With Kissamos as a starting point you can visit the archaeological sites of Falassarna and Polyrinia, the Gramvoussa isles (pirate isles), the beautiful Georges of Topolia, Sirikari, the lagoon of Balos, the medieval villages, the longest gorge in Europe (Samaria gorge), the Knossos palace, the biggest cities in Crete, on the north part etc.
Port of Balos discount 25 % for our clients by cruise ship “ BALOS ”
Only 20min away by car starts the path to the golf of Balos. Those who are ready for some sport can walk (be aware that afternoon sun is burning) around 30-40 min between the mountain at one side and the sea on the other, admiring the wild landscape and the wild goats climbing on the cliffs. After you arrive on a small platform you start descending towards a lagoon. The view is incredible from above.
After descending around 100 stairs made in the rock you arrive on the beach of the lagoon. The water is around 1m or less and very transparent.
There is only one small family tavern that serves excellent musaca and refreshments.
From the port of Balos you can take the boat back to Kastelli, or the same way back, or you can continue the trip by boat, to Gramvousa (around 15min).
Gramvousa island discount 25 % for our clients by cruise ship “ BALOS ”
The island is very small and it was a pirates island. You can still see their fortress. The trip to Gramvousa is arround 20E from Kastelli and back and it takes approximately 1h, including a stop in Balos.
Polyrinia
South of Kissamos, at a distance of 6 kms., through a long plantation of olive trees, it is the road towards the ruins of the ancient city of Polyrinia. Polyrinia is considered to be the oldest city that the Dorians built in Crete (following the Minoan Period) and one of the most important cities-states of the Western Crete
Polyrinia was a powerful city, its walls are still visible, and existed until the Byzantine period. The town was built amphitheatrically on top of the hill (418 m altitude) with a commanding view of both the Cretan and the Libyan sea, located 49 km from Hania and 6 km from Kissamos .
Present day Polyrinia, is a small village, that is built by stones, with building materials from the ancient city. Very picturesque.
Sirikari
The gorge lies between Polyrinia and Sirikari village, an area full of chestnut trees.
If you wish to cross the gorge you should take the path starting from the church, out of Sirikari, it will take some two hours to go through. The landscape is marvelous from the very entrance; there is a brook at the middle with thick vegetation at the banks and steep cliffs around.
The path goes downhill at the right side of the brook; walking within the gorge lasts less than an hour; after that you will pass through an area full of olive trees before you arrive at the village of Polyrinia - or viceversa.
Falasarna
The westernmost town in Crete and one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. You can go there by the public bus that leaves from the centre of Kastelli or with the rented vehicles.
The name Falassarna is pre-hellenic and is derived from the nymph "Falasarni". Falassarna used to be the port of ancient Polyrinia. Its port was closed and surrounded by walls and it was connected to the sea with a canal.
The port and the canal today are cultivated land due to the fall of the sea-level, the ancient remainings are located 300-400 meters from the sea.
The remainings saved today are part of the supporting walls of the city as well as part of its Cyclopean walls, defensive towers, foundations of houses and remainings of the temple dedicated to Artemida or Appolona.
Elafonisi
Elafonisi Island is near the southeast tip of Crete, 43km from Kastelli and 76km from Chania. The road from Chrisoskalitissa continues as a dirt track of 5km to Elafonisi. The area of Elafonisi has beautiful beaches with pink sand, in front of which is the island of Elafonisi itself.
In another part of beach, there is an unusual kind of forest near to sea with pink sand also called “ kedrodasos ” looked an exotic place ,that you can arrive there by 15 min walking after you stoped the car on road that you have to ask the people of the area which one you must follow untill the end(there isn’t tabela)
This lovely islet was the site of a massacre of 850 women and children by the Turks in 1824. The women and children were hidden there and as the Turks camped on the beaches a horse found the shallow, 0.5 - 0.8 metre-deep water path to the island. The Turks discovered the women and children and slaughtered them. There is a memorial plaque on the highest point of the islet (you can get there also by public busses Kasteli- Chrisoskalitissa- Elafonisi)
The monastery of Hrysoskalitissa is located in the village just before Elafonisi, and is perched on a rock with a glorious view of the sea. Its name comes from the Byzantine era, when its last step to the monastery was made of gold (“hryso” in Greek meaning “gold,” and “skala” meaning “stairs”). The saint’s day of the monastery falls on August 15, which is celebrated the previous day with a feast, when all the tavernas of the area feature local Cretan music
Paleochora
Palaiohora: (50 kms WestSouth from Kasteli): This is a very picturesque large seaside village on the Libyan Sea. It is situated on the plain and the houses descend to the water's edge. Also known as Kastelli Selinou - from the Venetian fort - it is considerd to be the second " nymph of the Libyan Sea " after Ierapetra. The geographical location of the area, the climate, the excellenet nature of the beaches, the sunshine and also
the wealth of Greek, Roman, medieval and Byzantine monuments in its hinterland have resultedin its rapid development into a tourist resort. The sand and pebble beaches around it, whether crowed or empty, offer an opurtunity to relax, even the most demanding. (you can get there by public busses Kasteli-paleochora)
Sougia:
(65 kms South from Kasteli): is a modern coastal fishing village with a protected harbour and pine-covered slopes around it.
There is a pebble beach in front of the village, 1.5 kms in length, with deep crystal water. For those visitors who enjoy rambling, nature and antiquities, there is a surprise (you can get there by public busses Kasteli-chania-sougia)
Loutro:
a beautiful seaside village with particular colour. One of few places on Crete where you won't see vehicles(you can get there only by boat from hora sfakion)
Hora Sfakion - Sfakia:
(70 kms South from Kasteli, you can get there by public busses Kasteli-chania-hora sfakion) is a histiric village built like an amphitheatre by the beach. Sfakia is a wild, mountainous area, dominated by the mountain massif of the White Mountains. Full of Gorges, ravines, wild mountain peaks and difficult passes. The people of Sfakia never allowed the Turks to get near their wild mountain are.
Frangokastello:
(115 kms South East from Kasteli) the beach of Frangokastello is one of the best spots in Crete, with fine sand, crystal - clear water (with good snorkelling oppurtunities). Next to the beach is the Castle. (you can get there by public busses Kasteli-chania- Frangokastello)
Samaria GorgeOnly 45 min by bus, from the center of kastelli you can climb 2000 m until the Omalos plateau, from where it starts the canyon of Samaria. Believed to be one of the most scenic national parks in Europe, this gorge stretches more than 10 miles to the south coastal region and offers many hiking trails.If you are prepared for some sport and you have sport shoes (do not try to cross it with other kind of shoes), you can enter the Samaria reservation park (after paying a ticket of …E) and start the descent toward the Libyan sea, for approximately 5hours. At the end point there is a small village and the boat is waiting for you to take you to Sfakia – another small village build on the mountain. You can choose to spend one night there or to take the bus back to Chania and Kastelli.
Palace of Knossos, Heraklion
These labyrinthine ruins are said to have been home to the monstrous Minotaur, a half-man half-bull creature that devoured young virgins. Go there early in the morning to avoid the heat.
You can get there by the public transportation busses: Kastelli-Chania-Heraklion – Knossos. Or by paid trip from Chania directly to the site. The trip is around 3h
The Archaeological Museum (Iraklion Archaeological Museum), Heraklion
A museum delineating the history of the island Crete, complete with artifacts belonging to the ancient civilizations that once populated the island and the artefacts from the Knossos Palace.
In most of the Kissamos villages you can visit churches built inside caves like that of Agios Ioannis Ntamialis and Agios Fotios as well as churches dated back many years like that of Agios Georgios and that of Panagia in Koukounara. Also two venetian rotundas are salvaged, one in Kalathenes and one in Drapanias.
You can see also more about crete on site: www.explorecrete.com