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The mountainous region Sfakia of in the south-east of the island of Crete in Greece., located in the Chania region.
The area is made up of rugged rocky mountains and gorges, steep hills and valleys and a steep, cragged coastline to the south.
Known for its proud and fiercely independent people, this is a heartland of Crete, with a tremendous history.
To get to Χώρα Σφακίων (right), travel from Chania town to the small leafy village of Vrises, then to the high Plateau of Askifou ringed by the White Mountains, then on through spectacular mountain and gorge landscapes as the road travels along the Imbros Gorge, then south to the town. The total journey is 70 km but it can take as long as you like, with plenty of stops to admire the views and take in the fresh mountain air.
This region is for sure-footed sheep, mountain goats and shepherds, it is very rugged, inhospitable and sparsely populated, the beaches in the south are inaccessible, the steep mountains plunge straight down into the sea.
Because of its fierce and impenetrable landscape, throughout history the region has been the sanctuary for rebel fighters and allied armies alike.
For four hundred years Crete was occupied by the Ottomans, however if you speak to a local they will remind you, that these people never capitulated to either the Venetian or Ottoman rulers, and mounted many rebel armies to fight for their independence during countless campaigns against them.
The most notorious rebel leader was Ioannis Vlachos, known as Daskalogiannis, born in the village of Anopolis, who mobilised the locals against the Turks in 1770. Without the promised outside help, the local forces were driven to surrender.
Daskalogiannis was skinned and hanged in proud silence in Heraklion in 1771, becoming a most remembered son of Crete. A memorial statue to the hero can be seen in his village of Anopolis, in the mountains.
During the second world war, many British and Australian troops owed their lives to the Sfakians, who helped them through the mountains, away from the fighting and to the southern beaches where they were evacuated by ship to Egypt.
In today's more peaceful times, the fierce independence still lingers, however visitors will be safe to visit the Σφακιά region, and especially enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountains and the remoteness of the beaches. Just don't insult anybody's mother in a hurry! Keep your respect for these mountain people and they will keep theirs for you.
Hikers love the vast and expansive scenery, whilst enjoying the many different ecosystems in the island of Crete, perhaps taking the 320 km trek along the European Walking Path E4, which passes through the White Mountains and this region.
Peter Trudgill is a long time visitor and lover of Sfakia who has written a book about his experiences, named "In Σφακιά – Passing Time in the Wilds of Crete".
Frangokastello, now a sleepy beachside village, was once a strategic defence location for the Venetians, who constructed a fort on its low lying peninsula. The fort was taken into many hands throughout the history of Crete, and now lies in ruins; a fascinating reminder of times past.
The intrigue of the castle at Frangokastello is deepened by the local stories of ghost sightings at a certain time of year.
Loutro Village, (above) is a tiny seaside village of Sfakia accessible only by hiking or by boat.
More on the Samaria Gorge Walk here.
The gorge walk can end or start at the small village of Agia Roumeli.
You can walk the gorge independently, if you have a bit more time. To take the bus to this region from Chania, you need to change at Vrisses, buy a ticket in the kafenion, there are only a few local buses to Chora Sfakion so check the timetable carefully.
More day trips to Samaria below - with all the transport and logistics taken care of:
A shorter walk than Samaria, this lesser known canyon is just as beautiful. Take a hike downhill over rocks and between steep cliffs. Imbros Gorge walk is 8 km and runs from the village of Imbros, south of the Askifou Plateau, to the village of Komitades, near the south coast.
Make the trek independently or choose a local guided experience, below.
Imbros Gorge and Frangokastello Beach - this is a delightful day of contrasts exploring Sfakia in nature. Take the walk with an experienced guide, relax at tavernas for lunch, then swim in crystal clear waters at Frangokastello, visit the 'haunted' castle. 11 hours.
Many visitors come to Sfakia to take the south coast ferry to the small inaccessible beaches and villages that dot the coastline, or to take the ferry to the island of Gavdos.
The south coast ferry is run by Anendyk SA - see timetable information below.
Below we suggest some accommodation in the Sfakia area:
In Chora Sfakion you can stay the night before or after your ferry ride to the southern beaches. The Livikon Hotel is handy to the centre of the village and the port, with its own taverna by the bay.
In Frangokastello we suggest the small, basic and affordable Flisvos Rooms right by the water. Pad back and forth to the water for your relaxing summer holiday.
In Loutro we suggest Villa Niki just a little back from the water with views from the balcony rooms, quiet with a garden, away from the tavernas, yet very close to wander around this magical village.
In Agia Roumeli, find a simple comfortable place to stay at Pachnes B&B, a little back from the main street, quiet and small.
Once you are in Sfakia, try the local 'pies', delicious thin pancakes, with local cheese and mountain honey.
At the Dourountakis Bakery in Chora Sfakion you will find these local specialties and those who are crazy about them. Warning they can be addictive.
Try 'Sfakiano lamb' local lamb, mizithra cheese, fresh caught seafood and 'Cretan salad' or dakos. Get ready to taste local olive oil. Try mezedes or little plates - of everything! Try the local wild greens - horta - including stamnagathi. Ask for 'dopio fagito' or local food.
A very proud local speciality for food lovers is the Sfakiano giahni Σφακιανό Γιαχνί - slow cooked kid.
Don't forget to try one of the local delicacies - Snails in Rosemary - here called Chochlious boubouristous Xοχλιούς μπουμπουριστούς.
Below is a beautiful video of the region...including the Lefka Ori, much of the beautiful scenery and wildlife of the region, such as the gorges, caves, wildflowers, the Omalos Plateau and more.
Here you will see the cooking of Snails in Rosemary
Eftikis the Happy Traveller shows us around Sfakia
Chapel on Agios Pavlos beach
Or take a 9.5 hour overnight ferry from Pireaus port of Athens to Heraklion port.
More on flights and ferries below.
Car hire in Crete is a really good idea as it is a large island 60 km by 260 km. There is so much to explore.
When you book with our car rental partners - Rental Centre Crete - you are supporting a local company with excellent service and easy online booking. We are sure you will be well looked after by the team. Choose from hybrid, electric or regular vehicles.
"We trust you have enjoyed these tips from the team at We Love Crete. Evíva!"
with further questions or feedback. We love to hear about your travels
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Ukurasa huu unaweza kuwa na viungo vya washirika, angalia disclaimer yetu hapa. Mkoa wa Mlima wa Sfakia ni eneo la kusini mashariki mwa kisiwa cha Krete, Ugiriki. Eneo hilo lina milima na mabonde yenye miamba, vilima na mabonde yenye mwinuko, na pwani yenye mwinuko upande wa kusini. Kisiwa hicho kinajulikana kwa watu wake wenye kiburi na wenye kujitegemea sana, na ni sehemu ya katikati ya Krete, yenye historia yenye kustaajabisha. Ili kufika Chania, kusafiri kutoka mji Chania kwa kijiji kidogo leafy ya Vrises, kisha kwa Plateau ya Askifou, kuzungukwa na Milima ya White, kisha kupitia spectacular milima na maporomoko ya mandhari kama barabara kusafiri kando Imbros Gorge, kisha kusini kwa mji. Safari ni ya kilomita 70 lakini inaweza kuchukua muda mrefu kama unataka, na mengi ya kuacha kwa admire maoni na kuchukua katika hewa safi ya mlima. Eneo hili ni kwa ajili ya kondoo wenye miguu thabiti, mbuzi wa milimani na wachungaji, ni ngumu sana, ni mbaya na ina watu wachache, fukwe za kusini haziwezi kufikiwa, milima mikali huanguka moja kwa moja ndani ya bahari. Kwa sababu ya mazingira yake magumu na yasiyoweza kuvunjwa, katika historia yote eneo hilo limekuwa mahali patakatifu pa wapiganaji wa waasi na majeshi ya washirika. Kwa miaka mia nne, Krete ilishikiliwa na Waotomani, lakini ikiwa utazungumza na wenyeji, watakukumbusha kwamba watu hawa hawakuwahi kujisalimisha kwa watawala wa Venetian au Ottoman, na walianzisha majeshi mengi ya waasi kupigania uhuru wao wakati wa kampeni nyingi dhidi yao. "Mmoja wa viongozi wa uasi wa kwanza wa Uturuki alikuwa Ioannis Vlachos, ""Daskaloughiannis"" (mzaliwa wa Anapolis), ambaye alianzisha mapigano dhidi ya Uturuki mwaka 1770." Bila msaada wa nje uliokuwa umeahidiwa, majeshi ya mahali hapo yalilazimika kujisalimisha. Daskalogiannis alikatwa ngozi na kunyongwa mwaka 1771 huko Heraklion, na akawa mwana mashuhuri wa Krete. Sanamu ya ukumbusho ya shujaa huyo yaweza kuonekana katika kijiji chake cha Anopolis, milimani. Wakati wa vita vya pili vya dunia, askari wengi wa Uingereza na Australia waliwajibika kwa maisha yao kwa Sphakans, ambao waliwasaidia kupitia milima, mbali na mapigano na pwani za kusini ambapo walihamishwa kwa meli kwenda Misri. Katika nyakati za leo za amani zaidi, uhuru mkali bado unabaki, hata hivyo wageni watakuwa salama kutembelea mkoa wa Sfaxia, na haswa kufurahia amani na utulivu wa milima na ukosefu wa pwani. Tu si kudharau mama ya mtu yeyote katika haraka! Weka heshima yako kwa watu hawa wa milimani na wao wataweka yao kwa ajili yako. Kwa wale wanaopenda kutembea, na pia wale wanaopenda kuona mazingira ya Krete, unaweza kutembea kwa njia ya E4 ambayo hupita kwenye milima ya White Mountains. Peter Trudgill ni mgeni wa muda mrefu na mpenzi wa Sfakia ambaye ameandika kitabu kuhusu uzoefu wake, aitwaye "In Sfakia <unk> Kupita Wakati katika Wilds ya Krete". Frangocastello, sasa kijiji cha pwani cha kulala, wakati mmoja ilikuwa eneo la ulinzi wa kimkakati kwa Waveni, ambao walijenga ngome kwenye peninsula yake ya chini. Ngome hiyo ilichukuliwa na watu wengi katika historia yote ya Krete, na sasa iko katika magofu; kikumbusho chenye kuvutia cha nyakati zilizopita. Ujanja wa ngome ya Frangokastello unazidishwa na hadithi za mahali hapo za kuona roho wakati fulani wa mwaka. Kijiji cha Loutro, (juu) ni kijiji kidogo cha pwani cha Sfakia kinachoweza kufikiwa tu kwa kutembea kwa miguu au kwa mashua. Zaidi juu ya Samaria Gorge Walk hapa. Matembezi ya kwenye bonde hilo yanaweza kumalizika au kuanza katika kijiji kidogo cha Agia Roumeli. Unaweza kutembea katika bonde hilo kwa kujitegemea, ikiwa una muda zaidi. Kwa hivyo, kwa sababu ya kuwa na bus ya Chania, unaweza kupata safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari. Safari za siku moja za Samaria hapa chini - na usafirishaji wote na vifaa vilivyotunzwa: Kutembea fupi kuliko Samaria, bonde hili lisilojulikana ni nzuri kama hiyo. Nenda chini juu ya miamba na kati ya miamba mirefu. Mbio ya Imbros Gorge ni kilomita 8 na inaanzia kijiji cha Imbros, kusini mwa Askifou Plateau, hadi kijiji cha Kometades, karibu na pwani ya kusini. Fanya safari hiyo kwa kujitegemea au chagua uzoefu wa kuongozwa wa ndani, hapa chini. Imbros Gorge na Frangokastello Beach - hii ni siku ya kupendeza ya tofauti ya kuchunguza Sfakia katika asili. Kutembea na mwongozo wa uzoefu, kupumzika katika tavernas kwa chakula cha mchana, kisha kuogelea katika maji safi ya kioo katika Frangokastello, kutembelea 'haunted' ngome. Saa kumi na moja. Wageni wengi huja Sfakia kuchukua kivuko cha pwani ya kusini kwenda kwenye fukwe ndogo zisizoweza kufikiwa na vijiji ambavyo viko kwenye pwani, au kuchukua kivuko kwenda kisiwa cha Gavdos. South pwani kivuko ni kuendeshwa na Anendyk SA - angalia habari ratiba chini. Chora Sfakion ni mji wa kusini mwa Ugiriki, na unaweza kukaa usiku mmoja kabla au baada ya safari yako ya kivuko kwenda pwani za kusini. Livikon Hotel ni rahisi kwa kituo cha kijiji na bandari, na taverna yake mwenyewe na ghuba. Katika Frangokastello tunapendekeza vyumba vidogo, vya msingi na vya bei nafuu vya Flisvos karibu na maji. Pata maji ya kutosha kwa ajili ya likizo yako ya majira ya joto. Villa Niki ni moja ya nyumba za kifahari za kitamaduni za Italia, na ina mandhari ya kupendeza na bustani ya bustani, mbali na tavernas, lakini karibu sana na kijiji hiki cha kichawi. Agia Romili ni hoteli ya kawaida ya Pachnes B&B, ambayo ni karibu na barabara kuu. Mara baada ya kuwa katika Sfakia, kujaribu 'pie' za mahali hapo, pancakes nyembamba ladha, na jibini ya ndani na asali mlima. Katika Dourountakis Bakery katika Chora Sfakion utapata hizi maalum za ndani na wale ambao ni wazimu juu yao. Onyo wanaweza kuwa addictive. Jaribu 'Sfakiano kondoo' kondoo wa ndani, mizithra jibini, chakula cha baharini freshly hawakupata na 'Cretan saladi' au dakos. Jitayarishe kuonja mafuta ya zeituni ya mahali hapo. Jaribu mezedes au sahani ndogo - za kila kitu! Jaribu mboga za mwituni za mahali hapo - horta - kutia ndani stamnagathi. Uliza kwa ajili ya 'dopio fagito' au chakula cha mahali hapo. Ubora wa kienyeji unaojivunia sana kwa wapenzi wa chakula ni Sfakiano giahni Σφακιανό Γιαχνί - mtoto aliyechomwa polepole. Usisahau kujaribu moja ya delicacies za ndani - Snails katika Rosemary - hapa aitwaye Chochlious boubouristous Xοχλιούς μπουμπουριστούς. Sehemu ya pili ya video hii ni ya eneo la Lefkada, pamoja na mandhari nzuri na wanyama wa porini wa eneo hilo, kama vile maporomoko, mapango, maua ya mwituni, Mlima wa Omalos na zaidi. "Kama unavyoona, ""Slim"" ni jina la kihistoria la kihistoria la Kifaransa, na ni jina la kihistoria la Kifaransa, ambalo linatokana na safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari ya safari." Zaidi juu ya ndege na feri chini. Mji wa Krete ni kisiwa kikubwa sana, na ni karibu kilomita 60 kwa kilomita 260. Kuna mambo mengi sana ya kuchunguza. Unapoweka na washirika wetu wa kukodisha magari - Kituo cha Kukodisha Krete - unaunga mkono kampuni ya ndani na huduma bora na uhifadhi rahisi mtandaoni. Tuna hakika kwamba utachukuliwa vizuri na timu. Chagua kutoka kwa magari ya hybrid, umeme au ya kawaida. "Tunaamini umefurahia vidokezo hivi kutoka kwa timu ya We Love Crete. Evíva!" Kwa maswali zaidi au maoni. Tunapenda kusikia juu ya safari zako huko Kriti na Ugiriki. Tuambie juu ya updates yoyote au nyongeza, makosa au makosa. Tusaidie kufanya tovuti hii iwe bora iwezekanavyo. Kaló Taxidí!