Sarakina gorge – Lasithi. Crete beautiful gorges
A small but intensely beautiful gorge, which is located near the village of Mithi, 22 kilometres west of Ierapetra, at the south-eastern foot of Mount Dikti. It is not very easy to walk, unless you will be equipped with special sport shoes.
Sarakina Gorge is one of the most beautiful and fun gorges in Crete, especially popular for its water, narrow passages, and easy access.
🌿 Sarakina Gorge – Overview
- 📍 Location: Near Myrtos village, south of Ierapetra (eastern Crete)
- 🥾 Length: ~1.5 km
- ⏱️ Time: 1–2 hours
- 🌊 Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- 💧 Water: Flowing water most of the year
✨ Why Sarakina Gorge is special
🧱 Extremely narrow walls
- In places only 2–3 meters wide
- Vertical rock walls up to 150 m high
- Very photogenic and dramatic
💦 Water & greenery
Unlike many Cretan gorges, Sarakina has:
- Shallow streams
- Small waterfalls
- Lush vegetation
- Refreshing even in summer 🌿
🥾 Fun, not exhausting
Short and playful hike- Some rock scrambling and wading
- Great if you want a gorge experience without a full-day hike
🚶 What to expect on the walk
- Walking in water in some sections
- Slippery rocks (good shoes needed)
- Wooden bridges and ropes in places
- Can be busy in high season
🕰️ Best time to visit
- Spring: Best water flow & greenery
- Summer: Cool inside the gorge, but crowded midday
- Autumn: Quieter, still pleasant
⚠️ Avoid after heavy rain (flash flood risk)
👟 Practical tips
- Wear water-friendly hiking shoes
- Bring dry clothes or sandals for after
- No need for high fitness
- Suitable for families with older children
📖 Fun legend
According to myth, Sarakina Gorge was formed when Sarakinos, a local giant, cut the mountain with his sword to find water.
Good to know
If you enjoyed Anidri or are considering Aradaina, Sarakina is very different:
- ❌ Less wild than Aradaina
- ✅ More water and easier
- ✅ Better for a relaxed half-day trip
Short answer: No — Sarakina Gorge is not “the best” of Crete for everyone, but it is one of the most enjoyable and accessible.
Crete doesn’t have one single “best” gorge — it depends on what you value.
🌿 When Sarakina can feel like the best
Sarakina might be the best for you if you want:
- 💦 Water, shade, and greenery (rare in summer gorges)
- 🥾 A short, fun hike (1–2 hours)
- 📸 Extremely narrow, dramatic walls
- 👨👩👧 A gorge that’s not exhausting or technical
For many visitors, especially in hot weather, Sarakina is the most pleasant gorge experience.
🏞️ Why it’s not the “ultimate” gorge of Crete
Compared to others:
- ❌ Short — no long wilderness feeling
- ❌ Can be crowded in summer
- ❌ Less sense of achievement than big gorges
🥇 How Sarakina compares to Crete’s top gorges
| Gorge | Best for |
|---|---|
| Samaria | Iconic, longest, epic scale  |
| Aradaina | Adventure, wildness, ladders |
| Imbros | Easy long walk, great views  |
| Richtis | Waterfalls + forest  |
| Sarakina | Fun, water, coolness, accessibility  |
✅ Verdict
- Best for fun & refreshment: ✅ Sarakina
- Best for adventure: Aradaina
- Best overall scale: Samaria
- Best easy classic gorge: Imbros
If you tell me:
- when you’re going (month),
- your fitness level,
- whether you prefer water, views, or challenge,
I can tell you which gorge is truly the best for you.
The easiest gorge in Crete to walk in summer (because of temperature) is:
🥇 Sarakina Gorge (near Myrtos)
Why Sarakina is the easiest in summer 🌿💧
- Running water all year → natural cooling
- Very narrow walls → deep shade most of the day
- Short length (≈1–1.5 km) → no long heat exposure
- Low altitude → no long uphill sections
- Feels 10–15°C cooler inside than outside in July–August
For heat comfort alone, nothing in Crete beats Sarakina.
🥈 Other good summer-friendly gorges (but less cool)
Richtis Gorge (east Crete)
- Forested, shaded, waterfall at the end
- Cooler than most, but longer (3–4 hrs)
- Humid rather than hot
Imbros Gorge
- Easy walking, but dry and exposed
- Fine early morning only
- Not ideal at midday in summer
🚫 Gorges to avoid in summer heat
- Samaria ❌ (long, hot, exhausting)
- Aradaina ❌ (very exposed, ladders, brutal heat)
- Agia Irini ❌ (long, little shade)
✅ Final answer
If your priority is easiest + coolest in summer:
🏆 Sarakina Gorge is the best and easiest choice in Crete for summer temperatures.
Summer tips
- Start before 10:00
- Wear water shoes or hiking sandals
- Bring light backpack + water
- Avoid after heavy rain (flash flood risk)
Great question — Sarakina pairs beautifully with the sea, and if you’re based in west Crete there are excellent cooler alternatives too.
🌊 Best beach to combine with Sarakina Gorge (near Myrtos)
🏖️ Myrtos Beach ⭐ Best overall
Why it’s perfect
- Only 5 minutes’ drive from the gorge exit
- Long beach → always space, even in summer
- Clear water, usually calmer than other south-coast beaches
- Taverns, showers, shade, sunbeds available
Ideal plan
- Gorge walk 09:00–11:00
- Swim + lunch in Myrtos
- Relax all afternoon
🏝️ Other nearby options
- Tertsa Beach – quieter, pebbly, authentic (20 min west)
- Makrigialos (Ierapetra) – sandy but busier (30 min east)
🌿 If you’re staying in West Crete (cooler alternatives)
Since Sarakina is far east, these are the best summer-friendly gorge + beach combos in west Crete:
🥇 Anidri Gorge + Gialiskari Beach (Paleochora)
Closest match to Sarakina
- Short & easy gorge
- Ends directly at the sea
- Gialiskari has shade, taverns, calm water
✅ Best easy option in west Crete
🥈 Imbros Gorge + Frangokastelo Beach
- Easy walking gorge
- Start early (dry & warm)
- Cool swim afterward at Frangokastelo
⚠️ Gorge is hotter than Sarakina, but beach reward is great
🥉 Richtis Gorge + Richtis Beach (if east is possible)
- Waterfall hike + small wild beach
- Cooler than most gorges
- Longer, but very shaded
🏆 Summary – choose by location
- Near Ierapetra / East Crete:👉 Sarakina Gorge + Myrtos Beach - Near Chania / West Crete:👉 Anidri Gorge + Gialiskari Beach
You cannot acces that places by car, hiring a car could help approach the place but not very much.
This is Giannis Psaroudakis video for Sarakina gorge and is a real view of Sarakina Gorge, for more videos visit Giannis Psaroudakis in Youtube