|
|
|
|
|
|
The Gorge of Elygia
It is one of the most remarkable gorges of Sfakia, where a few wild goats
still live (the seldom seen Cretan Chamois). Its passage starts from the
village of Agios loannis in Sfakia (at an altitude of 780 m and a distance
of 92 km from Chania). Allow around 1 hour in order to reach the location of
Kormokopos, where there are caves with water, before starting descending the
gorge (up to that point, you need a guide). The gorge ends in the very
beautiful piney sand beach of the Libyan Sea, after another 2 hours' walk.
From the beach to Agia Roumeli, you have to walk one more hour. The above
crossing covers half the gorge. If you wish to cross all of Elygia, you need
an experienced guide and at least 2 days at your disposal. You start from
the plateau of Omalos and walk via the refuge of Kallergi and the summit of
Melintaou (at an altitude of 2133 m) before reaching the location "Potamos"
in the White Mountains. After a vertical descent of 10 m, you reach the
bottom of the gorge and walk on up to the coast of the Libyan Sea. The
Omalos - Potami trek takes 6 hours and another 6 hours from there to the
coast. |
|
     |
|
|
The Sfakian Gorge
Probably the most interesting gorge in flora is the Sfakian Gorge or
Lagko (it is famous as the Gorge of Bartholomew)
You can visit it in two ways:
a) From the Porolagko, situated southwards at a distance of 2 km from Chora
Sfakion on the asphalt road to Chania. Up to the end of the gorge, the
distance is 6,5 km and the path on the watercourse is very smooth and lasts
3,5 hours including the return. At the end of the passage northwards, on a
small elevation, there is an old sheepfold. You will also meet the little
chapel of Apostle Paul that was built by the Sfakians in 1407.
b) From the village of Imbros in Sfakia, you walk for two hours before
reaching the very beautiful cattlemen village called Kali Lakki that has
been abandoned for years now. After walking for about half an hour from
there, you meet the aforementioned chapel of Apostle Paul, and then walk on
for another two hours before meeting the way out to the asphalt road. |
|
|
|
|
The Gorge of Trypitis
This gorge is one of the biggest and most difficult to access in Chania.
It requires a guide to be crossed, and at least one and a half days
available. The first afternoon you can climb up (via the plateau of Omalos
at an altitude of 1200 m) the mountain of Gigilos, a very precipitous
mountain with alpine configuration. You pass under a natural arch at an
altitude of 1400 m from the frozen water source of Linoseli. In order to
approach the summit, where you spend the night outdoors or in the ruined
sheepfold of Tzatzimou, you need to walk for 2,30 hours at an altitude of
2080 m. The myth says that it is on this summit that Cretagenous Jupiter had
his throne, and westwards, on the nearby more regular peaks, he had his
harness racing. At the source of Linoseli there was a famous ancient oracle
as well. From Gigilo up to the coast, you have to walk for about six hours.
If there is no boat waiting for you there, you will walk for another three
hours (right-and upward from the old village), before reaching the very
beautiful littoral village of Sougia in Selino (70 km distant from Chania). |
|
 |
|
|
Previous |
|
Next |
|
|
