Kourtaliotiko Gorge

The Kourtaliotiko cuts down toward the Libyan Sea between walls of red and grey rock, and the road runs along its rim with pull-ins for the view. From the chapel of Agios Nikolaos a long stair of about two hundred steps descends into the gorge to a set of springs that emerge straight from the cliff face and fall into deep green pools, cold enough to make swimming brief. The name comes from the clapping sound the wind makes in the rock clefts. Griffon vultures nest on the walls and are regularly seen circling, and Crete has one of the largest populations in Europe. Downstream the river reaches Preveli, where a palm-lined gorge mouth meets the sea.

The landscape

• The cliff springs - water pouring straight from the rock into pools.
• The stairway - about two hundred steps from the roadside chapel.
• The griffon vultures - large raptors circling the gorge walls.
• The red rock walls - the gorge itself, seen from roadside viewpoints.

When to go

Spring for the strongest flow and greenest gorge; autumn for comfortable walking. Summer is hot on the steps and the springs run lower. Avoid after heavy rain.

Practical notes

The stairs are steep and the climb back is real work in the heat. The pools are very cold and the rocks slippery. Facilities amount to a taverna at the top and no shade on the steps.

Nearby

Preveli palm beach lies at the gorge mouth; Plakias and Triopetra are along the coast.

Key facts