, and the tour holds a 4.73 rating across 446 reviews.
The hour moves from grove to press to glass. Three parts make it up.
First is the facility itself, a modern mill where you see the equipment and the guide explains the sequence from harvesting through extraction to bottling, along with what actually separates extra virgin from the rest. Second is the storage and handling advice, which the staff give as practical guidance rather than sales patter. Third is the tasting: three different Terra Creta oils, served with finger foods and water, with bread for dipping.
The shop afterwards stocks the oils, balsamic vinegar and Greek olives in travel-safe packaging, and takes cards as well as cash.
The estate sits inland from the north coast, between Kolymbari and the olive villages behind it.
The €10 covers the tour and the tasting.
Included:
Not included:
We recommend this as the cheapest hour of real education available in Crete. Ten euros buys a guided walk through a working mill and a three-oil tasting, and 446 reviewers averaging 4.73 agree it delivers. A New Zealand visitor called it educational and good value in the same breath; an American couple said they learned exactly what they wanted to about the process.
What the reviews keep coming back to is the guides’ enthusiasm. An Estonian reviewer wrote that their guide was extremely passionate about olive oil and it was a joy to see. A Polish guest praised the way they talked about the place and the production, noting you rarely get to see a real factory. Americans who cook with olive oil said the tour changed how they use it.
The tasting is generous rather than token. One Polish reviewer described unlimited opportunity to try different oils with bread, and a Finnish guest mentioned plenty of oil and olives to take home.
Three things to know before you go, and the first one decides which month you should book.
The mill only runs from October to February. Outside those months the machinery stands still, so a summer visit is a tour of the facility and the process rather than a working press. That is not hidden, but it changes what you see.
Parts of the site may be closed in summer. The operator states that some areas inside and outside the mill may be inaccessible between April and September for building expansion and machinery upgrades.
The pace can feel quick. GetYourGuide’s own review summary says some travellers find the delivery rushed with little time for questions, and asks for slower explanation. At one hour with a full tasting, that is the trade-off.
Visit in autumn if you can, arrange your own transport, and ask your questions early.
The meeting point is Epar.Od. Rapaniana-Vouves, Kolymbari 730 06. You reach it by taxi in about 25 minutes from Chania or Kissamos; no hotel pick-up is provided.
The mill operates only from October to February, and some areas may be inaccessible between April and September because of building work. The shop takes cash and cards.
The tour takes one hour, covering the facility, the production process and a three-oil tasting.
The mill presses only from October to February. Outside that window you tour the facility rather than watching production.
The tasting covers three different olive oils served with finger foods, water and bread for dipping.
No transport is included. The estate is about 25 minutes by taxi from Chania or Kissamos.
Wheelchair access is provided, though some areas may be closed between April and September for building work.
The shop sells oils, balsamic vinegar and olives in travel-safe packaging, and accepts both cash and cards.
Check dates and prices for the Terra Creta olive oil experience tour.
This package handles the whole Balos day from your hotel door: minibus transfer from Chania or Rethymno to Kissamos port, boat tickets collected by your guide rather than queued for, then roughly 2.5 hours at Balos lagoon and 2 hours on Gramvousa island. Quality Travel runs it over 9 hours from €40.15, with a 4.30 rating across 2,888 reviews, and it ranks 15th among all GetYourGuide experiences in Greece.
The day is a transfer, a ferry and two long stops. Four stages fill the 9 hours.
First is the pick-up in an air-conditioned car or minivan from a point near your hotel and the drive west to Kissamos port. Second, your guide meets you at the Cretan Daily Cruises office and hands over the tickets, so you board without queueing. Third is Gramvousa: a 20-minute climb to the Venetian castle on its 137-metre rock, a swim by the chapel of Agioi Apostoloi, and the pirate-cove history the island is known for. Fourth is Balos, reached about 20 minutes further on, where white and in places pink sand meets the turquoise lagoon.
The order of the two stops depends on the day’s itinerary.
The route crosses the north-west of the island from the Chania coast.
The fare covers the transfer, the guiding and the boat, with extras sold separately at the port.
Included:
Not included:
We recommend this version over buying the ferry ticket alone for one reason: the stop times are stated and they are long. Two and a half hours at Balos and two on Gramvousa is more than most Balos packages give you, and time at the stops is the single most common complaint about every other operator on this route. Here it is written into the listing.
The second reason is the ticket handover. Your guide meets you at the Cretan Daily Cruises office and gives you the tickets directly, which removes the port queue on the busiest boat departure in western Crete.
Reviewers consistently praise the guides by name, Dania and Donia both appear, described as attentive, organised and informative throughout the drive. A British reviewer called the coach and ferry transport well organised and the whole trip excellent. A Romanian guest praised the guide’s organisation in every way.
Three things to know, because this scores 4.30 and the complaints cluster tightly.
The morning wait at the port is the recurring problem. Three separate French reviewers raised it: a 90-minute wait with no explanation, arriving at 09:10 for a boat that leaves at 10:55, and a 90-minute wait described as simply too long. Pick-ups run early to cover the whole coast, and the boat leaves when it leaves.
Seating on the boat is tight. A Polish reviewer found it a bit short on seats though still possible to find a place, and another warned about crowds when disembarking. The boat is the large Kissamos ferry, shared with everyone else on that sailing.
Group timekeeping varies. One British reviewer wished the guide had stayed with the group to manage people who were late back to the boat.
If you have your own car and would rather not pay for the transfer, the boat ticket alone from Kissamos port costs about the same as this whole package.
Be early at the pick-up point, bring the €1 coin, and plan for the port wait.
Personalised pick-up information arrives by separate email from Quality Travel around 20:00 the day before, check your spam folder. The bus waits a maximum of 5 minutes at the pick-up point.
Bring comfortable and hiking shoes, sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, water, beachwear, cash and a credit card. Pets are not permitted.
You get about 2.5 hours at Balos and 2 hours on Gramvousa, which is longer than most packages on this route.
Pick-up and drop-off are included by air-conditioned car or minivan, from a point near your hotel in the Chania or Rethymno area.
No, your guide hands over the tickets at the Cretan Daily Cruises office, so you board without the port queue.
Reviewers report waits of up to 90 minutes. Pick-ups run early to cover the coast, and the boat departs at its fixed time of 10:35 or 10:55.
Lunch is an optional extra, offering a choice of main with a small Greek salad and a bottle of water.
The Kissamos municipality environmental fee, payable in cash by every visitor to Balos and Gramvousa.
Check dates and prices for the Balos and Gramvousa cruise with transfer.
This is the main ferry to Balos and Gramvousa, sailing from Kissamos port on Crete’s north-west coast. The boat spends about an hour crossing the bay, stops at Gramvousa island with its Venetian castle and shipwreck, then anchors at the Balos lagoon between the Gramvousa peninsula and Cape Tigani. CRETAN DAILY CRUISES runs it over 7 hours from €40, and it holds a 4.09 rating across 8,482 reviews, the second most-booked GetYourGuide experience in all of Greece.
The ferry runs a loop from Kissamos and the order of the two stops varies by day. Three stages fill the 7 hours.
First is the crossing, roughly an hour along the bay past steep cliffs, secluded beaches and a large cave believed to have been an ancient shipyard. An audio guide runs in Greek, English, German, French and Polish. Second is Gramvousa, where the boat docks at the small port: a shipwreck sits on the beach, a Greek Orthodox chapel stands by the shore, and a steep 20-minute climb reaches the Venetian castle on the island’s high point. Third is Balos, the lagoon listed among the most photographed beaches in the world, where the water is shallow and emerald and you swim off the sand.
Depending on the itinerary, Balos may come first and Gramvousa second.
The route covers the two landmarks of the north-west corner of Crete.
The ticket covers the boat and the audio guide, and it excludes the road transport at both ends.
Included:
Not included:
Purchases on board are card only, no cash is accepted.
We recommend this ferry as the practical way to reach Balos, and the practical case is strong. The overland route to Balos is 12 kilometres of unsealed track ending in a 20-minute walk down a cliff path, and most hire car agreements exclude it. The boat removes all of that, and at €40 for a 7-hour day including both stops it is the cheapest way to see either.
The scenery does the selling. Reviewers describe Balos as breathtaking and the turquoise water as the best they have swum in, and an American guest recommended sneakers for the castle climb specifically because the view from the top is worth the effort.
The boat’s size is a genuine advantage in one way. A Spanish reviewer pointed out that a big ferry is exactly what you want when the sea gets rough on this exposed corner of the island, and reviewers from Italy and France both praised the organisation and punctuality.
Now the reasons this scores 4.09 rather than higher, because on 8,482 reviews the pattern is real.
Guiding is the weakest dimension at 3.5 out of 5, and it is the lowest guiding score of anything we list. A German reviewer described the staff on the ship as really unfriendly and the food as below average, though French and Italian reviewers rated the bar service and included meal well. Experiences clearly vary by crew and by day.
The boat is very large and very full. A Spanish reviewer noted it is tough to find a spot on the top deck, an Italian one that boarding and disembarking take a long time because of the boat’s size, and a Polish reviewer warned to expect crowds especially when getting off. This is mass transport, not a small cruise.
Time at the stops is the recurring complaint. GetYourGuide’s own review summary says travellers want more time at each stop and at Balos in particular, and a French reviewer who enjoyed the trip said the same.
If you want the same two stops on a small boat with a two-hour stop at each, the Limeniskos speedboat tour carries 17 people at roughly double the price. If you want this same ferry with a hotel transfer included, there is a packaged version from Chania and Rethymno.
Bring a card rather than cash, wear shoes you can climb in, and get to the top deck early.
Departures run at 10:35 and 10:55 depending on the option, and the meeting point varies with it. You reach Kissamos port yourself, no transfer is included.
Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and a credit card. The Kissamos municipality collects €1 from every passenger over 13 before boarding, and the trip is flagged as likely to sell out.
The cruise runs 7 hours from Kissamos port, covering the crossing plus stops at both Gramvousa and Balos.
No transfer is included. You make your own way to Kissamos port, or book the packaged version that includes pickup from Chania and Rethymno.
The climb takes about 20 minutes up a steep rocky path, and reviewers recommend trainers rather than sandals.
No, purchases on board are card only. Bring €1 in coins separately for the municipality fee.
It is a large ferry. Reviewers note that helps in rough sea but makes boarding slow and top-deck seats hard to find.
The Kissamos municipality collects €1 from every passenger over 13 before boarding, as an administrative fee for visiting Balos and Gramvousa.
Check dates and prices for the Kissamos port boat cruise to Balos and Gramvousa.
Find below list of beaches near Koutris Apartments:
Falassarna is a run of five consecutive beaches on the north-west tip of Crete, about 59 km west of Chania and 17 km west of Kissamos at the western end of the Gramvousa peninsula. Falassarna has been voted the best beach in Crete and named among the ten best in Europe, and the ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Phalassarna sit at its northern end. The area spreads across a wide bay, and the two central beaches draw the most visitors.
The sand at Falassarna is whitish to golden, which gives the shallows a bright, tropical, turquoise colour. Close to the shoreline the sand often carries a faint pink tint, from tiny crushed shells mixed through it, and the tint shows most when the sand is wet. The main beach faces due west, so the sea is usually lively and can turn wavy on windy afternoons, a trait that windsurfers and kitesurfers prize. On calm days the water is clear and easy for swimming.
Falassarna is not one beach but five, set side by side along the bay:
To reach Falassarna beach the easy way, drive the scenic road through olive groves from Chania, which takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and ends at large parking areas next to the main beach. Renting a car lets you pair Falassarna with the quieter coves and the ancient site nearby, which you can arrange through car rental in Crete. Without your own transport, take the KTEL bus from Chania or Kissamos, which runs several times a day through the summer and takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes from Chania.
The best time to visit Falassarna is from May to October, when the weather is warm and the beach bars and tavernas are open; from November to April most businesses close, though you can still reach the beach by car. Come in the late afternoon and stay for the sunset, which is considered the best in Crete because the open western horizon lets you watch the sun sink straight into the sea.
The main beach, Pachia Ammos, is a Blue Flag beach and the organised part of Falassarna, with sunbeds and umbrellas, snack bars and tavernas, water sports and a beach volleyball court; lifeguards cover the busier sections in summer. It is one of the island’s Blue Flag beaches in Crete. The northern coves and the southern pebble beaches have few or no services, so bring water and shade if you head to the quieter ends. The whole bay sits inside a Natura-protected nature reserve.
Ancient Phalassarna was a Dorian port city at the northern end of the beach that grew into a strong regional naval power by the 4th century BC before the Romans destroyed it. A later earthquake lifted the coastline several metres, so the ancient harbour now sits on dry land, and excavations that began in the 1960s have uncovered walls, tombs and a stone throne.
Falassarna beach is on the north-west tip of Crete, about 59 km west of Chania and 17 km west of Kissamos, at the western end of the Gramvousa peninsula.
The easiest way to reach Falassarna is by car, about 1 to 1.5 hours from Chania through olive groves, with large parking areas by the main beach. A KTEL bus also runs from Chania and Kissamos several times a day in summer, taking roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
Falassarna is known for its long white-sand main beach, clear turquoise water and its sunset, which is rated the best in Crete. It has been voted the best beach in Crete and among the ten best in Europe.
The sand is mainly whitish to golden with a faint pink tint near the shoreline, from tiny crushed shells. The pink is softer than at Elafonisi and shows most when the sand is wet.
Yes, the main beach shelves gently into shallow water that suits children, and the organised section has sunbeds, food and water sports. The beach faces west, so it can get wavy on windy days; keep an eye on young swimmers then.
No, Falassarna is a free public beach. You pay only for extras such as a sunbed and umbrella set or food and drinks.
The best time to visit is May to October, when the beach is warm and the bars and tavernas are open. Late afternoon is ideal, so you can stay for the sunset.
Falassarna faces due west and is exposed to the west wind, so the sea is often lively and can turn wavy on windy afternoons. Those conditions make it a favourite with windsurfers and kitesurfers.
The main beach has sunbeds and umbrellas, snack bars and tavernas, water sports and a beach volleyball court, and it flies a Blue Flag. The northern and southern coves have few or no services, so bring your own water and shade there.
Yes, Falassarna is made up of five beaches side by side: the main Pachia Ammos, the quieter 800 m north beach, a small south-facing cove by the ancient site, sandy Livadi to the south, and a pebbly beach near the small harbour.
Kalyviani Beach, situated a mere 1km north of the eponymous traditional village at the foot of the Gramvousa Peninsula and 7km northwest of the town of Kissamos, is a lengthy stretch of coast that serves as a viable option for swimming for those visiting the scenic village of Kaliviani. However, its overall rocky terrain with sparse sandy patches doesn’t make it a favourite among swimmers. It is advised to avoid the beach during gusty days, as the large waves coupled with the rocky seabed can make swimming hazardous.
Despite its proximity to Kissamos and Kaliviani village, where accommodation and dining options are available, the beach lacks tourist facilities. It also tends to be less than pristine, as it often becomes a depository for trash brought in by the currents and waves.
Tou Meri to Pigadi is located 8km northwest of Kissamos and 44km west of Chania, on the eastern side of Peninsula Gramvousa. The name means “Meri’s well”, probably named after the name of someone, who owned a well in the area. Meri Pigadi has three consecutive small protected bays, with fine pebbles and crystal clear deep waters. There are no facilities on the beaches; it is an ideal place to relax, away from the noise of cities.
There are a few small trees, under which you can find shade. The first bay, just behind the ticket kiosk of Balos lagoon, is called Mouri Lakkos. To get to Meri’s Well, you have to walk or drive 1.5km into the dirt road that starts from Kaliviani and leads to the lagoon of Balos. If you visit the beaches, do not forget to have water with you.
1.5km north of Meri Pigadi, at position Kakia Skala, there is a small beach with fine pebbles and gorgeous deep blue water, adjacent to the eastern cliffs of the cape. Access to the beach is not easy, as the rocky cliffs make the descent impossible.
Located 3km northwest of Kissamos town and 38km west of Chania, you’ll find the beach of Vigglia on Crete island. This beach begins near the “Madonna of the Harbor” church (Panagia) by the port of Kissamos, stretching along a 2km coastline featuring many coves, all the way to Kaliviani to the west. Notably, Vigglia’s primary beach boasts a nearly semicircular shape, with its coarse sand and transparent water. There are areas where the sandy beach is replaced with pebbles and rocks.
Although Vigglia doesn’t provide extensive tourist services, there are a few hotels in its vicinity and some basic facilities. Despite not being highly organized, Vigglia attracts many admirers who appreciate the area’s tranquillity and pristine sea. If you’re seeking a family-friendly destination in western Crete, Vigglia would be an excellent recommendation.
Find below list of gorges near Koutris Apartments:
The Sirikari gorge, situated 55km west of Chania and 17km south of Kissamos, is nestled in a verdant area filled with canyons and streams. The paved road leading to Sirikari weaves through lush vegetation, offering a glimpse of the area’s beauty from the get-go. The gorge splits into two parallel paths here – Tsichliano to the west and Kioliano or Sirikariano to the east, both culminating at the Polirinia settlement, the site of the ancient town of Polirinia. The town’s ancient walls, still in a decent state of preservation, stand tall in its citadel, atop a hill with a panoramic view of the Kissamos bay.
Close to Sirikari, an enchanting forest unfolds, home to towering chestnut trees, quaint waterfalls, and babbling brooks. Although it isn’t the only chestnut forest in the Chania prefecture, with several others dotting the slopes of the White Mountains, its beauty and vastness set it apart.
Adjacent to Sirikari, in Sineniana, stand two well-preserved old watermills. A visit to the Church of the Assumption is also recommended, particularly on August 15th, when a traditional feast is held. The church, nestled in the chestnut grove, is surrounded by other trees like holm oaks, cypresses, and plane trees. A little further along, you can explore an abandoned village set amidst a stunning oak wood. Additionally, the Sirikari village houses the 15th-century Byzantine church of the Holy Apostles (Agii Apostoli), which is definitely worth a visit.
Traveling along the western coast of Crete towards Elafonissi beach, you’ll encounter the picturesque village of Kambos, nestled within the Kissamos province. A brief detour off the main road to the west will bring you to the verdant Kambos canyon, the most westerly gorge on the island, which is fed by the small Koutroulis massif.
A scenic hiking trail winds its way through the canyon, beneath the shade of towering plane trees and alongside a river that flows year-round. The journey is punctuated by striking rock formations and culminates at a natural spring. From there, the path reconnects with the road descending from the village, leading to the subterranean churches of Agia Ekaterini and Agia Marina.
Continuing your trek along the riverbed can occasionally prove challenging due to thick vegetation and water, but the journey is worth it. From Agia Kyriaki, the path follows the riverbed to the secluded yet stunning Platanakia beach, where plane trees stretch their branches out to the sea.
The gorge of Topolia (Topoliano) is located in west Crete and it runs along the road leading to Elafonissi via Elos. The canyon actually starts near the village Strovles at an altitude of 450m, and exits near the village Topolia, at an altitude of 150m. However, the narrowest and most impressive hiking part of the gorge is located between Katsomatados and Topolia, where the side rocks are very high and steep. The canyon is crossed by the River Tyflos, which originates from Mount Dikeos. At the beginning of the narrow part, it is worth visiting the Cave of Agia Sofia, located just above the main road.
The canyon and the wider area host rare and endemic plants of Crete, while the Cave of St. Sophia houses a species of cave spider that lives only there (Pholcus creticus). According to local traditions, Topolia Gorge hosted fairies and the Minoan goddess Vritomartis. Here, the legendary Talos used to stop and enjoy the divine music of the fairies. When Talos arrived at the place, rested inside a big cave, drank water and fell asleep. Then, the fairies and elves of the river arrived, singing and dancing.
The Gorge Chalase, also known as Porofarago, begins close to the Sassalos village and concludes just before reaching the Makronas village, after a four-hour journey through lush vegetation. The gorge is fed by two primary streams that converge south of Sassalos; the Mylonofarago ravine that originates from the Mylones village, and the Kalogirou stream.
Navigating through the gorge can be quite challenging due to a significant landslide (referred to as ‘chalase’ in the Cretan dialect) at a certain point, and the absence of a well-defined path. Near Malathyros, approximately halfway through the route, the trail transitions into a dirt road that follows the riverbed all the way to Makronas. Just before reaching Makronas, we come across a historical site where, on August 28, 1944, German forces executed 62 civilian men from Malathyros as retribution for the activities of local guerrilla groups. The German atrocities committed during this time have yet to be brought to justice.
© All rights reserved. Crete Locals
