River Trekking At Kourtaliotiko Gorge Waterfalls To Preveli Beach

This acitivity is absolutely amazing. Georg is lovely guide with great English. Crystal clear water that makes hiking in the heat very doable. Food in the taverna was great as well. It has been a perfect day for us and I can only recommend it. If you are deciding on what footwear to wear (as we did): I would recommend swimming shoes, we did it in our regular running shoes which worked fine as well but took ages to dry.

This experience was without a doubt the highlight of our holiday! The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and every part of the experience felt incredibly special. George was truly fantastic. His knowledge of the area was exceptional, and he shared so much interesting information throughout the walk, making the experience even more memorable. His enthusiasm, energy and genuine passion for what he does really elevated the whole experience. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide or a more beautiful experience. If you’re visiting Crete, we would 100% recommend doing this experience — it’s something we’ll remember for a very long time!

This was our favorite excursion on our 2-week trip in greece. George was fantastic! He is fun, knowledgeable, and accommodating. We would highly recommend this!

Vagelis is the best tour guide in Crete (confirmed by multiple other passing tour guides). This experience was so much fun, and definitely worth the money.

Despite the conditions we had the best day with George. He took us down non-touristy routes which were like paradise. The lunch was so lovely aswel. He was full of knowledge and highly recommend.

So great! I would highly recommend this trip - the scenery was incredible and the guide was super knowledgable

The best thing we did during our entire trip - George was amazing. He helped with the entire set up, and made sure that we are all having a great time while we hiked through the waterfalls. His knowledge around the history of the area, local vegetation, restaurants, and other beaches and activities to do is unsurpassed. I can’t recommend him enough!

This was an incredible life experience! The waterfalls were exquisite, and the river trekking experience was amazing. It was a workout for sure, but our guide was patient and ensured that we stayed safe while having a blast. Highly recommend!

We had a great time!! George was our guide and he was awesome! I 10/10 recommend this activity, unless you have knee problems!

This adventure was amazing!!! Our guide Giorgios was the best guide we have ever had. He catered everything to our liking. He kept the pace fun but easy He was very attentive to telling us where to step in the trickier spots and offered a hand or a should for support on larger steps. The waterfall was beautiful. Brace yourself for the cold water, but it is worth it. The river was not too cold and Giorgios pointed out so many interesting things along the way without being overly chatty. The snack at the taverna was perfect. Super tasty and just the right amount. The palm forest was stunning and we ended the day with a swim in thr sea.

This hike will live in our hearts forever. You feel like you are hiking someplace completely hidden and you feel privileged and blessed that you get to see it. We didn't see another person the whole time on this magical journey and the views really do take your breath away. George has clearly taken this trek MANY times, he knows exactly where to step, what to point out and where to take you. We loved him and will take this hike every time we return. A personal thank you to George for taking us with him into the beautiful world he gets to see. Probably THE BEST honeymoon gift was this experience!

This was an amazing experience that we (myself and my partner) would recommended to anyone who is travelling through Crete 👍🏼 Our guide - George - was the best guide we possibly could have asked for. The experience was extremely high-quality and personalised. The treck itself was exhilarating and challenging at times - but, the perfect amount of both. As people who are relatively active, but had never done anything like this before - George made the experience feel like a breeze - he made us feel super comfortable and confident the entire way along. The whole way along the walk it just felt like talking to an old friend, cracking jokes, having fun, learning about everything Crete. This was a once in a lifetime experience and a must-do … Highly recommended!! 🙂

Amazing tour! This was a top highlight of our Greece trip for both myself and my partner. Great communication, and a very knowledgeable and fun guide, George. He was an amazing leader on the trip, pointing out things to see and look out for. The waterfall view was one of the best ever. George also knew lots of tricks and had tips to make the trip seem like we were the only ones in the canyon. I would do this again when returning to Crete.

This was one of the most unique experiences we have done on Crete and we have visited many times. Giorgos was PHENONEMAL. It was our family of six and he was extremely kind and accodating for exactly what we wanted to do and could do. He made the experience. The water is VERY cold, but while you are hiking the river it is easy to get adjusted to it. Highly recommend wearing sturdy shoes, the hike is definitley more serious than just walking, but very doable. Giorgos told us about local plants, knew so much about the area, and truly turned this in to the best experience, even with a VERY grumpy 15 year old girl in tow. Beautiful experience, highly recommend.

l had looked into taking our family four, kids 13 and 11, to the hike in Preveli on our own but, I came accross this guided hike combining the best of both worlds , the Kourtaliotis Gorge and Preveli! The guide, George, allowed our dreams of a crete adventure outing come true , we swam in cold plunge waterfalls, tracked through waters while looking up at the stunning gorge, then we hiked into the mountains of preveli where we were alone with sheep and goats on all sides. The end of the hike bought us to a stunning view of the preveli Palm forest. We had the best time talking to Geroge and learning all we could from a Greece native ;)

This was an absolutely awesome excursion. George, the guide will take your group on a PRIVATE river trek down the Gorge. Start with the waterfall which is magnificent and then trek through the river down to beautiful Prevali beach. The top half of the trek is easy and for most people. The bottom half of the trek (which you can skip) is more challenging but very rewarding. George takes the time to get everyone through. You definitely should have some good stamina and balance. Good for families and couples. End in beautiful Prevali beach (or you can go to the beach next door). George is a special guide who takes care of all of the details. Highly recommend.

What an amazing experience! To be honest (said the same to George) I was a bit sceptic, as he had only 5-star reviews so far (could be a bot, you never know). But it was definitely worth 5 stars! He is such a funny and considerate person. It felt more like a fun hike with a friend, frankly speaking. He has taught us so much about Crete, the vegetation that we saw during the hike and a bit of history. He met our expectations and went beyond! Thank you for our Special Forces training ;) Only good vibes!

The highlight of our trip to Greece! George was a great guide. Our ferry to Crete was postponed two days due to windy weather, and we were afraid that we would have to forfeit our prepaid booking. But George graciously rescheduled us for another day at our convenience. Also, I am in my 60's and go slow, while my young sons hike fast. George tailor made the trip for us, guiding me slowly through an easy path, while directing my sons to a more challenging route. George also was very knowledgeable regarding local history and myths, geology, and fauna. The waterfall was stunning, and the trip down the river breathtaking, and unforgettable experience.

This was a lot of fun and our tour guide George was wonderful and accommodating based on the preferences of the group. Good communication to make sure everyone knew what to do. The waterfall to start is stunning and beautiful, and honestly worth a short period of hopping into some cold water (which is good for you anyway)! The river trek water is more comfortable and a good active day. I thought it was a very unique experience and the scenery was amazing. After the main part of trekking through the river we were given the option to continue hiking all the way to the beach or to go by car at that point. Our group opted to go by car and I think that is what most people prefer to do. The beach was also very beautiful and unique compared to the other beaches we visited. Only recommendation I have is that it would be great to have a car bring your towels or blanket for the beach to enjoy the last part a little more. It’s not really practical to carry it for the hike and I think it would have made the beach experience a bit better. All in all, an excursion I think that’s worth doing with a very good guide and unique way to have a fun active day while in the area.

George was a knowledgeable and super accommodating tour guide. He knows the area very well and works to adjust to the groups needs. I appreciated that he wasn’t in a rush and spent time sharing a piece of Greece with us. This was definitely my family’s favorite part of visiting Crete. The waterfall was a highlight to start the trek and the beach was an amazing end to the trek!

River trekking at Kourtaliotis Gorge was the HIGHLIGHT of our 2 week Greece vacation!!! Our guide, George, was fantastic! The waterfall was literally breathtaking. It will take your breath away when swimming towards it (you have to go through a deep section to get to it). The water was high on the day we went, which made it a bit difficult to see what we were stepping into/on. Just take it slow. Team work!!! Proper shoes will make ALL THE DIFFERENCE!! Water shoes (or socks should I say) are a no-go unless you want your toes/feet to take a beating. Suggest a water shoe/sandal that has protection for you toes. The gorge entrance only takes card!! Also, bring euros for at the beach so you can reward yourself with a drink / snack!!!! Being that the water was high for us ... that's all I can write a review about. That being said it was a difficult hike and we would classify ourselves as "athletic people". You will slip. You will bang your shins up. You could even get a scrape or two from the rocks. Do NOT let that deter you from this tour! It was kick@$$ and we highly recommend it!!! 10/10

Wow just wow!! What a pleasant experience!! Our tour guide (Gorge) was quite charming! My daughter (18) is quite active but I (50) was a little nervous about trekking through the water, but the waters were shallow and cool enough to make it not so hard!! We hiked about 3-4 miles (5-7 km) and the water fall! Just breath taking!! Breath taking to look at and took my breath away for how cold it was haha!! But overall, the experience was fantastic, Gorge was informative while not boring! It was truly a great experience and I recommend!

Our adventure with Georgios was hands-down the highlight of our trip to Crete! He proved to be an exceptional guide—extremely knowledgeable and passionate, he introduced us to some of the most stunning and scenic spots on the island. The breathtaking views, combined with the unique opportunity to journey through diverse landscapes on the way to Prevail Beach, made this experience truly one of a kind. Staying in a more remote location, we were especially grateful that Giorgio’s went above and beyond to arrange seamless transfers to and from our hotel at a very reasonable price. This experience was worth every penny and is an absolute must-do for anyone visiting Crete.

We loved the river trek with Giorgios! We were in peak tourist season (Aug 15) and we were the ONLY people in the river. It was amazing to be in such a beautiful location and splashing around in the river and on the rocks with no other tourists around. Be aware that the waterfall area at the beginning of the walk is pretty crowded and the water is VERY COLD (think Cape Cod beaches in May/June) but you don't have to go into the waterfall part if you don't want to and so then it's just a few steps in the water (but if you want to go to the waterfall you'll have to brave the cold). the water every where else was cool and refreshing. Wear shoes with a good grip (eg Teva, Keene sandals not flip flops). the rocks were surprisingly NOT slippery, but you still want to have good footing walking around. We really enjoyed this experience. Thanks Giorgios!

We had a group of 11, 6 adults and 5 kids, and everyone had a blast! Georgious was a fantastic guide. He was kind, patient, adventurous and informative! He was very accommodating as we had different interests and always made sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying themselves. I highly recommend this river trek! Gorgeous scenery and a unique way to explore this area!

Our group of 4 spent a brilliant morning with George - he was knowledgeable, friendly and passionate about giving us the best experience of the river. It's a beautiful place, with swimming spots, waterfalls and chances to plunge in to the fresh water. If George offers an early start, take it! You'll avoid some of the crowds and see the best stuff unspoilt. Be ready that the water is cold at first but it's a blessing or you'll be so hot!

Amazing experience for our family of 4! George was a great guide, going at our pace and making us all so comfortable. It was such a beautiful hike and we all agreed it was one of our favorite activities in Crete.

Me and my son hade a blazing day trekking from kourtaliko gorge and back. It starten with an amzing jump inte the gorge and a cold swim to the waterfall which where a stunning view, that easily could be used to make movies. Then following the gorge down to the sea, passning by small waterfalls, gorgeous views and drunkning the naturally filtered water running out of the rock. An experience to remember for the life. Martin

We had the best time river trekking with Georgios across Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Some of us were new to hiking and he was very patient and helpful ensuring we all were safe and had a good time. Swimming under the waterfall was so magical

George was so awesome! He had so many stories and insightful information. This is a Must Do if you are staying in Chania. The water and the gorge are insanely beautiful. A+++ to George.

This was an amazing experience one that my family will remember forever. Our guide George was great, full of information and very helpful! There are things to know before to decide on this tour. 1. The waterfall is breathe taking. It's a lot of steps down the cliff side to reach it. When you get there you have to swim in very cold water against the current where you can't touch for a good distance. If your not a good swimmer this will be difficult. But the experience is absolutely worth it! 2. The hike river is not as easy as it looks in the photo. If you have bad knees or balance this could be dangerous for you. And absolutely have good water shoes as they state. Lots of navigating over rocks and strong currents. 3. The tour states it's about 4 hours and you reach the beach. Although this can be done it's not all the info. The tour is in 2 stages, step A: waterfall and river hike back to the traverna about 3 hours. Break with snacks and water. Step B: Hike to the beach about another 1.3 hours. I personally did not do the 2nd step because of we ran short on time. Our transfer was waiting for us based on the tour estimate of 4 hrs so we would be done in time. I our guide told us the path was pretty simple like a gravel road and not as great of views as we already saw. We arranged for our transfer to bring to the beach after the step A. It worked perfectly. Again this tour was an amazing experience and you will see all the true beauty of crete. Just be prepared and I would suggest visiting the beach 1st and then doing the River hike in the afternoon.

Our guide was very knowledgeable of the are but most of all he was very kind and considerate! We loved every minute of our adventure!

We went as a group of 5 to the route with George and it was an excellent, professional guide and George took care of us for a package for the trip that includes transportation and planning a trip that includes a meal at an excellent tavern at the end as well.

Since it was early May, I was concerned I would be uncomfortable in the water. Georgos was reassuring, and correct. He was also quite knowledgeable on the local history and culture.

It was an amazing experience! I doubt anything else that we do while here in Greece will even compare. Was a windy day, but once we were in the gorge we were very protected from the wind. The water was chilly and I was hesitant to do the jump at the beginning but Giorgos (George) convinced me it would be worth it and it 100% was! You get to swim a little further into the cave and it is magical!

On a chili and very windy day in early May, Giorgos assured us that we would have a wonderful trip and he was completely correct. The hike was above and beyond our expectations. Beautiful scenery an extremely knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend.

We are the most incredible time on this river trek! It’s an absolute must do while in Crete! it is beautiful, peaceful and exhilarating all at the same time. Our guide George was incredible. We were a group of 15 and he was so good to wait for us all, and to make sure we all stayed together and made it through safe and happy. He shared a lot of facts about the gorge and of Crete. We had the whole gorge to ourselves and it was so wonderful to be truly immersed in nature. Thank you again for an unbelievable time!

Hiking the Kourtaliotis Gorge was a top highlight for our family’s 3-week vacation throughout Europe. The trek through the river for the first half of our trek was beautiful and refreshing and we opted to hike the bottom half on the hiking trail that provided a whole different perspective as we looked downward to the Libyan Sea before completing the trek. Our guide, George, provided a perfect pace and lots of insight into what we were seeing along the way, and he adapted the trek to our input and abilities. We would highly recommend this trek to anyone looking for a little extra adventure while in Crete!

The views were amazing. The River trek very refreshing. George, our guide, super friendly and experienced. Made us feel very comfortable and allowed us to set the pace. He’s very interactive and engaging. The reward for this trek was walking onto beautiful Preveli Beach! Highly recommend.

George was an amazing guide. Made us feel super comfortable and allows the patrons to set the pace. Very informative and experienced. Highly recommend!

Yesterday we did the river trekking with Giorgos as our guide and it was so awesome! We were a little afraid that it would be canceled because of the weather forecast, but Giorgos texted us the day before that he would try his best to do the trip. So we started 2 hours later then officially planned, so we didn't had any rain or cloudy weather. The hike itself was really beautiful, we walked almost all the way through the river. We saw little turtles, climbed some rocks, got the choice to jump from a rock or just walk passed it, and even swim some little parts. We could chose between the easy way, or the more playful and harder way. We choose the last one. I'm a little afraid of highs but Giorgos made sure to tell me exactly how I should climb and knew how to help. Along the way Giorgos made some pictures of us so we can always look back at it. At the end we went to the waterfall spring and it was really great. We got to jump from a cliff into the spring, and went into the cave to see the waterfall up close. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen or did. This hike will be the first thing I tell people about when Crete will come up. It was an adventure we'll never forget and we would definitely do it again.

The experience was everything you could want from a guided hike! Gorge was super friendly, considerate, prepared and talkative. The otherwise rocky and rather difficult trail, seemed easy in the guidance of Gorge. During the hike, we also got to hear about the different interesting parts and stories from the different places. After the hike, gorge also gave his own recommendations of places to visit, and when to do so, sp that we would not end up encountering too many other tourists. This was one of the very best experiences of this vacation!

A fantastic adventure! George is a warm and thoughtful guide. We were a group of 7 and all of us were blown away by the experience, still talking about it days later. We opted not to do the bouldering at the end (that requires helmets) and we were glad; the period walking in the river was plenty long and the view of the palm beach and mouth of the river from above was incredible. Be prepared for the walk down to the beach from the parking lot at the end as it is long and steep, but we did not have to go back up as we left from the other parking lot across the beach. Closed toe shoes with ankle support are recommended, and all participants should at least have moderate athletic ability. The whole trip took about 3-3.5 hours with the first two being in the river, about 40 minutes hiking above, and 15 minutes to descend to the beach. Make sure you go in among the palm trees and wade into the middle of the river for a view from there- the pictures don’t do it justice! Overall unique and fantastic experience if you have a half day to spare for something other than lounging in the beach.

I had a blast trekking Kourtaliotis gorge and exploring its natural springs (great to cool off on a hot summer day). We ended up in Preveli, which is an amazing sandy beach with many palm trees. George is very friendly, professional and has great knowledge of the area. The trip wouldn’t have been the same without him. Cheers, Ceri

I can't express how very grateful I am of being with this tour guide, he made my vacation something I would remember for the rest of my life, it was my first time trekking and this guy just made me feel like I was the best doing this!, he takes his time with you and also helps you out with everything you need, very informative about the environment around you and the whole trekking experience he is also very knowledgeable about each place he takes you. The man makes for great conversations. You will not regret your time. I will be returning next year!!! Looking forward to it!!

What an awesome adventure with such a friendly and fun host! George was incredible and such a welcoming personality that put our group of 4 women at ease! We loved our trek down the river, the great conversation and the way he gave us options for what we felt comfortable doing, from an adventure standpoint! He made himself available the whole day, and spent lots of time snapping photos for us, laughing with us, and sharing about the people and culture of Crete! There’s an incredible waterfall that he made sure we didn’t miss, even though we chose to do it after the sun wasn’t as high later in the day- which meant it was shockingly cold to explore! But he did it despite it being so cold and snagged some great pictures for us! We all loved our experience and were so grateful we had George as our guide!

We’ve booked the Rivertrekking tour on Sunday for the day after. It didn’t matter that it was such short notice! We’ve had an amazing and adventurous day! Everything was taken care of and Jorgos, our guide, is truly a professional who knows what he’s doing. Thank you so much for the awesome experience! Loved every minute of it 🙂

Wow and double wow as our guide George was awesome and well prepared as we were greeted with helmets and walking sticks and it was away we went for and AMAZING 4 hour river trekking. I had a family of 6 ranging from ages 10 to 67 and George was very helpful in assisting all of us down the river and through the gorge. He is a true outdoor enthusiast and professional. If your family is adventurous and they like water hiking then this excursions is 110% for you. Highly recommend as this is a breathtaking and beautiful river and gorge. Barber Family from Tampa, Florida

The Watertrekking tour through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge was a real experience, everything was super organized and customized for us. Our guide was very friendly, attentive and made the tour special with exciting explanations. We had a lot of fun, felt safe and at the same time in the middle of the adventure. All around a great experience, highly recommended.