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Zotis hotel

Kalamaki, Chania, Crete

P.O. 73100

tel (0030) 28210 32435

fax (0030) 28210 32457

Places to visit

Elafonisi

An amazing beach and a captivating landscape that certainly does not remind you that here in April 24, 1824 Imbraim's soldiers slaughtered 40 fighters and 600 women and children. The only thing that reminds you this, is a marble slab on the top of the island.

It is located 5 km south from Chrisoscalitissa Monastery. The island is 100 m away from the coastline.

Falasarna

In the west side of the Prefecture of Chania and in a distance of 59 km away from Chania, Falasarna is located. It was also port of ancient Polipirrinias , independent, minted its coins that represented the head of a woman on one side and the word "FA" in a trident. Thanks to the great security of the port and the impregnable fortress, it became an important commercial and nautical center. The access to the city by sea. It was built in tiers as the walls still preserved indicate. Today, the harbour and the canal are 100 m away from the sea because the coast has risen.

The beach of Falasarna is believed to be one of the most beautiful in Crete, with fine sand, 3 km long . It is clean, peaceful and with no tourist extremity that would corrupt the surroundings; in this way it lets the visitor enjoy perhaps the most beautiful sunset in Crete.

Sfakia

Hora Sfakion is a place fraught with gorges, ravines, wild mountaintops and difficult passages. Besides, the name Sfakia derives from the word "óöáî" (sfax) which means chasm of the earth, gorge. Thanks to the bravery of the inhabitants and its geographical location, Sfakia remained unconquered for a very long time. In this way, they had the opportunity during the Turkish Rule to occupy themselves with transports, commerce but also piracy. All this wealth and the houses they had built were burnt and devastated in 1770, after the revolution of Daskalogiannis and the Revolution in 1821. The people in Sfakia are thought to be trueborn descendants of the Dorians.

Samaria Gorge

Before our descent to the gorge begins, we should know that: the gorge is the biggest in Europe, 18 km long , and the passage we cross is 14 km. Its width is from 150 to 3 meters in the narrowest spot called Portes. It has been declared National Park in order its rare fauna and flora to be protected. Thanks to the wild and full-of-ravines form, it is the only place that "agrimi" (wild animal), as the locals call the Cretan wild goat, lives. There are additionally many rare species of birds and along the gorge many rare herbs grow, such as the wild burning bush and several wild flowers. In the gorge the below mentioned are strictly forbidden: hunting, setting fires, cutting flowers and herbs and staying there overnight. Throughout the gorge, there are guards, and guides with mules that can carry anyone having any kind of problem, with a small charge. Moreover, there is something like a ticket that you give back on your way out, so as to be ascertained that all visitors are out of the gorge. During winter, the gorge is inaccessible and the crossing is allowed from the beginning of May until the end of October. The marching lasts 6-8 hours , depending on the hiker's stamina. For this marching, we must be supplied with suitable hard shoes (army boots) and light food. We do not have to carry water, as along the gorge there are streams with crystal clear waters. Moreover, we must be informed about the departure time of the last boat from Agia Roumeli, where we shall end up, to Sfakia.

Xilokalos , at the entrance of the gorge, is a small path with wooden parapet, in order these that will descend the Faragga (big gorge) to be eased and protected. Going down the passage and there is awe in the atmosphere. Very tall mountains, left and right and an endless ravine in front of you. Numerous shades of green and at far end tall mountains. You keep on descending for four kilometers and sometimes there is a chaos ahead of you, some other times very tall trees, or springs and huge rocks that make you think that you can go no farther. After a 30-minute walk, there is a small change of scenery. The chapel of Agios Nickolaos is ahead of us, surrounded by enormous cypresses and two gates in the antechamber. We are already in the deepest spot of the gorge and huge mountains 2.000 m high are around. Here the course changes and becomes smoother. Other smaller gorges are united with Samaria's. The plain begins to become wider and suddenly there is no water on the ground. Down here, in the middle of the gorge the village called Samaria is situated, uninhabited now, since the woodchoppers and shepherds that used to live here, were transferred elsewhere, when the gorge was declared National Park, in 1962. in the small Byzantine church from the 14th century located here, many icons and frescos are preserved. Osia Maria the Egyptian whose name was changed to Sia Maria and finally Samaria gave its name to the entire area. There is a spring and this village is an ideal place to have a rest and some snack. Besides, we are only half the way of the passing.

The landscape changes again. The ravine becomes narrower and very tall rocks come closer. Just before you reach Portes, an open and flat place on the right and a stream challenge you to stop and quench you thirst. As soon as you get to Portes the view is majestic! The two sides of the gorge are so close that you think they will meet and form a narrow door, 3 meters wide and 600 high. Passing through the narrow passage and the blue sea is right ahead of you. The path leads to a dry waterfall on round stones. It gets wider and reaches another desolate village Agia Roumeli. One more kilometer on the same rocks and we reach the new Agia Roumeli.

A beautiful end in our way out of the Gorge to the Libyan Sea. A swimming after this long hiking in a beautiful beach with thick sand, black pebbles and crystal clear waters is the right thing to do