Cretan Villages with Patsos Gorge Tour

Overview

We start driving to our first stop Zaros, an attractive, refreshingly unspoiled village famous for its spring water, and an ideal base for walkers to explore the beautiful nature. Zaros also has some fine Byzantine monasteries, and delicious farm-raised trout served up in tavernas around town and on emerald-green Lake Votomos which will be visited. Then we continue our drive to the traditional Cretan village of Vatos, a small village hidden in the green where we find all the elements of its tradition. We finish at a cauldron of the village where you make Raki (the famous alcoholic beverage of Crete). Spili is our next stop known for its Venetian snake with a long line of 25 stone lion heads that run cool water from their mouths. Optional lunch at Spili. Then we visit Lampini, the church and the museum of Panagia. Drive to Gorge of St. Antonios, walk through a very nice hiking trail in the gorge with super green and lush surroundings up to the cave of St. Antonios.

Itinerary

1. Lake of Zaros Votomos

   Zaros, is an attractive, refreshingly unspoiled village famous for its spring water, which is now bottled and sold all over Greece, and an ideal base for walkers to explore the beautiful nature. Zaros also has some fine Byzantine monasteries, and delicious farm-raised trout served up in tavernas around town and on emerald-green Lake Votomos which will be visited

   30 minutes

2. Vatos, is a small village hidden in the green where we find all the elements of its tradition. Walking down the alleys we visit the old school and its fountain as well as the museum with the farming tools and utensils of earlier times. We finish at a cauldron of the village where you make Raki (the famous alcoholic beverage of Crete).

   40 minutes
3. Spili

   Spili is known for its Venetian snake with a long line of 25 stone lion heads that run cool water from their mouths.

   2 hours

4. Lampini is a traditional village where you will see the church and the museum of Panagia. The church is inscribed with a cupola, and depicts frescoes of the 12th and 14th century. It was an Episcopal church, since the village of Lampini once accommodated the seat of the famous Episcopate of Lampis, which had existed since 431.

   40 minutes
5. St. Anthony Gorge (Gorge of Patsos)

   Patsos Gorge is known for the cavernous temple of Agios Antonios (Saint Anthony), which in ancient times was a sacred cave dedicated to Kraneos Hermes. Water comes out from the rocks, while water drops from the temple roof, which is concentrated as holy water. It is interesting to see the thousands of prayer papers that the faithful have placed in the rock cavities around the temple. Underneath the temple and by the river are large plateaus with wooden benches and tables.

   1 hour 30 minutes · Admission not included

Meeting and pickup

Across from the entrance of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, in front of Hari’s Creperie, Heraklion

Good to know

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Our company is not responsible for the client’s failure to appear at the meeting point for the booked tour or activity.
• Last minute cancellation of flights or inability to disembark from a cruise ship, is not our company’s responsibility, therefore any refund requests due to such incidents will not be accepted. Should the client be aware of such a change, he/she is requested to communicate with our company more than 24 hours before the tour or activity starts, in order to discuss possible date or time amendment (subject to availability)
• Refund requests for last minute cancellations (up to 24 hours before the tour or activity), for any reason, will not be accepted.
• Please note that there will be time spent in transportation
• Not recommended for travelers with mobility impairments

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.