Sougia - South Crete

The southern coastal town of Sougia is in southwestern Crete and belongs to the prefecture of Chania, about 60 km south of Chania. Experience a new side of Crete next time you pull on your walking boots with an amble through some of the most beautiful landscapes of Southern Crete. Mountain peaks, as well as coastal paths and even a hidden gorge LYSSOS. Only the way is the goal! This small coastal village on the south coast of Crete lies at the foot of the "Agia Irini“Gorge and is becoming increasingly popular with hikers. The hinterland of Sougia is very varied and offers many out - door - activities. The European Walking Path E4 leads the visitors to the most scenic places of South Crete. Sougia has a "Taxi Information Desk" and even a water - taxi offering transfers for hikers. The pebble Beach of Sougia is well organised with sunbeds, umbrellas, showers and a few taverns. There is a ferry-boat-connection to the non-street-accessible picturesque villages like LOUTRO and AGIA ROUMELI. We call Sougia also as the TRANSIT PLACE for hikers as this is the place where the Samaria-Hikers are coming back from their tour. There is also a ferry-connection to the Coastal Village SFAKIA. Hiking tours that you can do in Sougia and the surrounding area: An excellent medium level-challenge that spans 12 km is the AGIA IRINI GORGE the path descends in the coastal village Sougia, also suggested for hiking with children. Like all Gorges in Crete the path is a riverbed with gravel.

The Agia Irini Gorge is rich in vegetation. On this trail nature shows the attentive hiker many types of vegetation typical for Crete: thorn bushes, onion flowers, deciduous trees such as the Cretan holm oak, plane trees and coniferous trees such as cedar trees and various cypresses. The walking takes roughly 4 1/2 hours. You’ll certainly feel like a well-deserved rest at the end of the day! Hiking boots are required for this hike. In the Agia Irini gorge there are several water points and toilets. This path belongs to the European hiking trail E4.

This impressive, small, wild ravine is also very well accessible for visitors who are coming from the Northwest of Crete. A light walking - tour is the coastal walking path from Sougia to Cape Tripiti. For this tour you must leave very early in the morning, because there is hardly no shade on this coast ( walking through macchia)! The trail leads to the Venetian fortress "Tripiti". Just below this fortress is the Tripiti Gorge. Nature lovers will get their money's worth in Sougia. As it is a long distance to the Airports and to the Cities of Northwest Crete the Taxi-Transfer is expensive. We recommend rending a Car.

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