Kato Zakros Village and Beaches

The village of Kato Zakros...Κάτω Ζάκρος is located on the south-east coast of Crete in Greece, 42 kms from the town of Sitia in Lasithi provence.
The small hamlet, whose name means 'lower Zakros', sits by the beach. Inland is the beautiful and rugged Zakros George also known as The Gorge of the Dead - Faragi ton Nekron - Φαράγγι των Νεκρών , which leads to Zakros village, a farming community 7 kms to the north.
The ancient Minoan site of Zakros Palace, dating from 1900 BC, is nestled behind the village and contributes to its protected status, keeping new development minimal. Important artefacts from this site include the beautiful rock crystal vase and bull's head rhyton displayed at the archaeological museum in Heraklion.
A hideaway from the hustle and bustle, this village embodies the relaxed Greek seaside village character. White washed buildings with blue trims line the shorefront, a string of tavernas lines the bay; tranquility reigns.
The clear crisp waters of the Mediterranean beckon, calling us in for a swim, but not before we have tried some local seafood; etheriná tiny crunchy whitebait with fresh lemon juice, washed down with some dopio crassi...local wine.A few more dishes; octopus, calamari, grilled local fish and olives, fresh salads and bright red hand-picked tomatoes finish us off; we need a sleep on the beach under the pines. We enjoy the pebble beach, a slight breeze and the peace.

Rooms and apartments are available right on the water's edge. A little way back amongst some shade are the beautiful Stella's Traditional Apartments.
(see below).
Extended walks around Kato Zakros and visits to nearby villages, beaches or a fascinating cave make a visit an adventure. Don't forget to look around and you may see honey buzzards, martins or falcons.Walkers and hikers may find themselves plunging into the fresh waters after a long walk along the E4 Hiking Trail, which runs all along Kriti and finishes at this beach. A just reward. Stella's Traditional Apartments
These apartments, in one of the prettiest locations of Crete, are built in traditional style of stonework and wood.
Sitting in gardens just 500m from the beach of Kato Zakros and seconds from the Minoan Zakros Palace, we have selected these cabins as they provide the real Cretan feel and experience. Owners Stella and Elias are crazy trekkers and climbers who fell in love with this region of Crete after visiting from their home in Thessaloniki. They are passionate about sharing all the natural beauty of eastern Crete with their visitors, and offering great hospitality at Stella Apartments.
 To quote from the website: "The area's peace and quite is disturbed only by nature's sounds: birds, cicadas, the wind or the rustling of leaves. One can reach the apartments via a dirty road passing by the Archaeological Site first, and then by the exit of the "Dead's Gorge" (Faragi ton Nekron). The apartments are only 150 meters away from the Dead's Gorge exit. This road used to connect Ano Zakros with Kato Zakros and a visitor "must" either drive or walk along it because the view to the Gorge from it, as she/he moves along its edge, is truly grandiose." We congratulate Stella and Elias on their wonderful place.
This tiny little hamlet of Kato Zakros at the very eastern edge of Crete is so small it is not everyone's taste, yet if you are not afraid of silence, of sitting quietly watching the sun set or the moon rise, then this is the little corner of the earth for you. Above all, breathing comes easy in this beautiful village.

Below are some more beautiful images of Kato Zakros:
Return to Beaches of Crete Return from Kato Zakros to We Love Crete Homepage
|