Klados gorge

Klados gorge is the first one to the west of Samaria gorge. The path leading to its north entrance starts from the Linosseli pass west of peak Gigilos. The gorge it is not marked except by a few “domes” - piled up rocks - at the most dangerous points and it is evidently very infrequently crossed as the path is often blocked by bushes. A little before the entrance to the gorge there is a very dangerous spot (loose gravel on a steep slope) and a nine-hundred-meter precipice.

Crossing the gorge requires descending by rope in three different places (70, 25 and 15 metres deep), and when the snow melts in the spring there are cascades in these places too. Needless to say, before attempting to cross the gorge you should get a detailed weather forecast, because the sudden rainstorms create sweeping torrents, which in the narrow parts of the gorge may be as deep as fifteen meters! (Incidentally, almost the entire gorge is very narrow.)

On the other end of the gorge there is an amazing beach called Dhomata, where you can find water to drink by digging in the sand.

Thanks to the action of water, a unique natural monument has been created. The name Dhomata (meaning “roofs”) comes from the staggered arrangement of conglomerate rocks that remind of roofs. The vast quantities of pebbles and dirt that are brought here by the gorge, the perpetual undulation of the sea and the air have contributed to their creation. The very clean and beautiful-colored beach is covered with very fine and bright pebbles, while the pines of the canyon surround the beach.

To return to civilization, if there is no boat waiting for you in Dhomata, take the coast path that goes east and leads to Agia Roumeli (a three to four hour walk). The shores are very steep and the path climbs the mountain to a height of seven hundred metres. From Agia Roumeli you can take the boat to Chora Sfakion.