Best things to do in Exo Mouliana in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Exo Mouliana is a village in the Lasithi region of eastern Crete, standing inland from the north coast on the high ground west of Sitia. Exo Mouliana lies between the two towns of this end of the island, with Sitia the nearer of them and Agios Nikolaos further west. The Richtis Gorge runs from just outside the houses down to the sea, and its walking trail starts there. Water flows in the gorge even in high summer, fed from the Drymias peak (918 m) of the Orno range.
Sitia (JSH) is the nearest airport and sits east of the village. The village works as a walking and swimming base rather than a resort: the gorge trail begins here, a paved road drops to Richtis beach, and 5 beaches lie within 10 km.
Things to do in and around Exo Mouliana
Six outings sit within 8 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Walk the Richtis Gorge. The trail begins just outside the village, runs roughly 3 kilometres and drops about 350 m to the shore, ending at Richtis beach east of Kalavros.
- Stop at the archaeological site of Chamezio. The site at Chamezio stands 2.7 km from the village, towards Sitia.
- Swim at Richtis beach. The cove sits 3.2 km away, reached on the paved road that starts in the village or on foot through the gorge. Richtis has clear water, tamarisk trees and a stone fountain.
- Find the bays at Gela. Gela, also called Tigania, lies 3.4 km away on a stony and shingle coast largely shielded from westerly winds. Its several tiny bays are reached by a 5 km dirt track from Kalavros village.
- Descend the Koudoumis Gorge. The canyon starts 5.5 km away at the plateau of Monokara and comes out near Tourloti, with six minor but steep rappels on the way through.
- Spend a day at Mochlos. The coastal village is 7.9 km away and faces the islet of St. Nicholas 150 m offshore, which holds a chapel and an archaeological site. Tavernas and cafes line the road at Mochlos.
About the village and its setting
Exo Mouliana is a settlement in the Lasithi prefecture, on the northern side of Crete between the towns of Agios Nikolaos and Sitia. The village keeps farming country around it, and the water running through the Richtis Gorge in summer is used for local agriculture rather than left to reach the sea.
Kalavros sits west of the gorge mouth, Tourloti stands at the exit of the Koudoumis canyon, and Sfaka is the village most of the people working at Mochlos come from. Two more ravines cut the same slope within 9 km: the Charkomatas Gorge 7.3 km away and the Agii Pantes Gorge 8.9 km away, the second of them holding the freshwater springs of Koutsounari and Hosto Nero, one inside a cave.
The villages further east carry more history. Piskokefalo, 9.7 km away and 3 km south of Sitia, was the birthplace of Vincentzos Kornaros, the poet who wrote Erotokritos, and it became the commanding officer’s headquarters after the pirate Chairentin Barbarossa destroyed Sitia in 1538.
Beaches in and around Exo Mouliana
Exo Mouliana stands inland, so swimming means the coast below it, where 5 beaches lie within 10 km. All are pebble or stone, and most have no facilities.
- Richtis lies 3.2 km away at the foot of the gorge, shaded by tamarisks and furnished with stone seats and tables. Round pebbles and a northern exposure make swimming awkward on windy days, and nothing is sold there, so bring food.
- Gela sits 3.4 km away, a run of tiny bays with green-tinted water below steep rocky coasts. The sea is deep here, the spot is secluded, and the approach is a 5 km dirt track from Kalavros.
- Mochlos, 7.9 km away, is the one stretch here with a village behind it, tavernas on the coastal road and the chapel islet of St. Nicholas 150 m offshore.
- Papadiokambos lies 8.0 km away near the Faneromeni Monastery in the Skopi area, on a well-maintained dirt road. Large stones cover most of the shoreline, with a few pebble bays fit for swimming. Windsurfers know it as Faneromeni, and strong winds keep other visitors away.
- Platani is 9.4 km away on the road to Faneromeni Monastery from Skopi, where two small pebbly beaches sit side by side. The first, Agii Pantes, lies below limestone formations shaped like Pleurotus mushrooms.
Where to eat in Exo Mouliana
Eating near Exo Mouliana means village cooking, and the choice is short.
- Roussos Traditional Restaurant & Cafe serves traditional cooking and coffee, 3.0 km from the village.
- Tavernas and cafes on the seafront road at Mochlos, 7.9 km away, serving fresh seafood.
Getting to Exo Mouliana
Exo Mouliana is reached from the road that links Agios Nikolaos with Sitia, the same route that serves Kalavros and the Richtis area. The town of Sitia lies east of the village and Agios Nikolaos further west, so a car suits the area better than a bus.
Sitia (JSH) is the nearest airport, on the same eastern side of Lasithi as the town. A paved road drops north from the village to Richtis beach, the usual way to the coast for anyone not walking the gorge.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Exo Mouliana in Crete?
Exo Mouliana lies in the Lasithi region of eastern Crete, inland from the north coast and west of Sitia. Agios Nikolaos lies further west, which puts the village between the two towns.
Does Exo Mouliana have a beach?
Exo Mouliana is an inland village with no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 10 km. The closest is Richtis, 3.2 km away at the mouth of the gorge, reached by paved road or on foot through the gorge.
Can you walk the Richtis Gorge from Exo Mouliana?
Yes, the Richtis Gorge trail starts just outside Exo Mouliana. The route covers roughly 3 kilometres and loses about 350 m on its way down to Richtis beach.
Which airport is nearest to Exo Mouliana?
Sitia (JSH) is the nearest airport to Exo Mouliana, on the eastern side of the Lasithi region. The village sits west of Sitia, so the drive from the terminal runs west.
What is there to do near Exo Mouliana on a windy day?
The gorges are the sheltered choice when the north coast is rough. Richtis starts just outside the village, Koudoumis 5.5 km away and Charkomatas 7.3 km away, while Richtis and Papadiokambos both pick up waves from the north.
Where Exo Mouliana is
Best things to do in Exo Mouliana in 2024 is located at Éxo Moulianá. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
