Excursion to the beach of Prevelis
Route: Chania – Rethymno - Kourtaliotis Gorge – Preveli beach – Plakias town
A few words about our destination:
Our destination is one of the most beautiful beaches of Crete, the beach of Prevelis, which is located 35 km south of Rethymno. Our route will be from the New National Highway to Rethymno and then we will head south to our final destination.
Duration of the route 1 hour and 46 minutes.
Kourtaliotis Gorge:
Our first stop is the Kourtaliotis Gorge which is located in the south of Rethymnon prefecture and is 3km long. It is one of the most impressive natural attractions of the prefecture of Rethymnon. It starts from the plain of the village of Koxare and flows between the Kuroupa mountains and the Koules peak of Dry Mountain. The huge rocky slopes of the canyon reach 600 meters and are full of openings and caves, where important species of avifauna live. Through it passes the Kourtaliotis River, which originates from the plain of Agios Vasilios, crosses the gorge and empties into the famous Finikodasos of Prevelis, after joining the Frati gorge.
Sources of Kourtaliotis:
Following the steps that are located on the side of the Koxare – Asomatos, we reach the bottom of the gorge, where the church of Saint Nikolaos of Kourtaliotis and the Springs of Kourtaliotis are located. Just below the springs, an amazing waterfall forms with a large flow of water in a very narrow and dark part of the gorge, which can be reached by swimming from a lower level of the river. From there one can walk down to the bridge of the Megalos Potamos and then to the sea, splashing and playing all the time with the waters, to the beach of Prevelis.
Monastery of Prevelis:
Next stop is the Monastery of Prevelis. The Monastery of Prevelis or the “Great River” is located 37 km south of Rethymno, in a beautiful natural location. It includes two separate complexes located at a distance of 1.7km from each other, the Lower Monastery of Prodromos inland and the seaside Back Monastery of Theologus.
The Preveli monastery has associated its name with the participation of its monks in the liberation struggles of Crete, a fact that paid very dearly many times with disasters. During the German occupation, at great risk to the monks, allies who fought in the Battle of Crete and found an escape route to the Middle East found hospitality in the monastery.
Today the monastery is constantly being restored and is developing in the fields of organic farming, animal husbandry and beekeeping.
Prevelis beach:
The enchanting beauty of the beach located in the south of Crete has attracted many fans for decades, with the hippies of the 1960s and 70s replaced today by families and couples. Even the heart-shaped rock that rises from the sea just outside the beach will surely catch your attention.
But the love people have for this beach is due to more than just its exotic setting. Spending a day here you will have the opportunity to explore the surrounding area at one moment and to relax and tan lying on the sand the next. One moment you can be swimming in the Libyan Sea and the next in the lagoon, then taking a walk in the picturesque Kourtaliotis Gorge.
Prevelis palm forest:
On the banks of the Great River, the second largest palm forest of Crete is formed, after the palm forest in Vai, which hosts the endemic Cretan palm tree of Theophrastos. The river forms a small lake 500m long at its exit to the sea with water all year round. In the palm forest of Prevelis you can walk along the river, under the shade of palm trees and other trees, and start climbing up the magnificent gorge. In the large pools that form every now and then you can take a cool bath.
Town of Plakias:
Our next stop will be the town of Plakias, a popular tourist resort, 36 km south of Rethymno. One of the most important drivers of the area's development is the large coastal front of the area, the so-called Gialia. The main beach of Plakias is located at the mouth of Kotsyfos east of the village and extends for almost 1.5 km to Cape Muri or Psarela. It is a well-organized sandy beach, with shallow water, ideal for families with children.
Time for a break:
Time to rest and eat. Along the beach there is a beach road with taverns where we will try local recipes and traditional dishes from all over Crete. In Plakias we can find any cuisine we want. From fish restaurants and traditional Cretan cuisine to European and Asian.
Time for return:
After a short walk on the town of Plakias we will board the van to return to our hotel.