Agiofarago and Matala are located in the south of the prefecture of Heraklion. The contrast between the two, makes this tour special. On one side the quiet, spiritual Agiofarago with its wild beauty and on the other, the noisy Matala with their hippie style!
Start with heading south, through the plain of Messara, to Agiofarago: the gorge of the Saints! The first stop is the traditional village of Siva. There, you could enjoy a drink or get the essentials for the rest of the day. A short distance from Siva is the Odigitria Monastery, where you will make a short stop. One of the most important monasteries in Crete, built in the 14th century. At this point, the road changes into a dirt road, which leads to the parking lot of Agiofarago and the entrance to it. From there on, continue on foot and follow the path crossing the gorge, to the beautiful beach and the Libyan Sea in about 30 minutes where you will enjoy swimming.
After your swim, we head to Matala. A small but crowded village, with a wonderful 300 m long sandy beach and crystal clear deep waters. The village became famous for the carved Roman tombs and the hippies of the '70s. Here you can have a swim at the beach and, later, lunch in a traditional local tavern.