Best things to do in Karoti in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Karoti is an inland village in the Rethymno region of Crete, set west of Rethymno town at the point where the Petres Gorge narrows. Karoti stands where the gorge tightens into a channel about 1 km long, and the river running through it is the longest in Rethymno province. The village sits in that river valley rather than on the coast, with the sea 2.6 km north at Episkopi beach and the town of Episkopi 1.4 km away.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Karoti suits a stay built around walking and the villages of the Rethymno hinterland: 4 gorges lie within 11 km, 6 beaches within 11 km, and the ancient site of Lappa 4.1 km away.
Things to do in and around Karoti
Six outings lie within about 7 km of the village, listed here from nearest to furthest.
- Walk up to Episkopi. The town 1.4 km away stands at 120 m on the old national road between Rethymno and Chania and looks out over the Mousselas river valley and the north coast. Episkopi keeps a Church of the Holy Cross dating to the 14th century.
- Walk into the Petres Gorge, whose narrow section begins near Karoti and runs about 1 km. The gorge is easy to reach, ponds form along its course and are used for swimming, and the route opens out at Petres beach.
- Swim at Episkopi beach, where the sand starts 2.6 km from the village and runs about 3.5 km. Episkopi beach has an organised western section and a quiet eastern end by the Petres bridge.
- See the Fylaki domed tomb. The tomb stands 3.3 km from Karoti and takes only a short stop.
- Visit ancient Lappa at Argyroupolis. The site lies 4.1 km away, and the springs village of Argyroupolis, 5 km out, is built on top of it.
- Hike the Kollita Gorges, twin ravines that start 6.5 km away near Argyroupolis and end near Kato Poros. Moundros and Vilandredo run parallel, with Vigla peak at 567 m to the east, and both suit walkers new to gorges.
About the village and its setting
Karoti is a small inland village in the Rethymno region, and its setting is the Petres river valley rather than the coast. Karoti sits on the longest river in Rethymno province, fed by tributaries that reach from the Kollita Gorges in the west across to Mount Vrysinas in the east, a catchment covering almost half of the prefecture. The river flows all year and forms a wetland near its mouth at Episkopi.
The villages around Karoti carry the history of this part of the Rethymno hinterland. Agios Konstantinos, 3.8 km away, sits on a wide plateau at 250 m among olive trees, vineyards, carobs and cypresses; it was granted to the Hortatsis family in the Byzantine period, served as a residence for nobles under Venetian rule, and took its name from a church built in 1315. Preserved buildings in the village still show that Venetian presence.
Beaches in and around Karoti
Karoti has no beach of its own, and the nearest is Episkopi beach, 2.6 km north. 6 beaches lie within 11 km of the village, all on the north coast.
- Episkopi lies 2.6 km away, about 3.5 km of soft sand in the valley between the Mouselas river and the river out of the Petres gorge. The water is shallow, clear and usually lightly waved, and the entry is gentle. The western section has a lifeguard, umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, snack bars and water sports; the eastern end near the Petres bridge stays quiet.
- Kavros runs 5.5 km away, a wide sandy stretch between Georgioupoli and Pyrgos with clear shallow water. Open to the wind, so waves are common. Restaurants, cafés and bars line part of it, and other parts stay unorganised.
- Kamari sits 6.2 km away, a compact beach by Gerani village at the entrance of the Vederi Gorge, with pebbles and rocks in places that snorkellers favour. A small harbour, the Panagia Kamariani church and the sealed entrance to the Gerani cave all stand close by.
- Georgioupolis begins 8.8 km away, at the western edge of a 10 km run of sand. The town beach spans 2 km east from the Almyros river to Kavros, with dunes, shallow water, lifeguards, umbrellas and showers. Sea currents make windy days worth treating with care.
- Kalivaki stands 9.2 km away, the westernmost beach of Georgioupolis bay, at the mouth of the Almyros river. The sand stays sheltered from the wind and the shallow water runs noticeably cool.
- Koumbes is 10.6 km away, the furthest of the six.
Where to eat near Karoti
Eating near Karoti means tavernas and family restaurants spread through the surrounding villages rather than a strip in the village itself. The three closest sit within 3.1 km.
- Garden Arkoudainas sits 1.3 km away, the nearest of them.
- To Mikro Livadi Residences & Family Restaurant stands 2.5 km out.
- Pit Stop Petres lies 3.1 km out.
Getting to Karoti
Karoti is reached from the old national road between Rethymno and Chania, which runs through Episkopi 1.4 km away. Rethymno lies east of the village and Chania north-west, and the coastal highway linking the two cities passes Kamari beach, 6.2 km off. Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport.
A car opens up the area, since the gorges, the ancient site and the beaches all sit 2 km to 11 km out. Episkopi is close enough to walk to, and the gorge entrance is 2 km from the village.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Karoti in Crete?
Karoti lies inland in the Rethymno region of Crete, west of Rethymno town. The village sits in the Petres river valley, 1.4 km from Episkopi and 2.6 km from the north coast.
Does Karoti have a beach?
Karoti has no beach of its own, but 6 lie within 11 km. Episkopi beach, 2.6 km north, is the closest by a wide margin.
Can you walk the Petres Gorge from Karoti?
The narrow part of the Petres Gorge begins near Karoti and runs about 1 km. The gorge is easy to reach, ponds form along its course and people swim in them, and the route opens out at Petres beach. Fences have been put up along parts of it.
Which airport is nearest to Karoti?
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to Karoti. The village itself belongs to the Rethymno region, so the transfer crosses from one region into the next.
What is there to see near Karoti?
Four sites sit within 5 km of Karoti: Episkopi at 1.4 km, the Fylaki domed tomb at 3.3 km, ancient Lappa at 4.1 km and Argyroupolis at 5 km. Agios Konstantinos, 3.8 km away, adds a Venetian-era village centre to the same short loop.
Where Karoti is
Best things to do in Karoti in 2024 is located at Karotí. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
