Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
trail starts just past the gazebo lookout reached via stone steps leading up from the reas-
onably priced
taverna
(mains €5-9; 11.30am-10pm)
.
There are four buses daily to Vaï from Sitia (€3.60, one hour) from May to October.
Parking is €3.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Zakros & Kato ZakrosΖάκρος&Κάτω Ζάκρος
POP 912
Zakros (
zah
-kros), 45km southeast of Sitia, is the starting point for the trail through the
Zakros Gorge, known as the Valley of the Dead on account of the ancient burial sites in
the caves that honeycomb the canyon walls. Zakros, however, is a mere prelude to
coastal Kato Zakros, 7km down a winding road through rugged terrain. Halfway down, it
loops left to reveal a vast curtain of mountains and the red jaws of the Zakros Gorge
breaching the cliffs. Behind Kato Zakros' pebbly beach and its huddle of tavernas, the re-
markable ruins of the Minoan Zakros Palace are clearly defined.
Sights & Activities
Zakros Palace
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
( 28410 22462; Kato Zakros; adult/concession €3/2; 8am-3pm, extended summer hours
possible)
Ancient Zakros, the smallest of Crete's four Minoan palatial complexes, was a
major port, trading with Egypt, Syria, Anatolia and Cyprus. The palace comprised royal
apartments, storerooms and workshops flanking a central courtyard. The exquisite rock-
crystal vase and stone bull's head now in Iraklio's Archaeological Museum were among
the treasure trove of antiquities found at Zakros. While the ruins are sparse, the wildness
and remoteness of the setting make it an attractive place to explore.
Zakros Gorge
WALKING
This easy 8km walk starts from just below Zakros village and winds it way through a
narrow and (at times) soaring canyon with a riot of vegetation and wild herbs before
emerging close to Zakros Palace, 200m from the beach. For a shorter walk, pick up the
trailhead about 3km down the road to Kato Zakros. A taxi back to Zakros costs about €6.
Sleeping & Eating
