Full-Day Private Tour to the South Coast of Crete from Chania

This sightseeing tour “South coast of Crete” provides an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the picturesque nature of Crete and visit some of the most beautiful places on the island.

Lake Kournas is the only freshwater lake on Crete. You can take a catamaran to sail and discover some amazing underwater life that’s so easy to see since the water in Kournas is wonderfully clear.

From here we will go to a wonderfully romantic place - Plakias beach. This little hidden bay between the mountains has such clear water, crisp air, and almost no tourists.

Next stop - Preveli monastery - one of the most exciting in Crete. In the monastery Holy Cross (Timios Stavros) is stored, which was donated by Abbot Effraim Prevelis and is considered miraculous. The cross bears part of the True Cross at its base.

Going back, we will through the breathtaking Kourtaliotiko Gorge. This place captivates you with its beauty and a feeling of pure freedom. You can take the most amazing pictures here!

Lake Kournas

First, we will go to Kournas Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake on the island. It is located on the border of the Chania and Rethymnon regions. The lake was known as Korisia in antiquity — in honor of the goddess Athena Korissia, whose temple was built right on the lake shore. The lake attracts attention with its mountain landscapes and numerous shades of water that change in the sunlight. The territory of the lake is protected as rare species of animals live here. You can swim in the beach area in the east of Kournas.

The Holy Monastery of Preveli

The next object of our interest will be Preveli Monastery — an architectural complex consisting of two parts: Kato Preveli (lower monastery); Piso Preveli (upper monastery). Our qualified guide will tell you in detail about an interesting historical event associated with the monastery. To date, there is an active monastery — Piso Preveli. The lower monastery was closed in 1970. After a long reconstruction, in 2013 it was decided to open it to tourists. Not far from the lower monastery, there is of the main attractions — the majestic, impregnable bridge stretching across the Bourtzoukos Stream. It was built by monks in the middle of the XIX century. Today, there are 3 monks living in the Upper Monastery. Piso Preveli stands on top of a small hill, near the Megalos Potamos River.

Damnoni & Plakias Beach

Next, we will visit the beach of Plakias. Its length exceeds kilometers, so it is of the longest beaches on the island. The infrastructure is quite developed here: The coast is lined with bars, discos, restaurants, taverns, and souvenir shops. You will not feel boring a noisy beach, as a wide variety of water entertainment will satisfy the wishes of even the most demanding tourists. Here you can: Get acquainted with local attractions. Swim in the clear sea. Sunbathe. Enjoy the natural landscapes.

Kourtaliotiko Gorge

On the way, we will have a chance to see the Kourtaliotiko Gorge. This is of the most fascinating places in the region. The height of its tops in some places reaches 250 meters. It is impossible to pass but you can go down to its bottom. At the beginning of the descent, you can see a stone arch, behind which a comfortable staircase begins. Another name for the gorge is the «Gorge of the Flapping Sails». It occurred due to the fact that at the beginning of the route, you can hear distinctive flaps similar to flapping sails. It is believed that these sounds appear because of the wind. Return to the hotel, travel time 1 hour 45 minutes.