Crete of the East: Hiking to the Gorges of Richtis

We started the hike from the top of the Gorge, you will follow a path that crosses several small vegetable gardens. The paths are lined with fig trees bursting with fruit. Pomegranates and orange trees are also visible in the private gardens! 🍊

The start of the hike really begins when you pass the magnificent 19th-century bridge. Don't hesitate to climb to the top of it, it offers a 360° panoramic view of the surroundings. From there, we follow the small stream of the gorge and enter a lush, shaded nature (which is very pleasant during high temperatures in summer).

Some basic infrastructure has been created to make crossing certain obstacles easier. Although the place is dreamy, hiking can be difficult in some areas: some elevation changes, tricky passages, some rocks to climb (sometimes with a rope), slippery areas with water on the stone. We advise you to wear good shoes that aren't afraid of getting wet and to be vigilant throughout the entire route.

At the 2/3 point of the hike, you will descend a beautiful wooden staircase that will take you to the foot of the Richtis Waterfall. This is the perfect place to pause, regain strength, and dip your feet (or more for the braver ones) in the cool water of the waterfall.

Once this well-deserved break is over, the final part of the hike is easier and less steep. At the end of the Gorge is Richtis Beach, a pebble beach with turquoise water. The perfect spot for snorkeling and relaxing after descending the Richtis Gorges. Some amenities have been made to enjoy your picnic in the shade of the trees and a drinking water fountain is available on site. You can also go to the Richtis Beach Canteen, the setting is incredible for eating.

⚠️ During our first visit, there was a lot of wind and the sea was rough. For safety, we did not swim; the waves were huge and hit the rocks violently!

For the return trip, we took the reverse route going upstream the entire river. The path is sporty uphill but it's easily done by respecting everyone's pace.

There are several ways to hike in the Gorges de Richtis.

The first option is the one we explained above. An alternative is to climb up the trail to the village of Exo Mouliana and enjoy the views of the Cretan Sea and the beach of Richtis. We discourage doing this in the summer because the road is in full sun, with traffic, and has a significant elevation change.

The hike can also be done from the beach parking lot, round trip. We recommend climbing to the 19th-century stone bridge before descending the entire gorge. This is an alternative we used on a second visit to the Gorges de Richtis. It's ideal because you can turn back whenever you want, and the return is downhill.

Other possibilities include coming in two cars (parking one at the top and one at the bottom) or hitchhiking to reach the village.

The easiest way to get to the Richtis Gorges is to come with your own vehicle. The track to the beach parking lot is just as beautiful as it is breathtaking. To start the hike from the top, there is a small dirt parking lot by the road. To do the alternative hike, from the bottom, you will need to park at the Richtis beach parking lot.

The Richtis Gorges are easily accessible by bus on the line connecting Sitia and Agios Nikolaos. You will need to get off the bus at the 'Exo Mouliana' stop, located in the small village above the Richtis Gorges.

The journey time is ± 20 minutes from Sitia and ± 1h10 from Agios Nikolaos.

We stayed during our stay in Crete at the Villa Skalaki. A private villa in the heart of the mountains outside the village of Sfaka and 10 minutes from the village of Mochlos (ideal for evenings by the sea🍹🌊). An ideal base to discover the wild beauty of Eastern Crete. The villa is located approximately 30 minutes by car from the Richtis Gorge.