HIDDEN GEMS - RICHTIS GORGE for nature lovers!

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. The experience starts from Agios Nikolaos heading east with the Gulf of Mirabello on our left side. We go through Istron and the stunning beaches of Karavostasi, Agios Panteleimonas and Golden beach Voulisma and we arrive at the village of Kavousi.

   2 h

2. We continue uphill to the Minoan settlement of Azoria where the oldest olive tree in the world is located‼

   1 h

3. We descend to the mouth of the mindboggling Richtis Gorge. We follow an amazing trail within the gorge and we reach the falls of Richtis. Wonderful images that they worth the effort of walking along the trail, which leads to a pebbled beach. The hike is very easy even for young children.

   1 h

4. On our way back, we stroll around the alleys of the picturesque village of Tourloti, a small, traditional village, the largest of a group of four, dotted across the hillsides in this area. It has changed little in the past few decades and remains untouched by tourism.

   2 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 34 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Great experience. Greate guide.

  What a pleasant day. Nikos was a great guide with great English and German, among other languages. He was very knowledgeable about the flora and herbs. The trek was easy and very beautiful. The food at the end was very tasty. I am sorry that I didn't have any cash with me to leave a tip for Nikos. I think it would be good to suggest people bring cash because the Internet at the gorge wasn't reliable and I only had my card. This was a great experience. I highly recommend!!

  Gerry_MSeptember 2026via Viator

• 5Great Day

  Steffi was wonderful, hike is excellent and beautiful, food was delicious. If you are looking to experience something more than Crete’s beaches - this is a perfect tour.

  Anthony_SJuly 2026via Viator

• 5Terrific tour guide! Truly experienced the beauty & nature of Crete!

  We had a wonderful tour with Steffi! She was great and nice with our family of 3 boys! Her love for Crete and enthusiasm were contagious and made us fall in love with this beautiful island even more! She had water and snacks upon our pick up. We saw the most beautiful beach in Crete, the oldest olive tree, a fun hike along a gorge and waterfall plus a delicious lunch!!! The hike was the perfect length for our kids. The boys enjoyed jumping from rock to rock and Steffi guided us with fun & expertise! She even knew where the water snake lived and the boys enjoyed seeing the small (friendly) snake near the waterfall. Lunch was absolutely delicious! Homemade and authentic Greek food! The people we met along the way were nice & friendly! Steffi’s appreciation for Greek culture was contagious! We love Crete and cannot wait to visit again and book another tour! Highly recommend!!!

  alexandrasI7571BRJuly 2026via Tripadvisor

• 4It did not go as expected, but the guide was excellent

  There were quite a few things that could have been better about this trip: 1) The pick-up was 45 minutes late. They did not proactively contact me about this. I called them several times for updates. 2) The vehicle (a regular car) did not feature branding or have anything official looking about it. As a solo female traveller, I didn't feel particularly safe getting in the car. 3) Everyone else on the tour was from one family. This is, of course, understandable, but the guide left us to have lunch without him. It felt a bit uncomfortable to sit having lunch as a solo traveller with a family I'd just met. This was particularly the case as we did not speak the same language. 4) The gorge (the focus of the trip) was closed. This meant we had travelled for 90 minutes and then had to leave. This was really disappointing. It couldn't have been helped by the guide; however, there should be a process in place whereby the company contacts the organisation that manages the destination to ascertain whether it's open. The gorge wasn't accessible due to the rain the night before; it was closed for safety reasons. Therefore, it wasn't a complete surprise. In future, if there is any reason it might be closed, it would be sensible to check prior to travelling. However, the guide was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and passionate about this home country. He was also very responsive to the challenges posed (the gorge being closed) and came up with an alternative plan. The guide is the reason I am giving 4 stars. If he wasn't as good, it would have either been 2 or 3 stars. Overall, it was not worth the money.

  Sian_TOctober 2025via Viator

• 5Unforgettable excursion

  Beautiful trip, with very friendly and local guide (Panos) who knew all the ins and outs of Crete and the trip of course He was so good, I booked a second trip with them, the plateau villages, also great. He deserves a raise Richard

  richarddX3373WSSeptember 2025via Tripadvisor

• 5Unforgettable Day Exploring Crete’s Nature with Nikos!

  Fantastic Richtis Gorge Tour with Nikos! We loved this SUV tour from Agios Nikolaos — it was the perfect way to see Crete’s nature without any stress. Nikos picked us up in a comfy Land Rover Discovery and shared interesting local stories as we passed tiny villages and amazing coastal views. The hike through Richtis Gorge was beautiful and easy enough for our kids (7 and 10). The waterfall is stunning, and the hidden pebble beach at the end was a peaceful surprise — bring swim stuff if you want to dip in! Lunch at a local taverna was delicious — simple, fresh Greek food that hit the spot after the hike. Tips: Wear good shoes (not flip-flops!), bring water and snacks. The drive back was a bit long but worth it for such an authentic day out. We’d 100% recommend this if you want a real slice of Crete with a friendly local guide. Thanks, Nikos!

  seregaslashJuly 2025via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in Agios Nikolaos

• Its from-price is 53% below the median of the 47 experiences we list in Agios Nikolaos.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 13 of 47.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos is a harbour town on Crete's Gulf of Mirabello, built around a small round lake and a ring of cafés, with Spinalonga island nearby.

Agios Nikolaos wraps around a hillside above Mirabello Bay in eastern Crete. At its heart is Lake Voulismeni, a small, almost circular pool linked to the harbour by a narrow channel and ringed by cafés and tavernas. Fishing boats and yachts fill the marina, and the town's small beaches, folk museum and archaeological museum lie within a short walk.

Top-ranked sights in Agios Nikolaos: Spinalonga, Katharo Plateau, Mirabello Bay.

See all 47 experiences in Agios Nikolaos