84 Pefki – Makrygialos

For the next part of the E4 trail that traverses Crete island, we follow the Pefki – Makrygialos route. The path descends south to reach the coastal settlement of Makrygialos through the stunning gorge of Pefki.

We start to walk along the narrow, picturesque alleys of the village of Pefki (1) and follow the asphalt road south-west of the village for approximately 250 m. We then turn left into a rough dirt road (2), which passes through an olive grove and then leads us to a footpath which passes next to an old watermill (3).

The unsurfaced road runs along the edge of the western wall of the gorge of Pefki for approximately 500 m; next, it turns right and descends to the bed of the gorge (4), which features exceptionally beautiful rock formations and dense vegetation. The natural scenery really shines during early spring in March and April, where the flowers and herbs spread their aroma and the temperatures are mild.

For approximately 1.000 m we follow the rough bed of the gorge and then come upon a dirt road (5), which we take in a southerly direction for about 1.300 m, to the settlement of Aspros Potamos (6). The village of Aspro Potamos (While River) is set at the exit of the canyon and has seen recent developers, especially in the area of eco-tourism. Traditional stone houses steeped in nature with views of the valley below welcome visitors that chose to relax and unwind here for the night.

After Aspros Potamos we cross the watercourse; the dirt road continues to run parallel to its eastern bank for approximately another 1.500m until it reaches the coastal settlement of Makrygialos (7). Makrygiallos is a remote harbour village with stunning sandy beaches and secluded coves that you can explore at your leisure. The route from Pefki takes approximately 2 hours depending on how often you rest or stop for photos.

Makrygialos is one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the region of Eastern Crete. Makrygialos beach or “Long Beach” as the locals call it is just one of the options in the area, you can also check out Lagoufa and Kalamokanias beach. A small Minoan villa that dates back to the 14th century BC has also been found in the area. In the center of the town you will also come across ruins of a Roman villa that were unearthed in 1977.