There are more than 400 gorges in Crete. This makes the island a small heaven on earth for travelers who like trekking and adventure! Here are 5 of the most famous gorges of Crete!
SAMARIA GORGE
Samaria Gorge is the most famous and the longest gorge in Europe. It is located in the National Park Lefka Ori in the prefecture of Chania and it is part of the European E4 hiking trail. It is 16km long and it takes 5-7 hours to walk through it. It starts from Xyloskalo(Omalos plateau) and ends up in Ayia Roumeli, a picturesque small seaside village.
The gorge became a national park in 1962 for the wild Cretan goat (kri-kri) to be protected. Many endemic species of fauna and flora can also be found in the gorge. The village Samaria used to lie inside the gorge but its residents abandoned it when the park was created. Both the village and the gorge have taken their name from the ancient church of the village, Ossia Maria.
The canyon is open from May to October. The best time to visit the canyon is during spring, when the temperature is still not so high, the nature is at its best and the gorge is not too crowed.
IMBROS GORGE
Imbros gorge is the second most popular gorge in Crete. It is 8km long and you need 2-3 hours to cross it. Families with children often prefer to visit Imbros gorge instead of Samaria due to its low difficulty to walk through it. The gorge starts just below Imbros village, in Chania prefecture, and ends up in Komitades village. This gorge is also part of the E4 European hiking path.
Close to the entrance of the gorge you can find a small forest with wild wig trees, oaks and cypresses. In the gorge there are also many interested flowers to watch.
Imbros gorge was used by the Allied Forces during the World War II in May of 1941 in order to escape from Crete and get to Egypt after losing in the Battle of Crete.
The gorge is open all year around but it is better not to visit on a rainy day. The best time to cross it is in spring but it might be crowded if Samaria gorge is not open yet. As the gorge is shaded, it is easy to walk through it even during the summer time, but do not forget to carry water with you.
KOURTALIOTIKO GORGE
Kourtaliotiko gorge is located in Rethymno prefecture, about 22km south of the town of Rethymno. The gorge is 7km long, starts from Koxare village and ends up in Preveli Beach. It will take you about 4 hours to walk through it. In order to enter Kourtaliotiko gorge you have to use the stairs at the side of Koxare - Asomatos Road.
St Nicolas Church is located at the bottom of the gorge. The springs of Kourtaliotis river are near the church. The myth says that when Saint Nicolas touched the rock with his hand, water sprang out from 5 spots and the 5 springs of the river where created. Close to the church you can find Agia Triada fresco which is unique in Greece. It depicts the Holy Spirit as a dove coming out of the mountain of God.
In the gorge there is a specific area where “claps” can be heard. This happens when the wind blows through the high caves of the gorge. These “claps” are called “kourtala” in the cretan dialect and this is from where the gorge and the river have taken their name.
ZAKROS GORGE OR GORGE OF THE DEAD
Zakros gorge is located in Lasithi region, 39km southeast of Sitia. The gorge starts 1,5km east of the village Ano Zakros and ends up at the bay of Kato Zakros. The gorge is 8km long and the time required for crossing it is about 2 hours.
There are many caves on the walls of the gorge, big and smaller ones. In the Minoan era people used the caves of the gorge as tombs and buried their loved ones there. This is why the gorge is also known as the “gorge of the dead”.
The gorge is also the last section of the European Path E4 which starts from Portugal and ends at Kato Zakros.
MILI GORGE
Mili gorge is a small oasis with rich flora and fauna, located just 8km away from Rethymno town. This beautiful gorge which is almost 3km long, starts from Chromonastiri village and ends up at Xiro Chorio village. Walking through the gorge will take you about 2,5 hours.
Since the Venetian occupancy a complex of 30 water mills used to operate in the gorge and supply the nearby city with flour. The village Mili was located in the middle of the gorge, close to the water mills. The millers and their families lived in that village. Under the fear of landslides, the village was abandoned in 1972 and the water mills stopped operating at the same time.
While visiting the Mili gorge you can see the two neighborhoods of the abandoned village, Ano Myli and Kato Mili. One of the water mills has been restored and the visitors have the chance to understand how the mill used to operate and produce the flour.
In the gorge you there are also some old churches that worth visiting. The creek running through the gorge with its small wooden bridges creates beautiful scenery.