The Steep Skaloti Gorge

The Skaloti Gorge stretches from the Manikas Plateau and terminates at Skaloti. This gorge features steep slopes, and it's home to the largest population of bearded vultures (barbatus-barbatus) on the entire island of Crete and in Europe as a whole. As you reach the exit of the gorge, there's a bird observatory where you can observe the majestic flights and witness the distinctive behaviour of these magnificent large predators.

The bearded vulture played a pivotal role in the inclusion of the broader Sfakia region in the European Natura 2000 parks in 2001. Whether you're ascending or descending the gorge, you'll be rewarded with more enchanting moments of watching the ‘kanavi’ (as they are affectionately known in Sfakia) amidst the untamed splendour of the gorge.

At the gorge's outset, the terrain is steep, and you'll find blue trail markers guiding you along the path, which typically takes 2-3 hours to complete.

Information: Municipality of Sfakia

Photo by Tobias Mrzyk on Unsplash