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Sougia - Lissos

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Photo ofSougia - Lissos Photo ofSougia - Lissos Photo ofSougia - Lissos

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Trail stats

Distance
4.16 mi
Elevation gain
1,358 ft
Technical difficulty
Moderate
Elevation loss
1,358 ft
Max elevation
545 ft
TrailRank 
75 5
Min elevation
-32 ft
Trail type
Loop
Time
7 hours 50 minutes
Coordinates
874
Uploaded
May 27, 2018
Recorded
July 2015
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  •   5 1 review

near Soúgia, Crete (Greece)

Viewed 7688 times, downloaded 184 times

Trail photos

Photo ofSougia - Lissos Photo ofSougia - Lissos Photo ofSougia - Lissos

Itinerary description

The archaeological site of Lissos can be reached both from Paleohora - Gialiskari (longer) or from Sougia (shorter) following the E4 path along the coast.
From Sougia the hike is very characteristic since it first follows a gorge, and then crosses a panoramic plateau, before plunging down to Lissos.
Here I propose a more adventurous and panoramic variation on this: my track abandons the marked path as soon as the plateau is reached, pointing directly to its SSE corner. Overcoming some rock steps, which need some care but do not oppose any substantial difficulty, it then descends obliquely to the coast, which is reached not far from the little beach of Lissos.
The photographic documentation mixes material of 2011, when I was coming from Paleohora directed to Sougia - Lefka Ori, and 2015, when I was performing just a round trip from Sougia. The Gps track was recorded in 2015.

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Waypoints

PictographMooring point Altitude 68 ft
Photo ofSougia harbour Photo ofSougia harbour Photo ofSougia harbour

Sougia harbour

PictographWaypoint Altitude -3 ft
Photo ofStart of gorge Photo ofStart of gorge Photo ofStart of gorge

Start of gorge

PictographWaypoint Altitude 250 ft
Photo ofGorge Photo ofGorge Photo ofGorge

Gorge

PictographWaypoint Altitude 330 ft
Photo ofExit from gorge Photo ofExit from gorge Photo ofExit from gorge

Exit from gorge

Very quick and easy, since the gorge is not deep at this point.

PictographIntersection Altitude 511 ft
Photo ofFork Photo ofFork

Fork

Abandon the path and take left. There is no path, but the terrain is easy, although full of bushes.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 370 ft
Photo ofRock step Photo ofRock step Photo ofRock step

Rock step

PictographPanorama Altitude 337 ft
Photo ofPanoramic point

Panoramic point

This is perhaps the most striking spot of the detour from the classical path.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 151 ft
Photo ofBand and second step Photo ofBand and second step

Band and second step

PictographWaypoint Altitude -2 ft
Photo ofSea level Photo ofSea level Photo ofSea level

Sea level

After first touching the shore, one has to overcome a last stretch of rocks before the apparition of the Panagia, followed by the wonderful beach of Lissos.

Photo ofPanagia Photo ofPanagia Photo ofPanagia

Panagia

This little church is not far from the beach, but coming from Lissos you can miss it if you do not know that it is there.

PictographBeach Altitude -16 ft
Photo ofParalia Photo ofParalia Photo ofParalia

Paralia

Although the main interest of Lissos is an archaeological one, one could come here just for the beauty of its beach.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 5 ft

Path from beach to Lissos

PictographWaypoint Altitude 35 ft
Photo ofLissos

Lissos

The point where the detour to the beach forks from the main E4 path. There are some cisterns in the vicinity.

Photo ofAgios Kyriakos Photo ofAgios Kyriakos Photo ofAgios Kyriakos

Agios Kyriakos

PictographWaypoint Altitude 58 ft
Photo ofPlace in shadow Photo ofPlace in shadow Photo ofPlace in shadow

Place in shadow

Photo ofAsklepeion Photo ofAsklepeion Photo ofAsklepeion

Asklepeion

Ruins of a temple, with a wonderful mosaic and with inscriptions carved on stones.

PictographWaypoint Altitude 101 ft
Photo ofView on temple Photo ofView on temple Photo ofView on temple

View on temple

PictographWaypoint Altitude 297 ft

Switchbacks

PictographPanorama Altitude 410 ft
Photo ofPlateau Photo ofPlateau Photo ofPlateau

Plateau

The point where the switchbacks reach the plateau is of course panoramic.

Comments  (4)

  • Photo of Alvaro sin más
    Alvaro sin más Aug 7, 2018

     

    the time is real? or with stops... we are thinking in do it, but there are many hours... Thanks!

  • Photo of Alberto Pedrotti
    Alberto Pedrotti Aug 7, 2018

    All stops are included! Probably also a swim is included. Walking should be 4-5 hours.
    Cheers, Alberto.

  • Photo of Deric Lima
    Deric Lima Oct 22, 2022

    I tried this track today and I couldn't finish it. Hiking through the rocks was a bit hard, no problems. However we reached a spot where it was impossible to continue or walk around due to a huge rock that ends in the sea. On the other side was a big vegetation covering any possible to continue. Not satisfied I went back and tried a different spot, going away from the sea but still close to the rocks, not possible.
    After 45 mins trying different ways to pass through we gave up, it was too dangerous.....

  • Photo of Alberto Pedrotti
    Alberto Pedrotti Oct 22, 2022

    Indeed, since my track is seven years old, maybe that in some places the conditions have changed: especially concerning the vegetation, in view also of the different season.

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