Sougia - Lissos
near Soúgia, Crete (Greece)
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Trail photos
Itinerary description
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.
Waypoints
Fork
Abandon the path and take left. There is no path, but the terrain is easy, although full of bushes.
Panoramic point
This is perhaps the most striking spot of the detour from the classical path.
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.
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.
Paralia
Although the main interest of Lissos is an archaeological one, one could come here just for the beauty of its beach.
Path from beach to Lissos
Lissos
The point where the detour to the beach forks from the main E4 path. There are some cisterns in the vicinity.
Asklepeion
Ruins of a temple, with a wonderful mosaic and with inscriptions carved on stones.
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Comments (4)
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the time is real? or with stops... we are thinking in do it, but there are many hours... Thanks!
All stops are included! Probably also a swim is included. Walking should be 4-5 hours.
Cheers, Alberto.
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.....
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.