Menu Close

GORGES

19. Kato Zakros Gorge

This is the most famous gorge in the area, also known as the Canyon of the Dead, due to the Minoan cemetery. Apart from its impressive topography, rich flora and plentiful water, it is also home to several sites of archaeological and historicalinterest. The E4 path passes through the gorge, while at its exit there is an organized rock climbing area. The trail starts from Epano Zakros and ends at the archaeological site of Kato Zakros.

20. Richtis Gorge and Waterfall

The Richtis Gorge is a narrow ravine, developed in the unit of Phyllites-Quartzites. These rocks are of Carboniferous-Permian age (approx 360 million years before today) and include schists, gneiss rocks, amphibolites, metavolvanic rocks and some marbles. The intense erosion of these rocks in combination with their different response to the erosional factors, have given a peculiar shape to the ravine and the waterfalls.

21. Chochlakies Gorge

This is another well known gorge in the area which attracts several visitors throughout the year. The gorge of Chochlakia starts just outside the hamlet by the same name and ends at beautiful Karoumes beach. The gorge is impressive, with rich flora, stunning landforms and it offers and easy hike!

22. Katsounaki Gorge

Katsounaki gorge is yet another significant geotope in the Xerokambos area. It is very long and has almost vertical slopes, which inside it exceptional and very impressive landforms develop, while there is surface water runoff over most of it. One can also enjoy it using the country road leading to Xerokambos, especially when the sun is setting, lighting the landforms and offering a unique sight.

23. Xerokambos Gorge

Xerokambos gorge is located to the south of the hamlet by the same name and starts in the Rousomoutsouna area, with a very impressive entrance. The gorge is visible from the country road that connects Ziros with Xerokambos.

24. Epano Zakros Gorge

The second gorge of Epano Zakros is located to the north of the first one and is also an impressive geotope. The gorge can be seen from the country road going from Karydi to Adravasti.

25. Maza Gorge

Maza gorge starts in Karydi and ends just outside Adravasti. It is long with impressive landforms in its interior, however the trail is only for experienced canyoners. In the past it was the main road connecting various hamlets.

26. Toplou Monastery Gorge

Toplou Monastery gorge is a gorge that hasn’t been developed in alpine unit limestone; instead it is found in Miocene clastic rocks. It is beautiful throughout and worth hiking along its entirety. It is home to the Cretan Date Palm, various impressive kinds of local flora, tafoni formations and springs. Inside the gorge one may find Tafonis, some impressive landforms caused by erosion, created in conglomerates and sandstone of the Miocene by wind and coastal humidity, which destroy the connecting materials in the rocks, creating cavities of various dimensions and shapes. The landforms appear on the slopes of the canyon of Toplou Monastery and throughout its length. The most impressive and directly accessible landforms however, are at the entrance to the canyon, which can be found following the narrow footpath.

27. Pefki Gorge

The Pefki Gorge starts from the southern part of the Pefki settlement and develops towards the south in Miocene rocks that include cobblestones and sandstones. It is a short canyon in length, but the rocks of which it is composed create unique erosive formations. Throughout its length the vegetation is intense and the area is designated as a Wildlife Refuge (K878). Its crossing is easy, being Georoute 25 (H-17).

28. Perivolakia Gorge

The gorge of Perivolakia starts from the abandoned settlement of Pezoulas, which is located southwest of the current settlement of Perivolakia and ends at the southern coastline of Sitia, near the Kapsa Monastery. It is about 4 kilometers long with quite steep slopes and unique and impressive geomorphological formations. It grows in the limestones of the Tripoli section, while towards the higher altitudes it also meets the Flysch of the same section. The gorge is located entirely in a Natura 2000 zone (GR4320004) and its crossing is relatively easy, being georoute 26 (H-18).

29. Koudoumis Gorge