The Mountaineering Club of Heraklion is organising a beautiful excursion to the south of Crete on Sunday, 17 May 2026.

In its invitation, the club notes:

“At Kapetaniana, we descend by small trucks to the settlement of Agios Ioannis. According to archaeological findings, the site where the monastery of the same name stands today was once home to an ancient Asklepieion. The monastery’s frescoes and inscriptions, dating back to 1360, are also of particular interest.

After our guided tour of the monastery, we will begin our route heading west towards Salamia Beach, known for its many salt pans and beautiful caves. We will then pass by Vroulidia (or Vourlidia) Beach and continue to Katarti Beach, also known as the Cove of Love. The caves and steep cliffs surrounding this small bay are truly impressive.

After enjoying a swim, we will continue towards Trypiti Beach, where we will stop for another swim. Small trucks will then transfer us to Vasiliki, where we will board the bus for the return journey to Heraklion.”

Leader: Babis Christoulakis
Walking time: 7 hours
Difficulty level: 2

Departure time: 07:30 from the Archaeological Museum.