Aradena Gorge

The Aradena Gorge is one of the most spectacular gorges in Sfakia, in southwest Crete. The gorge exit at Marmara beach is a few kilometers west of Loutro. The gorge reaches its narrowest point below the abandoned village of Aradena. Here the rock walls rise 138 m vertically at a width of 8 m at the bottom (25 m at the top). Just north of this point a paved mule track descends into the gorge, which was the only way to cross it until 1986. Since then a steel bridge crosses the gorge and connects Aradena with Anopoli, making the village accessible by road as well. For a few years now, the Aradena Gorge has also been accessible without major climbing sections; previously, it was necessary to climb via ladders and ropes. Now the crossing offers an unforgettable experience even for inexperienced hikers. Some smaller climbing sections still have to be mastered and the ladders are also still there but can be avoided.