For millions of years, the geological upheavals are reflected strongly in the intense relief of Crete. While mountains rose, the river water continued its corrosional route through the limestone terrain, forming today's "land of gorges", Crete. With more than 400 canyons, Crete hosts the largest number of gorges in Greece. Many travel agencies offer packages for gorge trekking and there is are several hiking and mountaineering clubs based in Heraklion, Chania, Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, Ierapetra and Mires.
Cretan rivers meet large faults and steep descents during their course through the canyons, forming hundreds of small and high waterfalls. Crossing gorges of Crete with high waterfalls is possible only by using technical equipment. Appropriate training in canyoneering techniques can be offered by specialist companies on the island. The most popular technical canyons of Crete include the imposing gorge Ha, Tsoutsouras, Kalami, the gorge of Arvi (which after an 80m high fall turns into a dark underground river) and many more.
Petinos Gorge at Lithines 
The small gorge of Petinos or gorge Anavryta is shaped northwest of Lithines village, Sitia province. It is a technical gorge, meaning that crossing it requires canyoning equipment, as along it's course it forms about 12 waterfalls, with the highest reaching about 20m.
Sykia Gorge at Rodakino 
The very beautiful gorge of Sykia is actually the easternmost gorge of the province of Sfakia and is formed north of the village Rodakino. It is a technical canyon, thus crossing it requires technical equipment, as there are more than 10 steep descents (waterfalls) secured by a relay from the speleological associations of Crete.
Chalkomatas or Charkomatas Gorge is located near the village Chamezi in Sitia Province and starts from the area where a dirt road starts ascending to the temple of Prophet Elijah and the fortress Liopetro. The vegetation in the gorge is low and the geological formations of limestone are impressive.
Farangouli Gorge at Voriza 
The Gorge Farangouli at Voriza is located in Psiloritis massif, in the area of the village Vorizia. It is one of the three parallel canyons of the area, with the most famous of all being the great Gorge of Vorizia. The shortest and most unknown is Farangouli, which starts in the village houses and climbs up steeply.
Koliakoudes Gorge 
The small, but beautiful, Kaliakoudes Gorge is formed in the area between the villages of Paidohori, Nio Chorio and Machairi in the province of Apokoronas, Chania. It is basically a continuation of the stream of Skotini, which constitutes a tributary of the River Kiliaris. The canyon is only 1.5 km long, it has about 6 rapels and the entire length of the gorge requires the use of technical canyoning equipment (ropes). The highest of the descents is about 8 meters high.
Litheos River 
Litheos Potamos (Lethean River) collects water from the basin of Gergeri and Panassos in the south-eastern roots of Psiloritis. It continues its course as a wide river from Apomarma, during which many vertical streams meet the main stream. Throughout its course one meets many dilapidated watermills, while we also encounter traces of the ancient aqueduct that transferred water from Gergeri to Gortyn.
The Gorge of Pastrikos is a small gorge formed on the north side of Asterousia, in the wider area of the village Panagia. It is technical, i.e. it requires special equipment for canyoning. It starts from a small plateau where there is a temple dedicated to Saint Cyril.
The wild canyon of Agia Paraskevi is located in the Asterousia Mountains and on the borders of the village Paranymphi. It is called the little "brother" of the adjacent imposing and most famous Ambas Gorge, as both of them have the two highest waterfalls of Heraklion prefecture.
