Agia Irini Gorge is a rocky gorge that is very popular for leisurely nature hiking in a peaceful landscape with various types of plants and animals. Its northern entrance is 46 kilometers away from Chania and it is very close to the village of Agia Irini.
The gorge is part of the European path E4, it is 7.5 kilometers long and its crossing takes 3 hours. It has been designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary, as the Cretan Ibex (kri-kri) and many other species of fauna find refuge there. The gorge, itself, is a wooded valley with Cypresses, Pines, Maples, Plane trees and aromatic plants such as holly, Quercus Cocciferal.
A little before the middle of the route, at the location of Mikra Spitakia, a path begins that leads to the plateau of Omalos and used to serve as an escape route for the rebels, during the Turkish occupation. Inside the gorge, there are, also, Byzantine churches and the remains of ancient cities, Elyros, Lissos, etc.
The Agia Irini gorge is the second most visited gorge in Crete after the Samaria gorge. Comparing the two gorges, the Agia Irini gorge is smaller and shorter, the descent is only 500 meters, while in Samaria, 1250 meters, it is open all year round, Samaria from May to October, and most of it is shady.
There are many ways for a visitor to go to the gorge. If they have a car, they can leave it, at a parking spot, at the northern entrance of the gorge, descent the gorge and at 6:00 p.m. take the bus to Agia Irini from Sougia to pick up their car. There are also taxis from Sougia. The visitors can also leave their car at the southern entrance, 4.5 kilometers from Sougia, walk inside the gorge, as long as they like, and come back again or climb the entire gorge and take the bus from Agia Irini to Sougia on 14 :45 p.m. From Sougia, they can also take the bus to Agia Irini at 7:00 in the morning. The ticket for the gorge, costs €2, it is symbolic, and the money is used for the maintenance of the paths and the cleanliness of the area.
It is worth visiting the gorge because it is very beautiful, easy to cross and, in many places, spectacular.
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