Arkalochori, a town located 33km away from Heraklion, is a rapidly developing town with a population of 2,881. Situated at an altitude of 395m above sea level, the town’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, but it also has a thriving commerce and arts sector. As the administrative center of the area, it hosts significant events such as the Pancretan Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition, which attracts visitors from across the island. The town provides a wide range of modern amenities to its residents and visitors.
Apart from its economic and cultural significance, Arkalochori is also known for its rich history and archaeological sites. The town is home to the Minoan Palace of Arkalochori, which was discovered in the early 20th century and is considered one of the most important archaeological finds in Crete. The palace dates back to the Middle Minoan period and provides valuable insights into the island’s ancient civilization. Visitors can also explore the nearby cave of Kamares, which is adorned with impressive stalactites and stalagmites.
Arkalochori is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Crete, as it offers a unique blend of modern amenities and historical attractions. With its rich history and archaeological sites, visitors can learn about the island’s ancient civilization while enjoying the town’s modern amenities.
The things to do in Arkalochori are a winery, the grill houses and mezedopolia in its streets, and the Minoan sites and gorges in the countryside around it. Arkalochori is a working agricultural town rather than a resort, and the six below start in the centre and work outwards.
Two gorges are within a short drive of the town, both of them green and both walked rather than climbed. The Spiliotissa gorge starts at Houdetsi, 24 km south of Heraklion, and drops to Agios Vasilios; that first 1.5 km is its most striking stretch, on a kept trail through orange and olive groves watered by the stream, with the Byzantine churches of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Nicholas near the start and parking back in Houdetsi. The Kounaviano gorge is the greenest canyon in the Heraklion prefecture, fed by springs along its bed, and it meets the Astrakiano gorge at Kaki Rachi near Skalani to form the Karteros gorge.
Arkalochori has no beach of its own. Arkalochori stands inland at 395 m above sea level, 33 km from Heraklion, so swimming means a drive out to the coast on either side of the island. What sits within a few kilometres of the town instead is Minoan archaeology, two green gorges and the tavernas and winery in its own streets.
Located in Arkalochori in the Crete region, Nipiditos Village provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.
Some units are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, washing machine and a coffee machine, as well as a kitchen.
Guests at the villa can enjoy hiking nearby, or make the most of the sun terrace.
The Palace of Knossos is 31 km from Nipiditos Village, while Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos is 33 km away. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 35 km from the accommodation.
Set in Arkalochori, 31 km from The Palace of Knossos and 33 km from Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos, Fragk House offers a garden and air conditioning. This property offers access to a balcony, free private parking and free WiFi.
The holiday home with a terrace and mountain views has 2 bedrooms, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with an oven and a toaster, and 1 bathroom with a bath. Towels and bed linen are offered in the holiday home.
The holiday home offers a picnic area. A car rental service is available at Fragk House.
Venetian Walls is 37 km from the accommodation, while Heraklion Archaeological Museum is 38 km from the property. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 35 km from Fragk House.
Alagni Cretan Resort features pool views, free WiFi and free private parking, set in Stíronas, 18 km from The Palace of Knossos.
The villa provides guests with a terrace, mountain views, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with an oven and a toaster, and a private bathroom with walk-in shower and bathrobes. A fridge, a stovetop and minibar are also featured, as well as a kettle.
The restaurant at Alagni Cretan Resort serves Greek, local and grill bbq cuisine.
The accommodation offers a picnic area.
If you would like to discover the area, cycling and walking tours are possible in the surroundings and Alagni Cretan Resort can arrange a bicycle rental service.
Venetian Walls is 24 km from the villa, while Heraklion Archaeological Museum is 25 km away. The nearest airport is Heraklion International, 22 km from Alagni Cretan Resort, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
from
€221
/night
Offering a terrace and pool view, Green Farm-small paradise! is situated in Kalloní, 15 km from The Palace of Knossos and 21 km from Venetian Walls. This holiday home features a pool with a view, a garden, barbecue facilities, free WiFi and free private parking.
The holiday home with a patio and mountain views has 2 bedrooms, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with a microwave and a fridge, and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower. Towels and bed linen are available in the holiday home.
The holiday home offers a picnic area. There is a shared lounge at this property and guests can go hiking nearby.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum is 22 km from Green Farm-small paradise!, while Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos is 32 km from the property. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 19 km from the accommodation.
Featuring garden views, Mylopetra Traditional House provides accommodation with a patio and a coffee machine, around 34 km from The Palace of Knossos. The air-conditioned accommodation is 31 km from Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos, and guests benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi.
The villa is equipped with 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 mountain views.
The villa offers an outdoor fireplace. Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at Mylopetra Traditional House.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum is 45 km from the accommodation, while Venetian Walls is 46 km away. The nearest airport is Heraklion International, 39 km from Mylopetra Traditional House, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Set in Archanes, 37 km from Malia, Villa Mantilari 1 House 7 Luxury Suites 2 Pools Fitness Center offers 2 seasonal outdoor swimming pools and free WiFi.
Certain units come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, washing machine and a kettle, completed with a kitchen.
The villa offers a children’s playground. Breakfast and traditional meals can be served upon request.
There is a garden with a barbecue at this property and guests can go hiking nearby.
Heraklio Town is 19 km from Villa Mantilari 1 House 7 Luxury, while Hersonissos is 29 km from the property. The nearest airport is Heraklion International, 22 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
from
€1344
/night
Explore a traditional Cretan village in the evening, try Greek cuisine, and watch a lively show of dancing and music on this entertaining trip.
Begin with a beautiful drive through the mountains and arrive at the small village of Karouzanos. Enjoy free time to stroll around the narrow streets and old neighborhoods of the village. Take photos of the local architecture and gaze at the fantastic view of the Cretan mountains.
Next, experience an unforgettable show as local musicians and dancers perform. Join in and learn how to dance traditional dance moves. Savor typical Cretan food at the local restaurant and sip on a glass of wine.
Finally, after the show, head back to the bus for your journey back to your accommodation.
This Cretan night takes you to the mountain village of Kato Karouzana for a buffet dinner, unlimited wine and a live music and dance show. Kato Karouzana sits inland from the north coast, and the evening runs roughly 18:00 to 22:45 including hotel transfer. TOURLINE operates it from €29, with a 4.27 rating across 111 reviews.
The evening follows a fixed sequence from pick-up to the return coach. Four stages fill the three hours on site.
First, the coach collects you from around 18:00 and reaches Kato Karouzanos at about 19:45. Second, you have free time in the village, narrow streets, old stone houses and cultural rooms explaining local history, with a welcome of raki and homemade pies from the villagers. Third, the buffet opens, built on local meat, vegetables and Cretan cheese, with dietary requirements catered for and two free soft drinks for children. Fourth, the show begins: musicians on lyra and laouto, dancers in costume, and an interactive stretch where the dancers pull the audience up to learn steps.
The evening finishes around 22:45 and the coach returns you to your hotel.
The night happens in one village inland from the Heraklion coast.
The fare covers the coach, the meal, the wine and the show, and it excludes soft drinks and spirits.
Included:
Not included:
Children receive two free soft drinks.
We recommend this night for the setting more than the show. Kato Karouzana is a real village rather than a purpose-built venue on the ring road, and the hour of free time before dinner, walking the stone streets, being handed raki and a pie by somebody who lives there, is the part that separates this from a hotel folklore evening. Reviewers pick up on it: one described the setting as a small traditional Greek community, another as a tiny village with a beautiful location.
The show itself earns consistent praise. Reviewers describe the dancers performing almost continuously with only short breaks, the musicians and singer as excellent, and the audience being brought up to dance repeatedly. One guest had attended twice and rated the second visit as highly as the first, which is a stronger endorsement than a single five-star review.
Food and wine are the third recurring positive. The buffet offers real choice, and the wine is genuinely unlimited, several reviewers make a point of saying so.
Three things to weigh before you book.
The coach is the weak link. One reviewer described it as stuffy and hot with very little leg room, another noted it makes a lot of stops along the way, and transport scores 4.2 out of 5. Pick-up starts around 18:00 and arrival is not until 19:45, so most of that gap is collecting other guests.
The group is large. One reviewer counted roughly 350 people. This is a mass event staged in a village, not an intimate dinner, and expecting the latter is where disappointment comes from.
The dancing is unstructured. A guest who loved the evening still wished for an actual dance tutorial, noting the audience participation ended up as a conga line rather than a Cretan dance. Join in for the fun, not for the technique.
Book the transfer rather than driving, arrive hungry, and carry cash for anything beyond wine.
The operator emails your pick-up point and time the day before, check junk mail if it has not arrived. Exchange your voucher at the entrance to the theatre on arrival.
Bring a camera and cash. Pets are not allowed. The evening runs from roughly 18:00 pick-up to a 22:45 finish, so plan on a late night rather than an early dinner.
The evening lasts 3 hours on site, with pick-up from around 18:00, arrival at 19:45 and a finish near 22:45.
Wine and water are unlimited, and reviewers consistently confirm it. Soft drinks and other alcohol are charged separately.
The evening is held in Kato Karouzana, a mountain village inland from the north coast, rather than in a hotel or a purpose-built venue.
The event is large. One reviewer counted around 350 guests, so treat it as a staged village celebration rather than a small dinner.
Both are catered for. The buffet covers special dietary needs and children receive two free soft drinks.
The dancers bring the audience up repeatedly. No formal tutorial is given, and one reviewer noted the result is closer to a conga line than a Cretan step.
Check dates and prices for the Cretan night with dance show and buffet dinner.
This folklore night takes you from the Heraklion coast to Kato Karouzana, a village inland, for a Cretan buffet with local wine and a live dance show. Kato Karouzana is a working village rather than a purpose-built venue, and the evening includes time to walk it before dinner starts. PLATANOS TOURS runs it over 6 hours 30 minutes from €29.05, with a 4.23 rating across 36 reviews.
The evening moves from village to table to dance floor. Four parts make it up.
First is the pick-up from the Heraklion coastal strip and the drive inland to the village. Second is the arrival, with time to walk through Karouzana and meet the locals who host it. Third is the feast at dusk: a buffet built on Cretan cheese, virgin olive oil, meat and other local produce, served with local wine. Fourth is the show, the Cretan lyra, dancers in traditional costume performing Cretan and Greek folk dances, and an invitation at the end for the audience to learn the basic steps.
The evening runs 6 hours 30 minutes door to door, most of that being the village itself rather than the coach.
The night happens in one village inland from the north coast.
The €29.05 covers the coach, the meal, the wine and the show.
Included:
Not included:
Infants sit on a parent’s lap.
We recommend this evening for the same reason we recommend any Cretan night, the setting decides whether it feels genuine, and Karouzana is a real village. Reviewers describe being welcomed on a rustic Greek farm rather than shown into a function room, and one British guest rated the buffet and wine as plentiful and delicious with repeated chances to join the dancing through the evening.
The dance show earns the strongest praise. A Polish reviewer described taking part in the performances rather than watching them, a Portuguese guest called the night fun and well spent, and an Italian reviewer called the whole thing a very emotional experience. Guides and drivers are described as taking care of the arrangements properly, and one British couple said they would book again.
The price is the other argument. At €29.05 including transport from your hotel, a full buffet and unlimited local wine, this is one of the cheaper evenings out available on the coast.
Three things to weigh, because this scores 4.23 out of 5 and the complaints are specific.
Language is the recurring problem. A French guest rated the night three stars, the lowest in our sample, after finding the evening run in English despite many French guests present, and an Italian reviewer rating it four stars asked why Italian was not offered. The listing names English, German, French and Polish guides, but which language the evening actually runs in appears to depend on the night. Ask before booking if it matters to you.
Value for money is the weakest dimension at 4.1 out of 5, below both guiding and transport at 4.3.
The transport is long. One French reviewer who enjoyed the night still called the transport a bit long, which follows from a coach collecting along the whole coastal strip before heading inland.
If your base is further west or you want a shorter evening, the same village also hosts a three-hour Cretan night run by a different operator.
Confirm the evening’s language, eat lightly beforehand, and use the village time rather than waiting at the table.
Mention your hotel name and location when booking; the pick-up point and time arrive by email. The evening runs 6 hours 30 minutes in total.
The meeting point is Kato Karouzana 700 06. Infants need to sit on a parent’s lap.
The evening runs 6 hours 30 minutes door to door, including the coach from the Heraklion coast and back.
Local wine is included with the traditional buffet dinner, as is the transport and the show.
The listing names English, German, French and Polish guides, but reviewers report the evening running in English on nights with many French guests. Confirm before booking.
The evening is held at Kato Karouzana, a village in the hills inland from the Heraklion coast.
The dancers teach the basic steps at the end of the night, and reviewers describe repeated opportunities to join in.
Pick-up and drop-off are included from twelve named areas along the coast, from Agia Pelagia to Malia.
Check dates and prices for the Cretan folklore night at Karouzanos.
This ticket combines entry to the Palace of Knossos with a self-guided audio tour that runs on your own smartphone. Knossos is the largest Bronze Age site in Crete and the seat of the Minoan civilisation, and the audio option adds commentary you control rather than a guide’s schedule. Clio Muse Tours sells it from €25.65, and the ticket holds a 3.9 rating across 1,934 reviews, the lowest score of anything we list, and worth understanding before you book.
The product is an entry ticket plus an app, and options layer on top. Three things define it.
First is the e-ticket itself, emailed to you with instructions, which gets you through the gate without buying at the window. Second is the Knossos audio guide, delivered through a third-party app you install on your phone, with a map showing where each segment belongs on the site. Third are the optional add-ons: entry to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and audio guides for Heraklion city and the Palace of Phaistos.
There is no live guide and no equipment provided. You need a charged phone and your own headphones.
The site sits just south of the city, in the Heraklion regional unit.
The price covers admission and whichever audio options you select.
Included:
Not included:
We recommend this ticket for a specific kind of visitor, and we would steer others elsewhere. If you want to walk Knossos slowly, stop where you like and skip what bores you, a phone audio guide beats a group tour every time. Several reviewers say exactly that: a French guest valued the freedom to move at their own pace, a German one found the audio easy to operate individually.
The commentary itself is well rated. Reviewers describe the explanations as comprehensive, informative and pitched adequately without being too technical. One French visitor took the two-hour version and found it thorough. The app shows a map of where to go next.
The e-ticket works. Multiple reviewers confirm the ticket arrives by email and admits them without trouble, and a Hungarian guest described entering quickly and enjoying the visit from the start.
Now the things that make this a 3.9, because on 1,934 reviews a score that low is a signal rather than noise.
Route guidance in the app is the recurring complaint, and GetYourGuide’s own review summary leads with it: travellers find the app’s route guidance confusing and want clearer directions. Reviewers repeat it in their own words, the paths to each audio segment are not always easy to find, you can quickly get lost on the route, sometimes you have to search for the right path. Several advise carrying a separate site map.
The third-party app is not flagged clearly enough. A French reviewer said plainly they would have liked to be told in the description that installing a separate app was required. Device requirements are strict too: Android 9.0 or later, iOS 17.0 or later, and it does not work on an iPhone X or older, an iPhone SE first generation, or older iPads.
Value for money is the weakest dimension at 3.7 out of 5. Standard adult admission to Knossos is a fraction of this price, so you are paying a large mark-up for the audio and the skip-the-line convenience, and EU citizens aged 25 and under enter free anyway, though they must queue to show ID.
One practical warning from a reviewer: in extreme heat the site can close in the middle of the day. One French visitor had a 14:00 slot moved to 17:00 after a midday closure.
Install the app before you leave the hotel, go early, and check whether you qualify for free entry first.
The provider emails your ticket and audio instructions. Bring a passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, headphones and a charged smartphone.
EU citizens aged 0 to 25 enter free but must queue to show ID. Non-EU children up to 5 enter free on presentation of a passport. EU seniors over 65 pay half from 1 April to 31 October, purchased on the day with a queue. Maintenance work may be under way and can interrupt the audio route. Pets and baby strollers are not permitted.
No live guide is included. The tour is self-guided audio delivered through an app on your own smartphone.
You need Android 9.0 or later, or iOS 17.0 or later. The tour does not run on an iPhone X or older, an iPhone SE first generation or older iPads.
Route guidance is the most common complaint. Reviewers report getting lost between audio segments and recommend carrying a paper site map alongside the app.
EU citizens aged 25 and under enter free, though they must wait in line to show ID, and EU over-65s pay half price from April to October.
The audio tour runs about one to two hours depending on the option, and reviewers describe the site itself as large enough to fill that easily.
Yes, in extreme heat. One reviewer had a 14:00 entry moved to 17:00 after a midday closure.
Check dates and prices for the Knossos Palace e-ticket with audio guide.
Join a tour with all of Crete’s most iconic products. All the areas that you will visit are famous for their vineyards, the olive groves, and their wine production since the Minoan era. Even today they are considered the largest areas in Greece for cultivating grapes and high-quality olive oil.
Stop at a local olive mill and take a tour of the olive grove and after the olive mill where you can taste fresh olive oil. The second stop is a family-owned winery that uses organic methods for cultivating. You will get a tour around the vineyards and the winery and taste 5 wines.
The next stop is a unique distillery with an ancient wine press. Raki is the most famous Cretan spirit. Take a tour of the distillery and then enjoy a traditional lunch at a local tavern. Before finishing off the tour with a visit to a pottery studio located in a traditional village that is famous for its pottery.
*The pottery lab is not available on Sundays
This day tour climbs to the Lasithi Plateau, the high mountain basin in eastern Crete, and works round it: the 14th-century frescoes at Panagia Kera monastery, the white-sailed windmills that once irrigated the fields, a family pottery workshop at Psychro, the Dictean cave where myth places the birth of Zeus, and an olive oil factory at Avdou. SEALAND TRAVEL runs it over 7 hours from €35, with a 4.39 rating across 91 reviews.
The route climbs from the coast to the plateau and back down. Five stops fill the 7 hours.
First is Panagia Kera, the monastery before the village of Kera, holding 14th-century frescoes and the story of the icon of Kyra Kardiotissa, stolen three times by the Ottomans and returning each time. Second is the plateau itself, with the white-sailed windmills that drew water for the fields. Third is Psychro, where a family ceramic workshop lets you try the wheel and buy what they make. Fourth is the Dictean cave, a Minoan sacred site full of stalactites, where myth says the goat Amalthea nursed the infant Zeus while his mother Rhea hid him from Kronos. Fifth is Seli for the view across the plateau and a local meal, then an olive oil factory at Avdou with a tasting.
The guide works in three languages, reviewers report English, French and German on the same coach.
The route runs from the coast up onto the Lasithi plateau in eastern Crete.
The €35 covers the coach and the guide, with two optional entry fees on top.
Included:
Not included:
Both entries are genuinely optional, so the day can be done for €35 or for €52.
We recommend this tour for the range. Seven hours covering Byzantine frescoes, a working pottery, a mythological cave and an olive mill is a lot of different Crete in one day, and reviewers say exactly that, a great variety of activities, full without being rushed, a good mix of organisation and free time.
The plateau itself is the argument. Lasithi is a flat, fertile basin ringed by mountains at around 850 metres, farmed for millennia and once covered in thousands of sail-driven windmills. Coming up from the coast to it is a genuine change of scenery, and a Swiss reviewer described it as a welcome change from the beaches.
The pottery workshop is the stop reviewers did not expect to enjoy. Several mention making their first ceramic pot, and one Hungarian guest who booked mainly for the Zeus cave ended up rating the whole day on the variety instead.
Guiding earns consistent praise, with reviewers noting presentations delivered in three languages on the same coach and a driver handling the mountain roads safely.
Three things to weigh.
The Cave of Zeus costs €15 on top, which is a lot next to a €35 tour. It is optional, but it is also the reason most people book, so budget €50 rather than €35.
Pick-up and return take too long. GetYourGuide’s own review summary says travellers find hotel pick-ups and returns lengthy and want more efficient routing, and one German reviewer described being collected by a minibus and having to change vehicles later into a fully occupied coach.
Access is limited. The tour involves walking and a cave, which the operator says may not suit anyone with mobility issues or claustrophobia, the Dictean cave is a real descent, not a walkway.
Check before booking whether the cave is open. The operator notes it has been closed for construction in past seasons, with Krasi village substituted.
Budget for the cave, wear grippy shoes, and ask the guide about the windmills.
Pick-up and drop-off are included, and the day runs 7 hours. Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, a camera, sunscreen, and both cash and a card.
The tour involves walking and a cave visit, which the operator states may not suit people with mobility issues or claustrophobia.
The tour runs 7 hours, covering five stops between the coast and the plateau.
No, cave entry costs €15 and is optional, with free time outside the site for anyone who prefers not to go in.
Greek myth places the birth of Zeus in the Dictean cave, where the goat Amalthea nursed him while his mother Rhea hid him from Kronos.
The operator advises against it. The day involves walking and a cave descent that may not suit anyone with mobility issues or claustrophobia.
They are the white-sailed windmills that once drew irrigation water across the plateau, and some have been restored at the Seli viewpoint.
Reviewers report the guide presenting in English, French and German on the same coach.
Check dates and prices for the Lasithi Plateau and Cave of Zeus tour.
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The Spiliotissa gorge, situated approximately 24km to the south of Heraklion, is a verdant chasm that originates from the Houdetsi village, passes through Agios Vasilios, and terminates in the Peza valley, where its waters feed into the Kounaviano gorge. The most picturesque section of the gorge is the 1.5km stretch between Houdetsi and Agios Vasilios. Starting from Houdetsi, where parking is available in the village, a well-kept trail leads down to Agios Vasilios, meandering through dense foliage and groves of orange and olive trees, irrigated by the stream.
At the beginning of the path, two Byzantine churches, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Nicholas, are encountered, along with two former grain mills. After approximately 500m, the historic Sinai Monastery of Panagia Spiliotissa can be found, which lends its name to the gorge. A quick exploration of the small monastery with its cave-like church is followed by a continued journey into the verdant heart of the canyon, towards Agios Vasilios. A beautiful fountain and the Byzantine church of Saint John are located just outside the monastery.
The Kounaviano gorge, known for its lush vegetation, is the greenest canyon in the entire Heraklion prefecture, serving as a verdant oasis in the heart of Pediada province. The gorge is named after the village of Kounavi in its district, even though it actually begins from the village of Peza, hence it could be referred to as Pezzano Gorge. This gorge is a tributary of the Karteros river and runs parallel to the Astrakiano gorge. The Astrakiano and Kounaviano gorges converge at the Kaki Rachi area near Skalani, forming the Karteros Gorge. Kounaviano’s entrance is situated at the northernmost point of the fertile Peza plain, collecting all the area’s water. It has numerous springs along its bed, some of which retain water throughout the year.
In recent years, the gorge’s trail has been marked and cleared, with the addition of small bridges, wooden railings, and informational signs. Walking along this trail is a delightful and easy experience, shaded by perennial plane, oak, and other trees. The riverbed walk is simple, without significant altitude changes or difficulties. At the gorge’s starting point, two small waterfalls can be seen. Old watermills, once used to grind the area’s cereals, can be found at three different points along the trail. This region has always been one of Crete’s most productive. Additionally, limestone kilns and various fruit tree gardens can be spotted. A walk from the gorge’s entrance at Peza to its exit at Kaki Rachi near Skalani takes approximately 2 hours.
Eligas Gorge, a stunning natural monument, is nestled on the western side of Koupa Mountain, just above the village of Miliaradon in Embaros. This remarkable location boasts a towering waterfall with nine rappels, making it a perfect spot for canyoning. The altitude difference from the entrance to the exit is approximately 230m.
Eligas is just one of numerous waterfalls in the vicinity, standing tall at 150 meters. It cascades down in 5-6 stages, with the largest drop being 50 meters.
During the winter, the waterfall is fed by crystal clear water from the local ‘Papa Lagos’ springs. On exiting the gorge, it merges with the Baritis River, a primary tributary of the Anapodaris River.
In the Cretan dialect, Eligas translates to ‘waterfall’. The gorge is unique due to its distinctive formations, created by layers of limestone that resemble a vast open-air theatre with stone tiers.
A trail from Miliaradon village leads to the base of the waterfall. From there, visitors can ascend to its highest points, offering a breathtaking view of the impressive waterfall and the Baritis-irrigated plain villages.
The Astrakiano and Kounaviano canyons are two verdant gorges that converge near Skalani village and empty out onto Karteros beach. The combined length of these canyons is roughly 21 km. Situated to the east of Heraklion city, these gorges are part of the broader Mount Jiouktas area. They offer easy walking trails, making them perfect for families and children.
The longer of the two, Astrakiano, begins at the Paliarda location in Kolomodi and extends to the area beneath the deserted Kato Astraki village, after crossing the picturesque Astrakiani Kamara bridge. From Kato Astraki, a brief trail leads to the Neraidospilios site, known for its stunning pond and gushing water caves.
The path along the Karteros river commences from this point, offering a lush green trail equipped with wooden bridges and railings. After crossing the Aitania bridge at Kaki Rachi, we reach Kali Rachi where the Astrakiano and Kounaviano Gorges, originating from Peza, merge. From Kali Rachi, the river continues to Karteros along a well-structured path. This section, known as Karteros Gorge, passes by ancient water mills and the historic Saint Nicholas Church (Agios Nikolaos). Near the Karteros gorge exit, at the Mesa Karteros spot, you’ll find an old inn and a second chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas. This location, accessible by car from Karteros, is an ideal picnic spot.
The Astrakiano canyon (Astraki – Kali Rachi) measures about 7km, with a hiking duration of 3-4 hours. The Kounaviano Gorge (Peza- Kali Rachi) is roughly 4km long, requiring about 2 hours for trekking. The shared section of the Karteros gorge (up to the second Saint Nicholas chapel (Kali Rachi – Mesa Karteros)) is approximately 6km.
The canyons’ route is abundant in natural, morphological, aesthetic, historical, and cultural aspects. The landscape boasts exceptional natural beauty, featuring springs, ponds, rivers, mini waterfalls, and lush vegetation. Prior to World War II, the canyon housed 10 watermills, and locals would fish for eels and crabs, some of which still exist today.
Arkalochori is located 33km away from Heraklion, on the provincial road linking Heraklion and Viannos, at 395m above sea level.
The population of Arkalochori is 2,881.
The inhabitants of Arkalochori are mostly involved in agriculture, but also in commerce and arts.
Yes, Arkalochori is one of the most developing towns in the prefecture of Heraklion both in economic and cultural sectors.
The Pancretan Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition, which takes place in Arkalochori, is of great significance and interest for the whole island.
Arkalochori offers a full range of modern facilities to its residents and visitors.
The average temperature in Arkalohóri town ranges from 15°C to 30°C, depending on the season.
Arkalohóri town is located in the center of Crete, about 20 km south of Heraklion.
The nearest airport to Arkalohóri town is Heraklion International Airport, which is about 20 km away.
Arkalohóri town is known for its traditional architecture, narrow streets, and beautiful churches. The town is also famous for its wine production and has several wineries that offer wine tasting tours. Other attractions include the Minoan archaeological site of Vathypetro and the nearby Mount Juktas, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
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