This circular route from Vlithias village, 7km north of Paleohora, in Chania Prefecture, is ideal, and will fit in with the bus timetables. Take the 12.00pm bus to the junction to Vlithias, a village largely hidden from the main road.

(By car, park a further 200m on the main road, and walk down past the church of Christ the Saviour to join the minor road.) Follow the road out of the village towards Mahia, and after approx. 8 mins as the road begins to descend to the river, take a left turn. A small shrine (left) will confirm you are on the correct route.

The lane winds between olive trees to a small, partially hidden group of houses. Continue ahead between rocks, but first climb up right to a fine ‘aloni’ (threshing circle) with a commanding view over the valley below. The track now winds down to the river, and in early spring there are masses of wild lupins (‘Lupinus pilosus’) here – try and avoid treading on them.


Cross the River Kakodikianos by a concrete bridge, and then go left, below a wall (with orange & mandarin trees above), to reach a stony gully. A narrow path climbs the left side, then veers up left to meet a wider track, from where there are dramatic views into the deep gorge below. Follow the track to a junction, and keep left, contouring above the river below.

Across the valley the rocky skyline dominates the view, from the hilltop church of Profitis Ilias (see ‘Explore’, September) to the ruined Turkish fort above Spaniakos. Eventually the track drops to re-cross the river. On the far side of the bridge, turn right, for a climb of almost 100m up to Vlithias. Pass an abandoned water-wheel, from a derilict water mill a little further downstream. Keeping left when the road bends, walk steadily upwards, passing three houses, one ruined and two inhabited (both with noisy dogs). Ignore a track leading left.


Approaching Vlithias, take a right turn (by a concrete water cistern) to the small ‘Assumption of the Virgin Mary’ church, beautifully situated among olive groves. An ideal place to pause, but keep an eye on the time if you plan to catch the bus! Return to the road and walk up into Vlithias ‘platea’, where there are fountains of fresh water and nearby stone sinks once used (and not too long ago) for washing.


Take a path left of the village church, and then turn right up to the main road. The bus leaves Chania at 12.45pm, and will pass at approx. 2.15pm. Later in the year, the 7.15am bus from Paleohora, returning by the 8.30am bus from Chania (passing at c.10.00am) will also give ample time to enjoy this walk.

Congratulations to Eevaliisa Koskela and Carol Vardoulakis who correctly solved in December’s Christmas Puzzle. Both win a signed copy of our book ‘More Walks from Paleohora’.

Some statistics : January, on average, has 14 rainy days (of over 0.2mm), more than any other month on Crete, although most rain falls in February (and last year we had 150mm in Paleohora, more than twice the average.) That leaves 17 days with no rain, and although perhaps with little or no sunshine either, at least there’s an opportunity to fit in a short 2-hour walk.

Text by: http://thepaleochorasite.com

Hiking by Vlithias, Paleochora Hiking by Vlithias, Paleochora

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