Aradena Gorge & Loutro Village Tour From Plakias | Excursion to Aradena Gorge & Loutro Village

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The Aradena Gorge is one of the most spectacular gorges in West Crete and the walk through this natural wonder is a real experience!

Aradena is the site of the ancient Greek city that was called Aradin. It was a settlement in the Roman, Byzantine and Venetian period. Both Anopolis and Aradin were destroyed by the Ottoman Turks.

07:30 – 18:00

by bus

by boat

Tour start from Plakias

Starting from Plakias we drive along the south coast and passing the village of Anopolis we arrive at the bridge of Aradena on the white mountains,

The iron bridge over the Aradena Gorge was constructed by the family Vardinogiannis, one of the richest on Greece. It was constructed in 1986 and during summer months it is also used for bungee jumping!

This is the highest bridge for bungee in Greece (138 m) and the second in Europe.

Ruins of the ancient Aradin are to be found near the village of Aradena. Since the 1950s the village was abandoned.

The story is that two boys in the village had a fight over a goat bell, which ultimately resulted in a vendetta and the death of nearly all residents. The few people who survived moved to nearby Anopolis.

Gradually there are a number of descendants that claim their old property back and start to renovate some old houses!

We start the walk from the deserted village of Aradena and the imposing bridge over the gorge with incredible views into the gorge!

From Aradena you descend along a well preserved “Kalderimi” into the gorge. The part through the gorge is a real adventure with steep red coloured walls which end abruptly at Maramara Beach at the Libyan Sea.

The hike is similar to the Imbros gorge in total length of about 5 km. The difficulty level of Aradena is

about the same as Samaria gorge and it is just as much beautiful. After 3 hours of

walking we reach the exit of Aradena gorge at Marmara beach where we will have

about 1 hour for swimming and refreshment.

From Marmara we will take the boat to the picturesque and one of the most beautiful villages of Crete Loutro. In Loutro we will have about 2 hours time for rest and relax or having a lunch in this beautiful village.

After Loutro we will take the boat to Sfakia and return back to Plakias with our bus.

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