Begin your adventure with a visit to the Agia Triada Monastery, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved monasteries in Crete. Surrounded by olive groves, it impresses with its Venetian architecture, peaceful atmosphere, and high-quality monastery products.

Next, take a short drive through the mountains to the Gouverneto Monastery. After a short walk, visit the “bear” cave.

From here, choose between two options. Hiking enthusiasts can hike further down to the bottom of the Alavi Gorge, to the spectacularly situated, abandoned Katholiko Monastery. The walk down to this monastery from Gouverneto and back, including some steep steps, will take around 2-2.5 hours.

Alternatively, those who do not wish to hike can walk slowly back up and visit the Gouverneto Monastery.

Meet back at the parking at Gouverneto Monastery, from where you drive to the beautiful Stavros Beach, known from the movie “Zorba the Greek.” Enjoy a perfect place for lunch, where the gently sloping sandy beach with crystal-clear water invites you to swim, sunbathe, or enjoy a leisurely coffee right by the sea.