Hiking

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 forest village of Agios Ioannis at Sfakia province is the starting point of one of the most beautiful and best marked trails of Chania prefecture, the trail of Kormokopos. The word Kormokopos means place where trees are cut, due to the dense forest of the area.

Starting from Sougia, apart from the gorge of Agia Irini, we can choose the alternative route that comes through the beautiful settlement Koustogerako. Then the trail continues and crosses the pine wood by Olisma and conludes at Seliniotikos Gyros, i.e. the southwest passage to Omalos Plateau.

This part of the European trail E4 starts from Sfinari and ends at Chrisoskalitissa. It is one of the most beautiful and wooded parts of Crete with astonishing sea views. First we go through the desolated village Ano Sfinari, then Kambos, Plagia and Keramoti.

The trail starts from the picturesque village of Mochos, crosses the village's soccer field and soon starts climbing near the old mill park where once the locals used the windmills for grinding their grain. After reaching the highest point of the route that has a unique sea view, we start the relaxing descent through a 2m wide stone paved path to Malia.

The church and lighthouse of Agios Sozon is located on a steep site, at the tip of Cape Stavros, at the northernmost point of the entire central Crete. The Cape of Zeus (Dios Akron) of the Venetian maps is believed to have hosted a sanctuary dedicated to Zeus in the ancient past.

The route starts from Spili, reaches the spring of Agia Fotia, and then ascends to Kissos. It comes above the Monastery of the Holy Spirit and climbs to the summit of Mount Kedros (1776 m.). From there we go back and meet the trail that leads to the Church of the Prophet Elijah and descends to Gerakari. This route is a part of the European E4 trail.

The part of the European path E4 that connects Chora Sfakion with Frangokastelo and then with Rodakino is all on paved road and can be visited even by car.