Lassithi Kato Zakros

Location: Kato Zakros

Located on the foothills of Mount Traostalos, the Pelekita Cave is one of the most remarkable caves in eastern Crete. With a maximum length of 310 meters and rich mineral formations, it is a truly awe-inspiring natural landmark that hiking enthusiasts will find absolutely rewarding.

The cave covers a surface of at least 500 square meters and is divided into a series of large rooms with towering columns and massive boulders. Access from one hall to another is possible through a series of natural sloping corridors that reach an overall length of 700 meters. The biggest of the halls is 100 meters long and 15 meters high, with cascades of stalactites and huge stalagmites, some of which are 3 meters in diameter! At the very end of the cave, there is a small lake, which is all that remains of the subterranean river that used to flow through the cavern.

To reach Pelekita Cave, visitors will need to walk for about an hour from the settlement of Zakros or approach the area by boat and only hike for about 15 minutes. The route that starts at the organized beach of Kato Zakros is part of the E4 European long-distance trail, passes by the Pelekita Cave, and continues towards the lovely Karoumes Beach and the Chochlakies Gorge.

Visitors will need to be equipped with a torch and watch their footing as some parts of the corridors are slippery. It is also good to bear in mind that after the largest hall, the path is rough and often requires some climbing while proceeding any further after the lake is highly dangerous and should not be attempted.