Zakros Gorge is in the east of the island of Crete in Greece. The gorge is 8 kms long and starts at the village of Ano Zakros 45 kms from Sitia and 20km far from House Margot, Palekastro.

The village of Zakros can be reached by driving south of Palekastro and then the villages of Chochlakies, Asokeramos, Kelaria and Adravasti.

The gorge walk takes about 2 hours depending on your pace and your fitness levels, and ends at the beautiful beach town of Kato Zakros.

Zakros Gorge is also know as the Gorge of the Dead – Faragi ton Nekron – Φαράγγι των Νεκρών. The gorge is one of the most impressive in Crete with its steep sides and harsh rock formations. There are caves within which have been found to be Minoan burial tombs, hence the name.

In those caves were discovered tombs from the Minoan period, and finds of great archaeological importance. That is the reason why the caves are named “The Caves of Deads” and the gorge “The Gorge of Deads”.

The gorge is presents no difficulties in summer. The first steep slope may seem a bit scary, but in fact there’s no danger as long as you follow the path carefully. After the 15-minute descent, you will find yourself at the bottom of the gorge. Follow the riverbed, which is completely dry in summer.

There are distinctive blazes to guide you and it’s a pleasant walk for young and old alike. There are no working fountains in Zakros Gorge, so make sure you take plenty of water with you.

The footpath through the gorge to Kato Zakros is important for another reason apart from its ancient history and its scenic landscape with the many caves. It is the last section of the European E4 path, which starts at Portugal, crosses the Mediterranean countries of southern Europe, and traverses Greece from north to south and Crete from west to east, to end at Kato Zakros.

Because of its natural beauty and archaeological significance the gorge attracts numerous visitors every year.

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