Kambia is a small village in the Apokoronas area of the Chania region, set back in the hills behind the south shore of Souda Bay, 1 km from Kokkino Chorio and 1.1 km from Plaka. The village stands away from the water, so swimming happens at the beaches around it rather than on a front of its own. Almyrida beach, 1.7 km away, lies about 23 km east of Chania by road, and Kera beach, 2.9 km away, about 20 km, which brackets Kambia between the two figures.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport, and Chania city the nearest large town. Kambia works as a base among working Apokoronas villages rather than as a resort: 4 beaches lie within 4.2 km, and the tavernas, bars, grocery store and kafeneion of Plaka are just over a kilometre away.
Things to do in and around Kambia
5 outings sit within 4.3 km of Kambia, and a gorge walk in the same district makes a sixth. They are listed from nearest to furthest.
- Walk into Kokkino Chorio. The village 1 km away keeps its traditional architecture and its narrow roads, and the main church of St Haralambos is one of three still standing there. Kokkino Chorio was the setting for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek, and the caves of Petsi and Katalimata lie in the ground formations around it.
- Climb to Plaka for the Souda Bay view. Plaka sits on a hill 70 m above sea level, 1.1 km from Kambia, and looks out over the bay. Its residents farm, keep stock, fish and work in tourism, and the country around the village is walkable both inland and along the coast.
- Swim at Almyrida. Almyrida beach, 1.7 km away, is really 2 shallow sandy beaches that stay calm enough for children on windless days, backed by a row of tavernas, sunbeds and a watersports centre. A small rocky peninsula topped with a white chapel separates the two bays, and the uninhabited islet of Karga lies just offshore.
- Dive from Koutalis. Koutalis beach, 2.6 km away and about 1 km north of Kokkino Chorio, is secluded enough that local scuba divers use it as a starting point for the sea caves along this coast. The Elephants’ Cave and Petsis Cave are part of the same cave country.
- Spend a morning in Kalyves. The coastal resort of Kalyves, 4.3 km away on the southern edge of Souda Bay, lies in a green valley crossed by the Xidas and Mesopotamos rivers. Its name means “huts”, after the rough shelters farmers once built for summer nights in the fields, and the rivers and sea springs keep the water there cooler than elsewhere.
- Hike the Diktamos Gorge. The gorge begins near Katochori at 300 m, 21 km east of Chania, and ends 8 km further east at Faragi village at 40 m, close to Stylos in Apokoronas. The walk takes about 3 hours and needs care in places, and the stream running through it is the main tributary of the Kiliaris river, which reaches the sea at Kalives beach.
Beaches near Kambia
7 beaches lie within 8 km of Kambia, running from organised sand at Almyrida to bare rock at Ombros Gialos.
- Almyrida lies 1.7 km away, 2 shallow sandy bays on the south shore of Souda Bay near Cape Drapanos, with sunbeds, tavernas and a watersports centre behind them.
- Koutalis sits 2.6 km away, also written Koutalas, a quiet beach near Cape Drepano that local divers use for the sea caves offshore.
- Kera is 2.9 km away, soft sand with the occasional pebble under tall cliffs, shallow and clear, with no facilities. Karga island is in view, and the long rock off the west end is called Karavos, meaning ship.
- Ombros Gialos stands 4.2 km away, a rocky bay on the east coast of the Drapanokefala peninsula near Kefalas and Paleloni, where the dock of a small harbour drops straight into deep blue-green water and one fish tavern serves the cove.
- Kalami, Loutraki and Marathi lie 7.7 km to 7.8 km away, the furthest 3 of the 7.
Where to eat near Kambia
Eating near Kambia means the tavernas and restaurants of the neighbouring villages, the closest of them 1 km from the village and none more than 2 km out.
- Harokopos Traditional Taverna sits 1.1 km from Kambia, at Plaka.
- Riviera Restaurant follows at 1.2 km.
- Eleonoras Taverna is 1.5 km away.
- Thalami Restaurant lies 1.9 km away.
Getting to Kambia
Kambia is reached through the Apokoronas villages east of Souda Bay. Kokkino Chorio stands 1 km away, Plaka 1.1 km, Almyrida 1.7 km, Gavalohori 2.4 km and Kefalas 4.5 km.
A car makes the most sense here, because the beaches, the tavernas and the neighbouring villages are spread over several kilometres of the peninsula. Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport and Chania the nearest city, both west of the village.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kambia in Crete?
Kambia lies in the Apokoronas area of the Chania region, 1 km from Kokkino Chorio and 1.1 km from Plaka, in the hills behind the south shore of Souda Bay. The village belongs to the Drapano peninsula, the headland that closes the bay on its eastern side.
Does Kambia have a beach?
Kambia has no beach of its own, but 4 lie within 4.2 km. Almyrida, 1.7 km away, is the nearest and the only one of the 4 with sunbeds, tavernas and a watersports centre; Koutalis, Kera and Ombros Gialos have no facilities.
How far is Kambia from Chania?
Kambia sits roughly 20 to 25 km east of Chania. Kera beach, 2.9 km from the village, is about 20 km east of the city by road, and Koutalis beach, 2.6 km away, about 25 km, so the village falls between those two figures.
Which airport is closest to Kambia?
Chania (CHQ) is the closest airport to Kambia. It lies west of the village, on the far side of Souda Bay, and Chania city is the nearest large town in the same direction.
What is there to do near Kambia?
6 neighbouring villages and 4 beaches sit within 4.5 km of Kambia. Kokkino Chorio carries the Zorba the Greek film history and its caves, Plaka the view over Souda Bay, Almyrida the organised sand, and Kalyves the river valley and its 2 shallow beaches, Xidas and Maistrali.
Can you dive near Kambia?
Koutalis beach, 2.6 km from Kambia, is a familiar starting point for local scuba divers. The divers work the sea caves along this stretch of the peninsula, which also holds the Elephants’ Cave and Petsis Cave.
Kampia Map
Discover Kampia is located at Villa Nicolas, Plaka, Crete 730 07, Greece, in the Chania region of Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
