Waterfall Gorge

Lore & Background

The name 'Richtis' in the Cretan dialect means 'waterfall'. The gorge is a state protected park near Exo Mouliana, Sitia, eastern Crete. It starts at the traditional village Exo Mouliana, which is located on the national road between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia, and ends at the secluded Richtis beach, just east of the village Kalavros. The hiking trail is about 4 km in length. Elevation difference between the starting point and the beach is about 350 meters. Along the way, hikers can observe rich vegetation (mainly platanus trees, wild berries and local flowers and herbs) and animal life (mainly local species of butterflies, small reptiles, birds and small mammals), as well as old stone bridges and water mills before it culminates with the Richtis Waterfall and beach.

In Their Own Story

Hikers have several options for exploring the gorge. One option is to walk down the gorge and return to the village the same way via the gorge, taking about 5 hours total. If with a car, parking at Lachana bridge and starting the descent from there will save about 20 minutes walking each way. Another option is to walk down the road to the beach and walk up the gorge back to the village, taking about 4 hours total. The opposite (down the gorge and up the road) is not recommended on a sunny day because the road is not shaded and you will be walking uphill and under the sun, while the gorge is almost entirely shaded. A third option is to drive to the beach (15 minutes) and walk the gorge until the waterfall (about 1/3 of the total length of the gorge), return to the beach and drive back to the village (the 'lazy' way, about 2.5 hours total). A fourth option is to drive 2 cars to the beach, drive back with one car, walk down the gorge and drive back to the village with the other car (about 4 hours total). Alternatively, arrange with someone to pick you up from the beach and drive you to the village. Times are given with the assumption that the gorge is walked at very slow pace and with at least one stop.

Reader's Guide

The hiking trail is about 4 km in length of moderate (spring/summer/autumn) to hard (winter) difficulty. Elevation difference between the starting point and the beach is about 350 meters. Rich vegetation (mainly platanus trees, wild berries and local flowers and herbs) and animal life (mainly local species of butterflies, small reptiles, birds and small mammals) can be observed along the way, as well as old stone bridges and water mills before it culminates with the Richtis Waterfall and beach. For those driving, parking at Lachana bridge and starting the descent from there will save about 20 minutes walking each way. The road to the beach is not shaded, so walking uphill under the sun is not recommended on a sunny day; the gorge itself is almost entirely shaded. Driving to the beach takes about 15 minutes. The gorge is walked at very slow pace and with at least one stop for the given time estimates.

Did You Know?

• Richtis Gorge is a state protected park near Exo Mouliana, Sitia, eastern Crete.
• The name 'Richtis' in the Cretan dialect means 'waterfall'.
• The hiking trail is about 4 km in length with an elevation difference of about 350 meters.
• The gorge ends at the secluded Richtis beach, just east of the village Kalavros.
• Along the trail you can see old stone bridges and water mills before reaching the Richtis Waterfall and beach.