The Gorge of Aradena and Anopoli, reason to travel inland. The road from Hora Sfakion to Anopoli will give you an incredible view of the Libyan Sea. And be sure to stop at one of the area’s bakeries to sample the semi-sweet biscuits, or rusks with star anise one of the most interesting delicacies in Crete.
From Anopoli’s main square you’ll continue on to Agia Aikaterini and the remains of the Cyclopean walls that once surrounded the city, taking in the panoramic vista of Loutro and the open sea. From here is the street to the Gorge of Aradaina and Aradaina Bridge. Who would imagine that in this secluded corner of Crete you’d find the tallest bridge for bungee jumping in Greece, and the second tallest in Europe? It unites the two edges of the Aradaina gorge and has a height of 138 m this is making ideal not only for sightseeing or hiking but for extreme too.
Aradena is one of the most interesting gorges and one of the longest ones (15 km long). The old Sfakians called it Faragas (Huge gorge) due to its size, to discern it from the rest gorges of Sfakia. This characterization was later falsely used for Samaria Gorge. The gorge actually starts from the root of the peak Thodoris of White Mounts, and specifically from the underground stream of cave Drakolakki. However, most people think that it is only 7 km long, because the easiest way is to reach it from Aradena village, at the middle of the gorge length.
In order to reach it from Chora Sfakion, you walk the carriageway up to the mountain village of Anopoli (12 km, at an altitude of 600 m), built on the southern side of the foot of the White Mountains. You then walk another 3,5 km to reach the village of Aradena (at an altitude of 520 m), built on the brink of the gorge and deserted after a vendetta. The ancient city of Aradin used to be there.
An iron bridge over a vertiginous precipice unites both sides of the gorge, constructed by the family Vardinogiannis, one of the richest on Greece, over a dizzying precipice, to unite the two sides of Aradena gorge. This is the bridge from where visitors can make jumps with bungee in 138 m down! This is the highest bridge for bungee in Greece and the second in Europe.
Before the bridge, on your right hand-side, you will find an old stone path once leading to Aradena gorge bed next to the scenic chapel of Astratigos (Michael Archangel). You walk from there down to the bottom of the gorge and then on a slightly rough ground to its end in the Libyan Sea for 2,30 hours. At the end of the gorge, on the very clean gravel beach of Gialeskari, widely known as Marmara, you can enjoy an unforgettable swim.
Information. Difficulty level – difficult. Distance – 15 km. Accessible pre arrange.
