Voyager Info Crete

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

04/05/2026

At the eastern end of Chora Sfakion harbor we meet the rock of Tsagaris (shoemaker). Tsagaris is a towering and sharp rock that stands out from the rest rocks in the area. From afar the rock looks like merging with the opposite side, however from below one notes that it hangs separate from others and is nowhere joined. Its top reminds of a head.
In the rock root there is a beautiful stone path that crosses the rocky landscape and arrives in front of the rocky shore where you can enjoy a swim in the deep blue and deep sea. From the end of the path the visitor can admire the wild and -full of caves and cliffs- coastline of Chora Sfakion.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Tsagaris Rock at Chora Sfakia cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/geological-formations/tsagaris-rock-at-chora-sfakia

03/05/2026

The monastery of Axion Esti is built on a hill 2km north of Ierapetra. The exact name of the monastery is the Female Monastery of the Resurrection of Christ and Virgin Mary "Axion Esti".
The monastery is modern, as it has been established in 1984. It is female and is surrounded by the monks' cells. The main temple is a three-aisled church with its three aisles dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Resurrection of Christ and the Annunciation. Also in the monastery there are the chapels of the Nativity of the Lord, of All Saints, of Holy Trinity, while outside the complex you will see the Church of the Transfiguration.
The monastery celebrates especially on the Resurrection of Easter and on June 11 (Virgin Mary).
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Monastery of Axion Esti in Ierapetra cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/religious-monuments-on-crete/monasteries-in-crete/monastery-of-axion-esti-in-ierapetra

02/05/2026

Damothi is located at Zoniano Aori, at the north side of Psiloritis Range, and is one of the highest plateaus in Crete. It is located at an altitude of 1680 meters between the two peaks of Kourouna (1850 meters) and the main peaks of Psiloritis (Agathias and Holy Cross - 2456 meters).
The name Damothi like almost all the names of Psiloritis has Minoan origin and has remained unchanged over the centuries. Just below the roof of Crete and at a shady spot, Damothi plateau is covered most of the year with snow which lasts until May. As a typical karst sinkhole it is has 2-3 different holes on the ground that move the waters from snowmelt in underground rivers and to the springs at lower altitudes. When the snow melts between the typical spiny shrubs, which are the only plants that grow on such a high altitude, the area is covered with the beautiful crocuses of spring and the flower chionodoxa that always blooms after the melting.
On the plateau there is still a stone dairy house (mitato) and one can walk here from Zoniana to Zoniano Aori or alternatively can drive to the plateau of Nida and follow the path that leads to the location Vathy Lakki with the gorgeous mitata and then to the former ski resort, where he has to start walking.
Πηγή: ⭐ Travel Guide for Island Crete ⛵, Greece❗ - Damothi Plateau cretanbeaches.com
https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/plateaus-and-planes/damothi-plateau