Voyager in Crete

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

30/05/2026

Agios Pavlos (i.e. Saint Paul) is a beautiful secluded beach, located in a picturesque cove at Peninsula Rodopos, 40km northwest of Chania city. The easiest way to access the beach is by boat from Ravdoucha or Kissamos. You can also reach the beach, by driving in a long dirt road starting from the village Rodopos and finishing at the old monastery of Saint Paul, just above the beach. Before the monastery, you will also meet the scenic monastery of Saint John Gionas, one of the most important old monasteries in West Crete.
The beach is named after the small, very old monastery of St. Paul, known for its impessive frescoes and the numerous inscriptions by pirates, sponge fishermen, travellers and Venetian rulers. The beach is totally secluded, has clear pebbles and deep cool waters. It is ideal for isolation, especially when in windless days, but definitely not worth driving that long only for the beach itself.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Agios Pavlos beach, Ravdoucha cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/sea-tourism/west-crete-beaches/agios-pavlos-beach-ravdoucha

29/05/2026

Paximadia Islands are two small uninhabited islets off the Gulf of Messara, 12km (7.5 miles) south of Agia Galini. By far they seem like a single island because they are very close, but they are two separate islets, the Big and Small Paximadi, separated by a narrow strip of sea called Bogazi. You may also hear locals refer to these as "Elephant", from the Messara plane they remind you of a lying elephant. Their total length is about 3km.
Almost nobody knows that there are beaches on Paximadia since they are thought to be two large dry rocks in the sea. The east (small) Paximada hosts four magnificent tiny beaches with crystal clear waters and fantastic pebbles on the easternmost island. Paximadia can be accessed by excursion boats, running from Kokkinos Pirgos and Agia Galini.
The west Paximadi has its own beauty unknown to almost everyone. It hosts one really beautiful beach called Varkaki. From Varkaki starts the western corner of the island ending at the cape of Sakouleva. Sakouleva is a spooky, usually wavy place, full of wild colors. The reason for this colorful set is that Paximadia, despite their small size hosts a large number of different types of rocks resulting in a stunning variety of colors. In fact, the entire Big Paximadi is an incredibly wild place with vertical cliffs leading to the pyramid of the peak, but the area of Sakouleva is the most impressive. From the boat, you can reach up to the edge of Sakouleva with the towering rock. Just in front of the cape, we see a small rock reminding us of a sphinx. The majestic scenery continues until the cave of Tzigounas, the largest of the several caves of Paximadia.
Once dominated by Phaestos, a very strong, rich, populous, and independent city, the little islands were called the Islets of Dionysoi, after Dionysos, the god of wine. It is said that the goddess Artemis, together with the nymph Vritomartis, often hunted in this area. Another name for these two rocks was Litoai or Letoae, after the goddess Lito, mother of Apollo and Artemis. Lito was worshipped in Phaestos. One legend says that Lito gave birth to Apollo and Artemis on these islets. Nowadays, the two rocky lumps are called Paximadia, because they resemble the shape of this ancient food. Paximadia is a traditional dry bread (rusk), named after the Hellenistic cook Paximus.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Paximadia islets cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/sea-tourism/central-crete-beaches-rethymnon/paximadia-islets-agia-galini

18/05/2026

Listis is located 69km southeast of Iraklion, between Kastri (2km to the west) and Tsoutsouras. The street linking Kastri and Tsoutsouras passes next to the beach. However, in order to get to the beach you should descend a steep slope. Alternatively, you can get off at the next beach of Kamboula and walk eastwards. Whichever way you choose, it definitely is worth it.
This quite small beach is certainly one of the nicest in Crete. It remains unorganized, but can become busy in peak season. It has sand and shallow crystal clear waters. What makes it special is the big rocks inside the sea and on the shore. Although there are many rocks in the water, the seabed is generally sandy and is ideal for swimming and splashes! If you also swim east of the beach, besides the huge rock of Listis, you'll reach a small sandy beach with a spring at area Xirokambi. The rock above the beach, called the rock of Listis (= bandit) hosts several nice caves; according to the legend, a bandit lived once in the caves. The caves can be reached quite easily from the main road, not from the beach. Atop the hill, there was a small sanctuary in ancient era.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Listis beach cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/sea-tourism/central-crete-beaches-heraklion/listis-beach-keratokambos

17/05/2026

The Monastery of Saint Anastasia the Roman (Agia Anastasia), the first monastery dedicated to her in Greece, was founded in 2008 and started its operation in July 2009. Apart from the main church of Saint Anastasia, there is the chapel of Saint Kosmas the Aetolian. The monastery celebrates on October 29.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - St. Anastasia the Roman monastery cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/religious-monuments-on-crete/monasteries-in-crete/st-anastasia-the-roman-monastery

10/05/2026