The most impressive of all the gorges of Crete is the famous Samaria Gorge in the Chania region of West Crete. Discovering the imposing Imbros Gorge | Photo by Crete Urban Adventures. According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience gorges of Theriso: Semi Private Jeep Safari Tour - Visit a Shepherd's Hut (From US$ 114.50) West Crete nature and landscape tour with lunch (From US$ 349.53) Chania Old Town and Countryside Private Tour (From US$ 578.54) The gorge of Agia Irini (St. Irene) in Selino is located in the west of the White Mountains, 43 km from Chania. The entrance of the gorge is located at an altitude of 370 meters and the output goes down and ends at an altitude of 140 meters. At the end, you can take the bus from Kato Zakros to take you back to your car. The wild nature of Crete Gorges, once again, will leave you speechless with the few trees that grow inside the stone slopes of rocks and the high mountains surrounding the area! Imbros Gorge is located in province Sfakia and is the third most visited gorge in Crete, following Samaria Gorge and Agia Irini by Sougia. Every tourist who visits Crete will have heard of this beautiful gorge or soon will. It was the best part of the Crete and the driving there was also amazing experience .. calm mountains with stunning views. The gorge of Agia Eirini , a 5 hrs descend (12 km) from Agia Eirini to Sougia. With a length of 18 kilometres, it is known as the longest trekking gorge in Europe. It is really worth a walk to see the beauty and wildness of the Cretan landscape! In the gorge shelter many animal species like the Cretan wild goat (Kri Kri) and grow several species of trees, plants and herbs. The Pachnes Pension is new and pleasantly furnished. It is a wild gorge, most appropriate for experienced hikers having all necessary equipment. It is a gorge with rocky formations, narrow in some points and wild vegetation with trees, literally growing through the stones and rocks! Restaurants near gorges of Theriso, Crete on Tripadvisor: Find traveller reviews and candid photos of dining near gorges of Theriso in Crete, Greece. Always bear in mind that it is wise not to hike a gorge on your own, check the weather conditions (don’t enter if it is raining), and wear comfortable hiking shoes. Throughout the route you will notice that the gorge is narrow and the rocks are huge and full of small caves. However, the gorge also has a historical importance, at it played a role in the revolution of 1774 and is associated with the Anzacs during WW2. It is one of the most popular Crete Gorges for hiking adventures. Popular gorges in Crete are: Imbros gorge. Kourtaliotiko Gorge is a miracle of nature, as many other Crete Gorges! Halfway through your journey you will meet the road that passes through the gorge with parking and paths leading to the beautiful church of St. Nicholas. Being part of European Trail E4, Gorge of the Dead is a spectacular gorge with high, rocky walls and numerous caves that were used as tombs during the Minoan era. In 1962 it was declared a National Park of Greece and residence of many endemic birds and different species. Crete is much more popular for its beaches and gorges than its ancient history. Hotels near gorges of Theriso, Crete on Tripadvisor: Find 6,455 traveller reviews, 7,855 candid photos, and prices for 582 hotels near gorges of Theriso in Crete, Greece. More about Nature in Greece The locals call it the “Farangas” or “Great Gorge”, both in admiration at its beauty and to differentiate it from the many other, smaller gorges of Crete. 3) Imbros Gorge In Chania The narrowest point of Imbros Gorge. Located on the sierra of the White Mountains in the Chania region, Samaria Gorge has a width that varies from 150 meters to a narrow three meters where the two rocky sides of the mountains (called “doors”) almost touch each other. Every year, the gorge welcomes hundreds of people from abroad and Greece that come to enjoy the beauty of the imposing landscape and then, swim in the beautiful Kato Zakros! The visit to the gorge of Ha is a challenge! Hiking in Samaria Gorges takes around six hours and is a great full day excursion starting from the top of the mountains and ending at blissfully car-free village of Agia Roumeli, by the sea. If you accept it and you will be rewarded with an incredible view and an amazing Cretan experience! It is an excursion highly recommend to lovers and fans of the wild beauty offered by Crete! Where to stay in Crete for the best beaches: Crete has 4 of the best beaches in Greece.Two of them are on the west coast and Chania is the best place to be based for them, besides having a local beach too. The gorge leading to the beach is full of water and palm trees. We recommend good to keep water with you, as in the gorge there are no sources of water. The options for hiking in the island are countless, so we have selected only the most popular and beautiful Crete Gorges. In the surrounding area is the beautiful church of Christ, built in 1358 AD and the church of St. George, which was built in 1460 AD, and other important monuments and sights worth seeing. Its length reaches two kilometers and you will need 2 hours in total to cross it. The Gorge of Agia Irini is the second most important of the Crete Gorges after Samaria Gorge. Especially when during the rainy season or melting snow, most of Crete Island's gorges become canyons. For tourists who like to climb high rocks, overcome sharp changes in heights and cross the waters of the best gorges - Kalami, Arvi, and Tsutsuras. Crete is not just resorts and bars or a sunny place with pretty beaches. Sirikari Gorge, from Sirikari to the ancient acropolis of Polyrinia; a great walk, 3 hours long. The length of the gorge is four kilometres and the route can be uphill or downhill. It is located in the sierra of White Mountains in Chania. This gorge is also known as Polyrrinia gorge. Restaurants near gorges of Theriso, Crete on Tripadvisor: Find traveller reviews and candid photos of dining near gorges of Theriso in Crete, Greece. When you arrive at the entrance of the gorge, leave your car at the designated area and start hiking. The gorge is located in Ha, north of Ierapetra. The Samaria Gorge is the longest in Europe, some 18 km and renowned for its majestic beauty. Situated at the westernmost edge of the Omalos plateau in Sfakia, lies what is possibly the most famous gorge on Crete. The gorge has  a unique beauty , it was named like this from the village of Agia Irini located near the north entrance. But it is worth a visit and the scenery will amaze you! It is a beautiful gorge, crossed by a small river. Also spelt as Aghia Marina it's one of the best Crete beach resorts. There’s an undeniable raw beauty to the canyon, with its soaring cliffs and needlenose passageways. To help you decide which Cretan ravine to explore, we have highlighted three of the most dramatic, stunning and photogenic gorges in Crete. The spectacle is not very pleasant since in 1994 that point burned (it is about the 1/3 of the gorge). The Gorge of the Dead or else, the Gorge of Zakros is located in the municipality of Itanos, 39 km southeast of Sitia. During the Turkish occupation in the gorge found refuge many Greek rebels. You can start from the Lake Zaros, and after 1.5 km you will come across the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos (St. Nicolas). Samaria Gorge is one of the most famous Crete Gorges. Samaria Gorge is the most famous Cretan gorge. Towards the end of the gorge there is a large waterfall at a height of 215 meters. That’s why it is called the Gorge of the Dead. The length of the gorge is 4 km and the route can be uphill or downhill. There is no question that one of the most famous gorges in Greece is located in Chania, Crete, which welcomes thousand of visitors each year. You will be impressed by the huge trees and lush vegetation, the high rocky walls and the chapel of St. Anthony, built in a large cave. It begins shortly after Pano Zakros and ends in the beautiful Kato Zakros with the crystal beach! Located 57 kilometres southeast from the city of Chania, Imbros Gorge is named for the small community of Imbrian immigrants that arrived in the area in 1479, the year the island of Imbros (an island in the northeast Aegean Sea that now is part of Turkey) was occupied by the Ottoman empire. A Day at the Botanical Park of Crete - A Miracle of Cretan Nature! The most famous of the animals that find refuge in Samaria Gorge is the Cretan goat (Kri Kri). The Abbot of the Monastery of St. Anthony lived there. From there you can get a local “taxi” (it isn’t an actual taxi but locals with pickup trucks who do the transfer for an agreed amount), which will drive you back to your car. The Most Inspired Villas In Crete by Varoudakis Brothers, Crete Holidays 2017 – How To Organize your Holidays in 3 Steps, Tersanas Beach in Crete – The Small Picturesque Cove in Akrotiri. Agia Roumeli is the small village at the end of the famous Samaria gorge. Towards the end of the gorge there is a point that resembles a tropical lagoon and is called the beach of the palm trees. The gorge of Tripiti in Heraklion is located south, near the village of Lentas. The island has more than a dozen gorges that are available for research. A travel Blog about your Holidays in Crete! You should start from Anos Zakros village and then pass through the gorge, and after two hours you should reach Kato Zakros, a seaside village where you can enjoy its beach and the taverns or continue your exploration in the nearby Minoan Palace of Zakros. When is the best time to walk through the gorge? The entire route is amazing and quite difficult at the same time, because of the dirt road. It is characterized by spectacular rock formations and a natural environment of exceptional beauty. Park your car at the entrance of the gorge near the last houses of the Imbros village, and you will end your hike after eight kilometres in the village of Komitades. If the full trip seems too much then this is also one way how to enjoy the Samaria Gorge. According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience gorges of Theriso: Semi Private Jeep Safari Tour - Visit a Shepherd's Hut (From $118.40) West Crete nature and landscape tour with lunch (From $361.44) Chania Old Town and Countryside Private Tour (From $598.24) Top villages, local food production and lunch at Dounias (From $108.43) It will take you about 20 minutes to cross. Samaria Gorge on the western side of the island gets a lot of attention as it is the longest Gorge in Crete. This limestone range reaches 8,048 feet (2,453 m) at its highest peak while its deep gorges are of a staggering scale. If you find yourself in Western Crete, among many holiday Cretan villas, you might see …, Do you think it is still too early to book your Crete holidays 2017? 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