Nature

Throughout its short length its hides two key surprises. First, it hosts a small colony of Cretan date palm trees (Theophrastus palm trees), while at the end of it, by the sea, some ponds with fresh water are formed. Especially these springs are an unexpected view in the hot and dry East Crete.

Agia Fotia is located 7km east of Sitia and 76km east of Agios Nikolaos, on the road to Vai. It takes its name after the church of Agia Fotini. In front of the village of the region stretches a long beach with rocks and sand that has attracted several hotels recently. The secluded beaches of Agia Fotia is prone to north winds and you’ll rarely find it peaceful.

Platys (i.e. wide) river is one of the rivers of foremost importance in Crete, flowing all year round. It gathers almost all water quantities of Amari Valley and leads them to the beach of Agia Galini. At a secret location between the settlements Agia Paraskevi, Vyzari, and Petrohori, the wide river gets narrow and forms two impressive ravines. The first is the small Mesa Faragi (inner gorge), reminding of the gorge of Kourtaliotis.

The lighthouse of Gavdos is built a few meters south of the village Ambelos at an altitude of 368m, at the west coastline. Constructed in 1880 by the French Company for Lighthouses and was visible at a distance of 42 miles (the second longest distance in the world since then, after the lighthouse of Tierra del Fuego).

The cave of Vreiko is located about 2km north-east of the village. It is a cave and gulch and the known depth is 25-30 metres. The Entrance is an open and flat place that looks like a threshing floor. In the entrance there are stairs that make the entry and exit to the cave easier. A fig tree has grown at that place and its bouches cover a big gallery which is about 60-70 metres long. At the entry and the end of the gallery there are signs from the Neolithic Era.

The bay of Salamia(s) is located 74km south of Heraklion, between Agios Ioannis and Tripiti. There is no road nearby, thus it is one of the most secluded areas of Crete. You can reach it either by boat or by easy walking from Agios Ioannis.

The cave of Arkalochori, also known as Holy Cave, is situated at the South West side of Arkalochori village, specifically at the south west aisle of Profitis Ilias Church, 400m above sea level. A narrow entrance (0.70cm wide, 1.60cm tall) leads to the interior, where one cannot walk upright due to lack of space.

Behind the big hill west of the settlement Tris Ekklisies, there is a second stunning beach with fine sand, which is completely isolated and surrounded by the largest carob wood in Europe. The beach is called Pahia Ammos and is shaped at the exit of Agia Paraskevi Gorge, which also houses an unknown 105m high waterfall (only in winter).