Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Palace of Zákros
Daily: June-Oct 8am-5pm; Nov-May 8am-3pm • €3 •
T
28430 26897 • 100m behind Káto Zákros beach
he
Palace of Zákros
was an important find for archeologists; it had been occupied
from about 1600 BC to 1450 BC, when it was abandoned hurriedly and completely.
Later, it was forgotten almost entirely and as a result was never plundered. The first
major excavation began only in 1960; all sorts of everyday objects, such as tools, raw
materials, food and pottery, were thus discovered intact among the ruins. Although the
site is set back from the sea, in places it is often marshy and waterlogged - partly the
fault of a spring which once supplied fresh water to a cistern beside the royal
apartments. In wetter periods you can keep your feet dry and get an excellent view
down over the central court and royal apartments by climbing up the remains of
narrow streets of the town which occupied the hill higher up.
Xerókambos
The newly asphalted road south of Áno Zákros descends through olive groves and giant
greenhouses to run along a deep ravine. After 10km a brilliant turquoise sea and white
sandy beaches divided by rocky outcrops appear below; here lies
XERÓKAMBOS
, as
tranquil a getaway as you could wish for. This coastal settlement consists of one long
“main” street, in the midst of fields and olive groves, with a few rooms and tavernas and
a couple of minimarkets, but nothing at all in the way of after-dark diversions. The
main beach is 2km of pristine shimmering sand, long enough to find seclusion should
you want it, and if that isn't escapist enough, to the north and especially the south are
wonderful isolated coves.
7
GETTING AROUND
THE FAR EAST
By bus
Sitía to: Palékastro (5 daily 6am-2.30pm; 40min),
Váï Beach (3 daily 9.30am-2.30pm; 1hr), Zákros (2 daily 6am
& 2pm;1hr 20min), Káto Zákros site (2 daily 11am & 2pm; 1hr
30 min). There is no public transport south of Zákros.
By car and scooter
Rental is available in Palékastro at
Moto Kastri (
T
28430 61477), on the eastern edge of the
village along the Váï road.
INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
Tourist office
On the Sitía road 50m from the square
(April-Oct Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-2pm
T
28430
61546).
Windsurfing
W
freak-surf.com.
Courses and board hire from a reliable
company based at Kouremenos, Crete's best windsurfing
locale, at the extreme east end of the island.
Freak Windsurf
T
697 92 53 861,
ACCOMMODATION
PALÉKASTRO
Hellas Hotel
T
28430 61240,
W
palaikastro.com.
Comfortable en-suite rooms in the village centre with a/c,
balcony, TV, fridge, and the
re's a
taverna below. Reductions
for longer stays. April-Oct.
€36
Ì
Marina Village
Between Angathia and
Kouremenos beach
T
28430 61284,
W
palaikastro
.com/marinavillage.
A peaceful haven 800m from the
beach with well-furnished, a/c balcony rooms, surrounded
by a garden of bougainville
a and
banana plants
.
Buffet
breakfast included. May-Oct.
€68
Metochi Vai Village
On the Váï-Palékastro road
T
28430 61546,
W
palaikastro.com/metohivai.
Here
shepherds' shelters, owned by the Monastery of Toploú,
have been converted into well-furnished, traditional-style
apartments, which retain many original features including
Cretan stone arches, fireplaces and wooden beams. Rooms
come with a/c, fridge, cooker and TV.
€55
Ostria
T
28430 61022,
W
ostria-itanos.gr.
This brightly
furbished hotel is set in gardens on the outskirts of the
village on the Váï road. The mo
dern
, clean rooms have a/c,
fridge and balcony. March-Oct.
€45
ÁNO
ZÁKROS
Hotel Zakros
T
28430 93379.
A plain hotel with simple,
economical rooms, some en-suite, with a/c, TV and great
views across the Valley of the Dead gorge from its rear
rooms; it also offers guests a free minib
us s
ervice to the
Minoan palace at Káto Zákros and beach.
€35
KÁTO ZÁKROS
Coral & Athina
T
28430 26893,
W
kato-zakros.gr.
These rooms sit right above the beach, with great sea views
from their large communal terraces; en suites are clean,
