Kritsa Gorge
Kritsa Gorge
4.5
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- KELJ_5734Buckingham, United Kingdom32 contributionsGreat hike in Kritsa Gorge and welcoming local villageWell worth the visit, great adventure for 2.5 hours for our family of four with 6 and 10 year old. The gorge was level 3 difficulty hence full of twists, turns and undulations but perfectly doable with a determined and intrepid mind. Kids were playing all sorts of adventure games as they tried to conquer each part of the gorge Important to take plenty of water, take frequent stops and good walking shoes. So much to see and take in about nature during the walk, really happy we did it. Afterwards we went into the town and had a bite to eat in one of the family run restaurants, very welcoming and nourishing, We also visited one of the local glass art making shops and bought interesting objects to take back A great day out for the family in KritsaVisited August 2022Written August 11, 2022
- GtothePSevenoaks District, United Kingdom57 contributionsA spectacular gorge and fun adventureWe loved our morning here. I was glad I had read previous reviews: arriving early is good advice, and the reviewer who provided detailed instructions is a legend - thanks so much. My 2 kids absolutely loved scrambling up the rocks in the gorge. It really felt like a proper adventure. The walk down the track back to the car was as hot as Hades. The kids were miserable and had absolutely had enough. Getting back to the car was a joy and a delight. Trainers and as much water as you can carry are essential.Visited August 2022Traveled with familyWritten August 27, 2022
- Fl0ckyOstend, Belgium23 contributionsGood hike, doable with young kids that like to hikeGood hike, our 4 year old and 6 year old had great fun doing the gorge. The hike back after the gorge in full sun was a bit less entertaining for them. In total the short tour was 4 km in the gorge and 3 km around it from parking/to parking. Bring sufficient water!Visited July 2022Traveled with familyWritten July 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
134 reviews
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Emke Claes
15 contributions
Aug 2021
The trail itself was very nice. It is not really made for small children and more older persons because there are some more difficult parts.
It is a beautiful piece of Mother nature.
But there is no legend that makes clear which clues to follow (for the trail). We walked in the wrong direction the first time. We also stopped by the first exit which takes +/- an hour. Then you can follow a trail back to where it starts.
It is a beautiful piece of Mother nature.
But there is no legend that makes clear which clues to follow (for the trail). We walked in the wrong direction the first time. We also stopped by the first exit which takes +/- an hour. Then you can follow a trail back to where it starts.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob J
Yorkshire, UK8 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
The gorge was very easy to find from Krista village and well marked along the trail. Took the shorter route which was easy to identify. Good footwear for walking a must as terrain can be very tricky in places.
Written May 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eat_hike_dive_travel
11 contributions
Oct 2019
I’ve done a detailed outline & pics to help future hikers. Kritsa Gorge was my first training for a desert mountain charity trek, so if you like my review, I’d really appreciate your support for the Heart Foundation. Pls see the weblink on my profile
Useful websites include 'Cretan Beaches' (has hikes too) + Google Earth.
1. Parking Spot: is uphill from the bridge on a rickety road, keep going till mini-church-shrine on right (1a) and path on left to gorge (1b). Path on the Right in (1b), is where you return from.
2. Type of walking: Hiking boots very helpful, poles unused. You walk an old watercourse, ranging from rolling over pebbles (2a) to clambering over boulders (2b).
3. Difficult areas: Just a few, need to clamber up/over boulders. There are helpful aids – metal grab / step handles (3a) and in one area, a rope & handles to pull yourself up (3b)
4. Route finding: plenty of large red spots (4a). In places where the route seems unclear, look more carefully for much smaller red spots, marking less obvious ‘work arounds’ (4b – just to the right of the small plant in the foreground, RHS middle)
5. Circular return: There’s an exit out of the gorge, uphill on the right. For me, this was after 1h 15mins. The gorge comes to a more open, sandy area (5a). There’s a small yellow sign to Tapes left/ahead (5b). Then on the right, a red spot on a rock, near a half-height breeze-block shelter (5c). Go right following more red spots.
6. Return route: You initially ascend on an easy sandy path (6a) with DIY wire gates (6b, pls close them after). Wide open views, including looking back over the gorge you’ve traversed, as the path turns back on itself higher up (6c).
7. Short detour: I added this for charity trek hill practice (pls see my fundraising 😊) and even better views. There is a path coming from left & behind, at the satellite map blue dot (7a). Almost immediately take the right fork (looks like a second left-side path, on satellite 7a). Then zig-zag uphill (7b) to a wondrous view (7c), including the sea (not in pic) to the left. Path continued faintly, but I retraced steps (take care, many goat paths) to point on my satellite photo 7a, the detour dot.
8. Back to main route: if ignoring #7 detour, you’d just keep walking on the sandy path (6a). As others said, go past a farmhouse on the right (seen at top of satellite pic 8b). Very shortly after farmhouse, the main path/road bends left. Ignore that for circular return. Instead, look straight ahead and find a faint red-sand path, again with red dots (8a). This is at satellite blue dot (8b). Continue ahead, next to a wire fence, descending steadily on a partly cobbled old ‘road’.
9. Back to Parking: This path returns you promptly to the parking spot, where you emerge near the mini-shrine.
10. Total route: the graphic (10) shows my overall circular route, with diversion. Including the diversion, this took me a comfy 2h 45 including stops for lunch & photos. Elevation gain was 200m.
Other notes: There are flies & mozzies near the little puddles, and it’s a little ‘stuffy’ in the gorge. Then you’ll need suntan cream on the over-hill return. This isn’t a “stroll” to my mind, it’s definitely a hike, but not a technical one. Helps if you’re confident with boulders (but I wasn’t initially!). There are a few boulders to traverse, but not too high, and with sure footing most times. Quite easy route-finding with numerous red dots.
A really enjoyable half-day hike, thanks Crete!
Useful websites include 'Cretan Beaches' (has hikes too) + Google Earth.
1. Parking Spot: is uphill from the bridge on a rickety road, keep going till mini-church-shrine on right (1a) and path on left to gorge (1b). Path on the Right in (1b), is where you return from.
2. Type of walking: Hiking boots very helpful, poles unused. You walk an old watercourse, ranging from rolling over pebbles (2a) to clambering over boulders (2b).
3. Difficult areas: Just a few, need to clamber up/over boulders. There are helpful aids – metal grab / step handles (3a) and in one area, a rope & handles to pull yourself up (3b)
4. Route finding: plenty of large red spots (4a). In places where the route seems unclear, look more carefully for much smaller red spots, marking less obvious ‘work arounds’ (4b – just to the right of the small plant in the foreground, RHS middle)
5. Circular return: There’s an exit out of the gorge, uphill on the right. For me, this was after 1h 15mins. The gorge comes to a more open, sandy area (5a). There’s a small yellow sign to Tapes left/ahead (5b). Then on the right, a red spot on a rock, near a half-height breeze-block shelter (5c). Go right following more red spots.
6. Return route: You initially ascend on an easy sandy path (6a) with DIY wire gates (6b, pls close them after). Wide open views, including looking back over the gorge you’ve traversed, as the path turns back on itself higher up (6c).
7. Short detour: I added this for charity trek hill practice (pls see my fundraising 😊) and even better views. There is a path coming from left & behind, at the satellite map blue dot (7a). Almost immediately take the right fork (looks like a second left-side path, on satellite 7a). Then zig-zag uphill (7b) to a wondrous view (7c), including the sea (not in pic) to the left. Path continued faintly, but I retraced steps (take care, many goat paths) to point on my satellite photo 7a, the detour dot.
8. Back to main route: if ignoring #7 detour, you’d just keep walking on the sandy path (6a). As others said, go past a farmhouse on the right (seen at top of satellite pic 8b). Very shortly after farmhouse, the main path/road bends left. Ignore that for circular return. Instead, look straight ahead and find a faint red-sand path, again with red dots (8a). This is at satellite blue dot (8b). Continue ahead, next to a wire fence, descending steadily on a partly cobbled old ‘road’.
9. Back to Parking: This path returns you promptly to the parking spot, where you emerge near the mini-shrine.
10. Total route: the graphic (10) shows my overall circular route, with diversion. Including the diversion, this took me a comfy 2h 45 including stops for lunch & photos. Elevation gain was 200m.
Other notes: There are flies & mozzies near the little puddles, and it’s a little ‘stuffy’ in the gorge. Then you’ll need suntan cream on the over-hill return. This isn’t a “stroll” to my mind, it’s definitely a hike, but not a technical one. Helps if you’re confident with boulders (but I wasn’t initially!). There are a few boulders to traverse, but not too high, and with sure footing most times. Quite easy route-finding with numerous red dots.
A really enjoyable half-day hike, thanks Crete!
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ToveriDimitri
1 contribution
Jun 2019 • Family
Great hike for family with younger children. Our 4 and 7 year old kids went it thru with easy. Few harder spots but for kids they were most exciting ones. No special equipments needed. Just enough water and pasteli for snack. Wiews are spectacular. Just don't hurry. Take your time with kids and they love it. Normal sneakers are just fine. No flip flops recommended.
Written June 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LindyLoo999
42 contributions
Nov 2018
If you are fit this is a stunning place to hike for a couple of hours but don't believe the reports that say it is easy. It is not. Most of it involves climbing very large boulders, one of which has a rope and another has metal steps. Unfortunately we were given bad advice to do it back to front and ended up sliding down the rocks as opposed to climbing up them. It is a very hard walk on uneven rocks so IF you are fit I would say give it a go otherwise I would not attempt it.
Written November 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ingenu
UK38 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
Fantastic gorge; great value for outlay of efffort. For a 3 mile round trip, and it's so good it's worth walking in it both directions, this gorge must be hard to beat for spectacle. Sheer, narrow, rock walls, walking in the wash, the odd bit of boulder scrambling. You wouldn't want to be in it if it's been raining hard! Wonderful. Take plenty of water.
Written October 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monpetit
Vannes, France1,164 contributions
Sep 2020
The krits gorge have several possibilities :
- a short one, 2-2h30, with the principal part of the narrow gorge and back by a ascending hike
- a medium one, which continues the gorge in a less narrow gorge but very interesting and the way up is nicer, the arrival on the top more sightseeing
- a longer one to Tapies but or you take a cab or there is a commun part on the way back(it is a lolypop and not a loop).
All are very nice and the narrow path is exceptional.
After don't forget to voisit the town and to have a meal at Platanos
- a short one, 2-2h30, with the principal part of the narrow gorge and back by a ascending hike
- a medium one, which continues the gorge in a less narrow gorge but very interesting and the way up is nicer, the arrival on the top more sightseeing
- a longer one to Tapies but or you take a cab or there is a commun part on the way back(it is a lolypop and not a loop).
All are very nice and the narrow path is exceptional.
After don't forget to voisit the town and to have a meal at Platanos
Written November 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard M
Leeds, UK35 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
The Kritsa Gorge is a spectacular natural feature just outside the stunningly beautiful town of Kritsa. Kritsa itself is around 6 miles from Agios Nikolaus and is easily accessible by public bus. The bus stop is about 0.5 miles from the entrance to the gorge and is an easy walk.
It is possible to walk right through the gorge and come out at the other side. The alternative (that we did) is to walk about 1.5 miles through the gorge and then take a mountain path which brings you back to the start. Including the walk to and from the bus stop, the total walk took us just over 2 hours.
This is a wonderful walk but there are some things you need to be aware of. Use sturdy walking shoes or boots because it’s very rough and rocky. You need to clamber over rocks which isn’t that bad so long as you are relatively fit. In places you need to use metal hand and footholds and in one place there is a knotted rope to help you over one difficult bit.
A few hints. The point where you turn right out of the gorge (to take the mountain path back to the start) is by a yellow sign saying “Tapes 1.5 hours” - This new path is marked by the little red dots which are similar to this in the gorge itself so you shouldn’t be able to go far wrong. Don’t be put off by apparent fences that cross the path, these are in fact crude gates that can be opened and closed (used by farmers to control livestock so please close the gates). At one point you pass a disused farmhouse (on the right) and shortly after that the track goes sharp left, but you must carry on straight (marked by red dots) or else you may end up at the ancient city of Lato (the car park of which you can see in the distance). There is a mixture of path and track which leads you back downhill to the start point (by the sign saying “to the gorge”.
The gorge itself is beautiful and cuts through the mountain with sheer rock faces either side. You begin to wonder how any mountain path is going to take you back but it does. This return route gives you stunning views of Kritsa which would make the walk worthwhile even without the gorge. I have no idea what lies beyond that turn off point but another year we will do the full route and write another review.
It is possible to walk right through the gorge and come out at the other side. The alternative (that we did) is to walk about 1.5 miles through the gorge and then take a mountain path which brings you back to the start. Including the walk to and from the bus stop, the total walk took us just over 2 hours.
This is a wonderful walk but there are some things you need to be aware of. Use sturdy walking shoes or boots because it’s very rough and rocky. You need to clamber over rocks which isn’t that bad so long as you are relatively fit. In places you need to use metal hand and footholds and in one place there is a knotted rope to help you over one difficult bit.
A few hints. The point where you turn right out of the gorge (to take the mountain path back to the start) is by a yellow sign saying “Tapes 1.5 hours” - This new path is marked by the little red dots which are similar to this in the gorge itself so you shouldn’t be able to go far wrong. Don’t be put off by apparent fences that cross the path, these are in fact crude gates that can be opened and closed (used by farmers to control livestock so please close the gates). At one point you pass a disused farmhouse (on the right) and shortly after that the track goes sharp left, but you must carry on straight (marked by red dots) or else you may end up at the ancient city of Lato (the car park of which you can see in the distance). There is a mixture of path and track which leads you back downhill to the start point (by the sign saying “to the gorge”.
The gorge itself is beautiful and cuts through the mountain with sheer rock faces either side. You begin to wonder how any mountain path is going to take you back but it does. This return route gives you stunning views of Kritsa which would make the walk worthwhile even without the gorge. I have no idea what lies beyond that turn off point but another year we will do the full route and write another review.
Written September 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hannah
Vantaa, Finland83 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
A tiny village in the mountains. Beautiful place to visit and enjoy a late lunch with kids. Our lunch place was lovely, we sat at a private area in the middle of crossroads. Our lunch consisted traditional Greek salad and moussaka.
Written July 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Swissmich
Zurich, Switzerland52 contributions
May 2019 • Family
The trail is well marked, but drop a pin as to where you parked. Use GPS to find the start, there seems to be many, it’s like you park and walk through a small opening. We ended with about a 15 minute walk/climb out, that opened to the old Minoan Road, a must to walk, great views. I had running shoes, 12 year old had Sketchers 🥴 Not the best, but if you are fit, no problem. It’s a rocky climb with loose stones, under 5 years may struggle, due to height not agility. No way a walking stick can help here, it’s all you.
It was 20*, no sun, but an hour and half later, we were all sweating. Kids ❤️it!
It was 20*, no sun, but an hour and half later, we were all sweating. Kids ❤️it!
Written May 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nozza68
Shipton under Wychwood, UK105 contributions
Hello. We have just done the gorge. Stunning. ♥️ But I think we exited too early. We walked through the gorge ( following the red dots) and then came to a clearing with a sign saying Kritsa and yellow arrows. We walked up a hill, through a gate and followed yellow arrows which took us down into Kritsa via cobbled path. About 2 hours. Is there a middle route - we didn’t want to go to Tapes but expected it to be longer. Thanks Noelle
Rob J
Yorkshire, UK8 contributions
From what I remember there are 2 routes, the short one which is about 2 hours and sounds like the one you did and the long one which takes you out at the end of the gorge
Hey. Whats the address of the starting point? Is it hard to reach with a quad or is there a bus connection from Agos Nikolaos to Kritsa Gorge? Thanks for your messages.
Rob J
Yorkshire, UK8 contributions
Hi
Just outside the village of Krista on the Epar.Od.Kristsas-Lakonion road there is a small bridge on a hair pin bend. There is an unmade track off this that takes you to the start of the gorge.
You can see it on Google maps.
We drove to the village and parked in the main car park and walked but there is room for a couple of cars at the walk start.
LeePelling
Ramsgate, UK30 contributions
How easy is it to get to from Agios Nikolaos , with and without a car ?
Paul Iskandar
28 contributions
it takes about 30 - 45 min in a the bus so there's no too much difference between car and the bus
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Frequently Asked Questions about Kritsa Gorge
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Kritsa Gorge Information
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