Kourtaliotiko Gorge — Attraction in Municipality of Agios Vasileios

Kourtaliotiko Gorge and its magnificent waterfalls provide an unforgettable adventure for nature enthusiasts. We booked a water hike down the river with Cretan Explorers, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. Our group of six decided to forgo wetsuits due to the hot weather, which made the initial plunge into the cold water even more refreshing.

Exploring the waterfalls was a highlight of the trip. The powerful cascades were breathtaking, and swimming in the pools below them was invigorating. A must-do is swimming into the cave behind one of the waterfalls—it's a magical experience. We highly recommend bringing a waterproof cover for your phone to capture these incredible moments. Fortunately, Cretan Explorers provided these for everyone in our group.

After our swim, we continued down the river for about two hours, taking small breaks along the way. The clear blue water was inviting, and we often dipped in to cool off. There were also several natural springs where we could drink fresh water, adding to the experience. The hike itself was not particularly strenuous, making it accessible to most people.

Our journey concluded at an old hippie establishment called Banana Garden. Here, we enjoyed cold smoothies, which were a perfect end to our adventure. The relaxed atmosphere and refreshing drinks were much appreciated after our time in the gorge.

Overall, this trip is a must-do for anyone visiting Plakias or nearby areas. Kourtaliotiko Gorge and its waterfalls are stunning, and the experience of hiking and swimming in such a beautiful natural setting is unforgettable. Cretan Explorers made the trip even better with their excellent service and thoughtful touches. We highly recommend this adventure and give it...

What an amazing experience to see this Gorge and swim up to the waterfalls. Make no mistake, the water is COLD. I’m Canadian and I truly mean it … it’s C O L D. I lost my breath on the first dip and it took me a good 10-min to be able to make the short swim to the actual falls. Most people could not do it. I’m serious - less than 10% of the people who make the descent to the water are not able to swim close to the falls.

If you go, try to bring a waterproof bag for your phone to take pictures but most of the pics we took were fogged up because of the temperature change water to air. Everything was fogged up.

The water is crystal clear and extremely refreshing but the closer you get to the falls, the colder it gets.

No tickets needed. You simply need to park a few hundred meters away from the entrance and walk down the stairs to the river bank.

This walk is not suited for people with any walking disability or injury or medical condition or any kind. The walk down is steep and can be slippery with nothing to hold on to. When you get to the bottom, you need to climb down a makeshift ladder to the river bank. It’s slippery, unstable and generally dangerous. The walk back up is exhausting and equally challenging with no assistance, handrails and uneven steps to overcome while navigating the people descending. Don’t visit here if you are not physically ready for...

Incredible experience! If you are planning to go there by the short route I say go for it, but for anyone that loves hiking and is a bit experienced I suggest going through the river starting from the bridge (After checking that the water levels are normal of course). You're going to need batons and perhaps waterproof bags (or bags that you don't care about( with water and sealed food. I suggest using a waterproof phone case/phone seal bag too. It is a surreal and calming experience with many interesting places next to the river where you can stop and relax for a bit and even have a swim while you're there. It's 3.5 kilometers but it's worth it, as you also get used to the water when walking through it, so when you reach the waterfall it's going to be easy to adjust to the temperature. I suggest that you take as many trails next to the river as possible and go next to the river instead of through the currents as it can be challenging and the water is filled with rocks underneath it, making it near impossible to advance. Truly a great experience, you might find small groups of people relaxing in certain spots next to the river where there's shadow and a light breeze. It took us about one and a half hour to make it I believe. Truly suggest it,...