Spiliotissa gorge

Spiliotissa gorge is located about 24km south of Heraklion. Starting from Houdetsi, where you can park in the village, crosses Agios Vasilios, and ends in the valley of Peza. The best part of it is that between Houdetsi and Agios Vasilios (1.5km long).

The trail passes through dense vegetation and orange and olive groves, watered by the creek.

In the first few meters of the route you will meet the two Byzantine churches of St. John the Baptist and St. Anthony, and two watermills formerly used for grinding grain. After 500m, there is the historic Sinai Monastery of Panagia Spiliotissa, from where the canyon gets its name. After a brief tour in the small monastery with the cavernous church, you continue into the heart of the lush canyon, till Agios Vasilios. From there you can walk back to Houdetsi.