Activities Nearby

BEACHES

Plakias Beach

The main beach starts near the town and extends to the east for 1.3km, up to Cape Mouri. It is a well organized beach, with cool green waters. Along the beach there is a road, ideal for walking or cycling. Along this road there are several restaurants and hotels, while on the beach there are tamarisk trees, umbrellas, water sports, beach volley courts, snack bars, changing rooms, showers, etc. The eastern part of the long beach is called Paligremnos. The beach is sandy and very well organized, next to hotels and restaurants. Characteristic of Paligremnos are nearby vertical cliffs that rise to a great height that attract many climbers.

Beach of Preveli 

The date palm forest and the lake, this is one of the most famous sights in Crete and an area of outstanding natural beauty. The date palms stand along the bank of the river which flows down through the Kourtaliotis gorge (you have to drive up the gorge to get to Plakias), creating an exotic scene. Wander along the paths in the palm forest, relax in the shade of the trees, and swim in the river. Don't miss to visit the nearby Moni Preveli (Preveli Monastery), from this site you have to walk down a lot of steps to reach the beach. Monastery of Preveli, which may have been founded as early as the 10th century CE. Due to its isolated position, it has played an important role in Cretan revolts against occupying forces such as the Nazis in World War II.

Klisidi Beach

Klisidi is a small beach between Damnoni and Ammoudi, one of the four southern beaches next to Plakias. It is rather remote and often occupied by naturists. Discover the large rock in the middle of the waters. You might be perplexed how to access this beach as there is no easy way of doing it. You will need to clmb down so flip flops are not recommended.

Schinaria Beach

Schinaria is a small beach with soft gray-beige sand and fine pebbles, with crystal blue deep water. The seabed is rocky, but on the north part of the beach, it is sandy. The seabed is most suited to diving: here a diving centre runs both day and night-time explorations. Organized as it is, you will find umbrellas, sunbeds and showers, whilst close by is a lovely taverna.

Ammoudaki Beach

If you enjoy going to nudist beaches then this is the one for you. This small beach and crystal clear water is stunning. Sun beds and umbrellas are available for hire. There is also a small beach bar where you can order a coffee & snack.

Damnoni Beach

The beach that stretches in front of the resort is a long bay with beautiful turquoise waters and coarse whitish sand. Here there are all the services of a well organized beach such as umbrellas, snack bars, showers, changing rooms, water sports, scuba diving centre and restaurants. You can find a small river with water almost all year round. 

Souda & Fotinari Beaches

In front of this magnificent scenery, a beautiful beach with sand is stretched, loved by all visitors. Souda is perfect place for families with less wind than other beaches around. There is a beach bar for coffee and drinks and a tavern for food with many good traditional plates.

GORGES

The Kourtaliotiko Gorge is one of the most beautiful gorges of Crete. Magnificent vertical cliffs can be seen on both its sides, reaching as high as 300 metres at several places. It is 2,5 kilometres long and the elevation difference between the entrance point and the outlet is 150 metres. It is a nesting and foraging area for many rare bird species, mostly raptors, a fact that justifies its international importance as a bird habitat. A little picturesque chapel can be seen approximately in the middle of the route, on the western side of the gorge, inside a cave. The gorge is excellent choice for hiking.

Samaria Gorge, 'White Mountains’ National Park is the only national park in Crete. It centres around the Samaria gorge, at an altitude of 1,200m and continues down to Agia Roumeli, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding slopes and a number of smaller gorges branching off from it, Samaria Gorge forms the whole of the area designated as a national park, a status that offers protection to over 450 species of plant and animal, 70 of which are endemic to Crete. In the prefecture of Chania (also written “Hania”), the Samaria gorge is the longest in Europe (total length 16km), and one of the most impressive gorges in Greece. It starts from Xyloskalo, at an altitude of 1,230m. The width of the gorge is 150m at its widest point and 3m at its narrowest.