Lapathos Gorge
The gorge of the Holy Apostles (Agii Apostoli) or Lapathos is located in south Mount Dikti, 28km west of Ierapetra, 72km south of Heraklion, in the wider area of the village Kato Simi. This is a technical canyon, meaning that its crossing requires technical equipment and special training. Lapathos Canyon is a perfect challenge for very experienced canyoners. Its length is about 4km and the elevation difference between the starting and the ending point is about 900m.
The canyon starts from the small plateau of Lapathos where the church of the Holy Apostles is built, and ends on the road connecting the village of Pefkos to Ierapetra. It is generally a dry canyon, although the team of experienced canyoners Vassilis Vagias, Savvas Paragamian, and Giannis Skondinakis found it in 2009 with unexpectedly large quantities of water.
The gorge has 28 steep descents which require great repelling skills. The highest rappel is 80m, one of the highest all over Crete. The steep walls of Lapathos are nesting shelters for many vultures, hawks, crows, and other birds, and near the exit of the gorge, the vegetation consists mainly of pines and cypresses. After its exit, the stream continues its course to the beach of Tertsa.
