Voyager in Crete

19/06/2026

Pourgonero beach is located at Krassas area, just 500m east of the port of Tsoutsouras, beyond the east end of settlement. It is actually the east part of Tsoutsouras bay, located in front of the hill Sarakinos. According to the legend, the eternal sarcophagus of King Minos, the mythical king of Knossos, is burried below this place. Pourgonero has two coves with huge sand dunes. The beaches in front of sand dunes have rocks and sand, mixed in places. They are completely secluded, very suitable for isolation.
Pourgonero area is very important for the nesting of the endangered loggerhead sea turtles. The nesting season is from May until autumn. Moreover, if you visit the beach in late summer, you will see the beautiful white sand lilies (also known in Crete as lilies of Knossos). Access to the beach is not particularly difficult, since it is very close to Tsoutsouras. From there, you should follow the road leading to Dermatos and you will see the dunes on your right hand. There are footpaths that lead down to the beach.
Krassas area hosted the first Aloe vera plantation in Greece.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Krassas beach cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/sea-tourism/central-crete-beaches-heraklion/krassas-beach-tsoutsouras

18/06/2026

Milatos is located 34km northwest of Agios Nikolaos and 16km east of Hersonissos, on the western outskirts of Mirabello province. It is a seaside village, which has retained many of its traditional features. 1km on the north you’ll meet the seaside settlement called Beach of Milatos (in Greek: Paralia Milatou). The area is famous for the cave Milatos located close to the village, where in 1823 a large number of locals were massacred by the Ottomans. Today, Milatos is touristically developed and hosts an important fishing port. The surrounding area is full with ancient olive groves and the coast is full of small rocky coves. Among them there are several beaches where you can swim.
Approximately 1km east of Milatos, at position Pigada, you will find some small isolated bays with narrow strips of sand, which are surrounded by high vertical cliffs. These coves of Milatos are ideal for isolation, although the wave is usually very high. From there, if you head towards the village, just before the harbor, you will find the main beach of Milatos. It is a fairly large beach with pebbles and rocks in some places. It is not organized, but still it is very close to the amenities of the village. Unfortunately, this beach is also influenced by the waves. The next beach is located inside the harbor (Limani), near the taverns of the village. It is a small sandy beach, quite well-organized. This beach picks up most of the visitors, as the water is always calm and is suitable even for children.
Volaki beach
The list of beaches of Milatos would normally stop here. However, human intervention has changed this situation. So, if you follow the coastal road that leads west from the village, you will soon reach the port of Minos Imperial hotel. Here, for the sake of tourism and profit, the hotel has created two artificial beaches at the area of Volaki with sand on both sides of a cement pier. The place, formely a natural rocky shore with a fabulous seabed, is now a profitable sandy beach, organized by the hotel owners.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Milatos beaches cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/sea-tourism/east-crete-beaches-lassithi/milatos-beaches

14/06/2026

The Monastery of Panagia Kalyviani is located at an altitude of 80m around 60km south of Heraklion, next to Mires and Kalyvia villages. It is a relatively new monastery which was built on the ruins of an older one.
The present church was built in 1873 on the ruins of an older monastery, where the icon of Panagia (Virgin Mary) was found during the same year. The complex of Kalyviani still hosts the old church, and the new temple built in 1924, where the old icon is stored. The new church is three-aisled with its aisles dedicated to the Nativity, the Annunciation and the Assumption of Virgin Mary (celebr. 15 August). Moreover, there is a small church of Saint Haralambos, who was a monk a monk in the monastery, and celebrates on August 23.
Kalyviani is a typical example of a foundation that offers help and charity to poor and needy people. In 1956, the bishop Timothy Papoutsakis created a Christian Foundation based in the monastery. He built an orphanage, hospice, housekeeping school for girls, elementary school, kindergarten, summer camps, workshops of weaving, knitting and making vestments, etc.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Kalyviani Monastery near Mires cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/religious-monuments-on-crete/monasteries-in-crete/kalyviani-monastery-near-mires

12/06/2026

Menies or Diktynna is located 45km northwest of Chania, on the northeast shores of Peninsula Rodopos and at the exit of Foundas Gorge. It is a lovely secluded beach with pebbles and deep crystal blue waters. It is not affected by the usual winds blowing in the area and is ideal for isolation, far away from the urban centers. For many kilometers there is absolutely nothing reminding of the modern civilization, so make sure you have all essentials with you. Access to the beach of Menies is a bit tedious, as you have to drive in a long dirt track (about 23km) starting from Rodopos village. This road heads on the beach, but is not recommended for low cars. Moreover, there are some small boats running to Menies from Platanias harbor.
Menies is located on the site of ancient Diktynna; it was the most important temple of the goddess Vritomartis (the Cretan version of goddess Artemis). Thousands worshippers used to come in the area from all over the island via the road that connected the sanctuary to the town of Polirinia; some parts of the paved road are still preserved throughout Rodopos peninsula. Vritomartis was worshiped here during the Hellenistic and Roman times. There are still a few remains of the ancient Roman temple, but remains of the Hellenistic temple have not been found.
About 1km southwest of the beach, you can visit the very old monastery of St. George, built in the 9th century. It was abandoned several centuries later, during the raids of pirates. You can still see the protective tower of the 16th century in the courtyard of the monastery, used for early detection of the pirate ships.
Between Menies and Afrata we meet several small bays formed at the exits of small streams, accessible on foot or by boat. One of the is below Saint George monastery and the nicest is Xeronissia.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Menies beach cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/sea-tourism/west-crete-beaches/menies-beach-diktynna

07/06/2026

The Monastery of Panagia Exakousti is located in the beautiful green location Malles, near Ierapetra. Today it serves as a female convent. The nuns operate a workshop with textiles, a tailor and needlework shop and other souvenirs.
The history of the monastery is linked with a charismatic figure who lived here, the abbot Hatzi Ananias. Ananias is said that as an infant did not suckle on Wednesdays and Fridays and refused to touch the breast of his mother. He never ate meat, fish and cheese. He was barefoot and dressed like an animal, while he used an animal leather as a cover and a stone as a pillow. At the age of 14 years he moved to Kapsas Monastery, where he was influenced by the monk Gerontoyannis and in 1877 he returned to Males. In the ruins of the monastery of Exakousti there was a cave where he found the icon of the Virgin Mary (Panagia) and then decided to rebuild the monastery. After his death he was declared a saint and during his life he is said to have worked wonders, while pilgrims flocked to Exakousti to get his bless or cure. Today, the tomb of the monk is found in the monastery.
The church of the monastery is a single-aisled vaulted basilica dedicated to Virgin Mary's Birthday (celebrates on September 8). The icons on the iconostasis are newer, but there are two old icons of Panagia and John the Baptist. The iconostasis is a work of brothers Makrakis and Farsaris, who were very famous wood carvers in the religious circles of Crete. In the monastery there is also the small cave with a chapel dedicated to the transfiguration of Christ, where Ananias found the icon of Virgin Mary. Moreover, in the northeastern corner of the monastery, the nuns have built a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Fathers and Mothers.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Monastery of Panagia Exakousti in Malles cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/religious-monuments-on-crete/monasteries-in-crete/monastery-of-panagia-exakousti-in-malles

05/06/2026

Agia Galini is one of the most popular seaside resorts of southern Rethymnon prefecture, situated next to the exit of the Amarianos or Platys River, 61km south of Rethymno city and 68km southwest of Heraklion. This small town is bustling with life during the summer months and provides all the necessary touristic amenities. The natural beauty of the emerald beaches, the rugged caves in the west, the myth of Icarus and Daedalus, the memories of the hippies, and the tranquility of the sea, have made this village a favorite destination for thousands of visitors.
East of the port starts a long beach, which stretches east to Kokkinos Pirgos. The sea in the area is almost always calm. The part of the beach near the port is very well organized and provides all the necessary amenities. It has fine pebbles and cold water, due to the river Platys or Amarianos which is located 200m east of the port. In the area near the river, ruins of an ancient temple of Artemis have been identified.
If you cross the river (there is a metal bridge), you will find the second beach which extends a further 1km to the east. The beach has small pebbles and is less organized. Next to it, there is the camping site of Agia Galini. As you walk eastwards, the beach becomes narrower and rockier. You can walk (1.5-2 hours) to Kokkinos Pirgos. This beach, to which there is no access by road, is popular with nudists. It is totally unorganized, thus make sure you have food, water, or umbrellas with you.
On the west end of the beach, below the hill with the houses, there is a small complex of tunnels from the Second World War. You can walk up to the top of the hill through there.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Agia Galini cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/sea-tourism/central-crete-beaches-rethymnon/agia-galini-beaches

04/06/2026

Dermatos is located 64km southeast of Heraklion and 4km east of Tsoutsouras. It stretches in a valley formed on the western banks of the river Anapodaris, the longest river in Crete. Traces of a Minoan settlement have been found in the area.
Dermatos is a peaceful beach with pebbles and sand, perfect for relaxation and staying remote. All around there is nothing except for some olive groves and tamarisk trees on the beach. The sea water is relatively shallow and has a wonderful blue color. To access the beach, follow the paved road that starts from Tsoutsouras and heads westwards to Keratokambos. The road runs aside the beach.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Dermatos beach cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/sea-tourism/central-crete-beaches-heraklion/dermatos-beach-tsoutsouras

03/06/2026

There are several small and rocky bays in the area of Anogia at north province Mirabelo, east of Milatos. This area is also accessible by car crossing the wild landscape. One of these beaches is Vlychada Tzavlidon, which has large pebbles. There are impressive layers of conglomerate rocks on the walls of the beach, while on the west end there is a small arch at the base of which there is little spring with fresh water. Vlychada Tzavlidon beach is formed at the exit of the gorge Christopatimata (i.e. Christ's Steps). The walls of Christopatimata gorge host some very strange formations (not easily visible), which locals say that they are the footprints of Christ!

01/06/2026

31/05/2026

On the hill of the Episcopacy (seat of Diocese) of Lambi, Sivritos and Sfakia in Spili, in early 1990s, started operating the monastery of Saints Raphael. The main temple is dedicated to the martyrs Saint Raphael, Nikolaos and Irini. The monastery also hosts the chapels of Saint Irinaeus, Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Hermit and Archangel Michael.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Saint Raphael monastery at Spili cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/religious-monuments-on-crete/monasteries-in-crete/saint-raphael-monastery-at-spili