Thripti is one of the quietest corners of eastern Crete, a tiny stone village perched high in the Thripti mountain range at around eight hundred metres above the sea. It sits in the Lasithi district between Ierapetra and Sitia, wrapped in pine forest, cypress and terraced fields that stay cool and green while the coast … Read more
The Sarakina Gorge is one of eastern Crete’s most refreshing short walks, a narrow canyon carved into the hills above the coastal village of Myrtos. Sheer grey walls of marble-like limestone rise on both sides, closing to a couple of metres in the tightest passages, while the Kryos river threads through pools and over smooth … Read more
Ha Gorge, known locally as Faragi Ha, slices the western face of the Thripti mountains above the Ierapetra plain in eastern Crete. Its huge dark cleft is visible for kilometres across the plain. The gorge is a near-vertical slot, barely a couple of metres wide in places. A chain of waterfalls and deep pools breaks … Read more
Myrtos is a small whitewashed seaside village on the south coast of Crete, set in the Lasithi region west of Ierapetra. A long grey-sand and pebble beach fronts the village, and narrow flower-filled lanes climb the slope behind the shore. Low-key tavernas, cafes and rooms line the seafront, and the village keeps a relaxed, alternative … Read more
Chrissi Island, also known as Gaidouronisi, floats in the Libyan Sea just south of Ierapetra as one of Crete’s most pristine natural sanctuaries. This small uninhabited island captivates visitors with its rare Lebanon cedar forest, golden sand beaches, and shallow turquoise waters that glow under the Mediterranean sun. Protected as a nature reserve, Chrissi offers … Read more
Ierapetra holds the distinction of being the southernmost city in Europe, sprawling across the narrow waist of Crete in the Lasithi region. This working town on the island’s sun-drenched south coast offers an authentic Cretan experience far removed from the polished resort atmosphere found elsewhere. The Venetian fortress Kales stands guard over the old harbour, … Read more