Exploring Crete

Hiking

Immerse yourself in a natural wonderland

Hiking Crete is the best way to see
beautiful landscapes and explore vast wilderness areas.
So grab a pack and put on your walking boots.

Selections

Hiking Gorges

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Hiking

The E4 Trail

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Selections

The Great Walks

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The best way to explore Crete is to walk off the beaten track, beyond the places reached by car, follow ancient paths, explore the magnificent scents of herbs in the canyons, climb on the tops of the highest mountains and enjoy the view to the deep blue Cretan and South Cretan Sea on the horizon.

A large part of trails runs through areas that have been declared protected. The most famous of these is the National Reserve of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori), one of the seven reserves of Greece, which is home to Samaria Gorge. Other protected areas of outstanding natural beauty, such as areas labeled as Natura 2000, are the entire ranges of Dikti, Ida (Psiloritis), Kedros, Asterousia, Youchtas and Thripti, the peninsulas Gramvousa, Rodopos and Sidero, all the islands that surround the island and special sites like Lafonissi, Georgioupolis, Cape Lithino, the rocky coastline west of Rethymnon, etc.

Moreover, lovers of geo-tourism can discover new places, especially after the declaration of Psiloritis Range and Sitia mountains as designated Geoparks. Such projects aim at promoting such places and providing information about them.

Many travel agencies offer packages and expert guides for trekking on the island and there are many hiking and mountaineering clubs. Important mountain races are also organized, such as Psiloritis Race and the Marathon of Samaria.

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Bulgarian Trail (Stalis - Mohos)

During the First World War, Bulgarian war captives were brought to Crete to reconstruct the path connecting Stalis to Mohos. Thus, they built a wider path with an average width of 2m, which for its time was a project of enormous importance. Of course, after the main road was built in the 20th century, the use of the trail virtually disappeared and now attracts only hikers.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.78 (18 Votes)
Margarites Gorge

Margarites is a village, well known for its marvelous architecture and the traditional pottery. However, in the wider area of the villages of Margarites, Orthe and Eleftherna appear a series of small, parallel gorges. Small streams such as Margaritianos flow towards the north and are tributaries of the Geropotamos River. The gorges are developed in white-yellow marly limestone of the Upper Miocene period (8-10 million years ago) as a result of the uplift of the whole area and the erosion by water.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.92 (26 Votes)
Trail E4 Kissamos - Polirinia - Sfinari

The route starts from Kissamos and is the first part of the European E4 trail in Crete. After crossing the villages Kato Palekastro, Korfiano and Grigoriana, we arrive at the ancient city of Polirinia and from there we cross the lush green villages Galouva, Lusakies Zahariana and, finally, Sfinari with the beautiful beach.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.60 (10 Votes)
Giouchtas Trail

Climbing on Giouchtas is very easy because there is a very nicely marked and visible trail that crosses the mountain from one side to the other. Giouchtas has amazing and unobstructed views towards all directions, although it is quite low (its highest peak reaches 811m altitude). The trail that crosses the mountain starts right next to very famous archaeological site of Anemospilia and ascends to the south having panoramic views across the north side of the city of Heraklion, the Cretan Sea.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.75 (16 Votes)
Chochlakies Gorge

The Gorge of Chochlakies or Karoumes is located in one of the most isolated areas of the island, near Kato Zakros. Easy hiking in the snakelike canyon with the sparse vegetation and the bare rocks, ends in the amazing beach of Karoumes, where being totally alone is the rule.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.46 (13 Votes)
Vilandredo Gorge (Kollita)

Kollita Gorges, i.e. Twin Ravines are located nearby the picturesque village Argyroupolis, about 22km southwest of Rethymnon city. They are named so, as they consist of two parallel canyons that end near Kato Poros settlement and is part of the E4 trail. The first canyon on the east is called Moudriano Gorge, while the west gorge is Kato Poros Gorge of Vilandredo Gorge, mostly known as the main Kollita Gorge.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.94 (16 Votes)
Boriana Gorge

The lush canyon of Boriana (mainly known as Karanou Gorge) starts from the village Boriana and joins the River Mavropiliotis after 1800 meters in a nicely landscaped trail. Along the trail we meet a ruined watermill, caves, entrances of the old iron ore quarries (known locally as quarries of Averof), a charcoal furnace and galleries.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.07 (14 Votes)
Smiliano Gorge (Kalamafka)

Gorge Smiliano or Kalamafka is located north of the village Ano Meros, about 100km southwest of Heraklion city. Through the gorge runs the Lygiotis river which is supplied by the valleys of Gerakari and the slopes of Samitos Mount. The canyon has a lot of water in winter and crossing it, by any means, is very tough.

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