"Faraggi ton Nekron" (gorge of the dead) or the gorge of Zakros

There is a sacred relationship between the people of east Crete and the gorges since antiquity, when nature was worshiped and ancient Cretan deities were closely connected with its reproductive abilities.

This impressive small gorge of Hametoulo starts from the region of Ziros by an altitute of 6oom, but you can enter by the region of small and traditional village Hametoulo and ends at the beautiful beach south of Xerokambos. It is relatively easy to cross. It is about 3,0 km long and the altitude difference from the entrance to the exit is about 400 meters.

Access to Karoumes beach can be done only by walking in the gorge of Hochlakies, which starts east of the village of Hochlakies, since the rugged terrain of the area has kept off the roads. Thus, in order to come here you should leave your car in the picturesque village of Chochlakia and follow the trail that starts 1km east of the village.

A small, easily accessible gorge, starts from the village "Hohlakies" which is located between Palekastro village and Pano Zakros, and ends at the beautiful bay with is isolated beach of "Karoumes". The gorge is 1,5 km long and starts 500m east from Hochlakies. The altitude difference from the entrance to the exit is about 100 meters.

It is also called "tis sukias o Spilios" (meaning, the cave of the fig tree), as there is a fig tree in the entrance. Its official name, however, is connected to the wider region, where there were stone mines.

Another important cave of the province is the cave of Peristeras. It is located 2km east from the village Karydi, in the area of Platyvolas, in an altitude of 540 meters. It has a rich rock decoration and 170 meters of explored routes. Here too, signs of human presence were discovered, dating back to the Neolithic period.

The enchanting gorge and waterfall of Richtis (or Rihtis gorge) can be “discovered” in Eastern Crete by a distance of 32km from Palekastro and 50 from Zakros. It starts from the traditional village “Exo Mouliana”, which is located on the national road between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia and ends at the secluded Richtis beach, just east of the village Kalavros.

A completely different picture than by other parts of Sitia is projected on the plateau of "Karydi", located on the mountainous area on the southeast of Sitia and west of Zakros. Here is the "Kingdom of Stone", the "rocky-garden" of Nikos Kazantzakis, the imprints of the world's creation.

 This gorge is located on the route from Zakros to Xerokambos. After the region of "Agrilia", where its many branches meet, an impressive landscape appears. From this point of entry to its exit to the sea the distance is about 1,5 km. At the beach of "Katsounaki", on its beautiful sand dunes grow the famous lilies of the Minoan frescos. The altitude difference is about 100 meters. There is no marked path and its crossing is a bit difficult, but still accessible.