Skaloti Gorge Share and discuss the many routes and paths in the mountains, along the coast, and on the plains of Sfakia. Post your walk description, add photos, and discuss safety. Use information at your own risk.

[Mihalis]

Has anyone walked the Skaloti gorge? I downloaded the KML but am unsure of where it starts, or how to get there. It looks like I could go from Kallikratis. As with any gorge, I always have trouble planning how I would get back to my starting point to get my car.

[Erno]

Hi Mihalis,

This topic has been covered on the old Sfakia forum:

02 September, 2014

here is a Google Earth photo, starting from "Skaloti" going anti-clockwise up the gorge (quite slippy in places) & back down the track from Manikas. The walk took me about four hours including stops.

Cheers, Ian.

From the old forum (out of action, but still readable) : https://www.sfakia-crete-forum.com/read.php?5,1397

And here is a photo report of the walk to Manikas from Kallikratis by Jean: https://www.sfakia-crete-forum.com/read.php?5,1679

[Erno]

For convenience reasons, and to preserve Jean's photo report, I have added it again here:

[vvaz]

Beautiful gorge - highly recommended. In 2015 I parked at the entrance to Kallikrati gorge, went up to Janina and traversed to Manikas. Description in Erno's link

https://www.sfakia-crete-forum.com/read.php?5,1679

is accurate but path between saddle above Kallikrati village and road to Manikas is very vague. Terrain is easy so even when path is lost you should not have problems with traversing this fragment.

I also saw mentioned flock of vultures. Really impressive sight of so many big birds in one place.

Note that path leading down into gorge looks almost impossible to descend and I missed it first time and have to come back 100m because I couldn't believe it is right. Despite appearance in upper part it is in good state and well marked with blue dots and cairns. Situation is worse in middle part. In many places 'stoneslides' destroyed path and you should tread carefully.

Last problems are on approaching Skaloti. It is not official tourist track and locals carefully fenced paths to herd their sheeps/goats. When I was already tired finding my way through this maze was really frustrating. I wouldn't bet I could find the path starting from Skaloti

Returned to Patsianos first by dirt roads above Frangokastello and last part on asphalt.

Big circle took me about 9h.

[vvaz]

Few photos from my walk.

View from above saddle toward Lefka Ori:

Those black lines are vultures. They were drinking in through on the right:

And here is place where path separates from dirt road

View toward sea from upper part of gorge:

[Mihalis]

Thank you for all the information, it is very useful. I will probably need help with starting my walk out of Kallikrati because it's not very clear to me which way I would go. I would like to do the walk to Manikas and back to Kallikrati. Are the vultures dangerous?

[Jean]

No, the vultures are not dangerous. And when are you intending to do this walk?

[Mihalis]

No, the vultures are not dangerous. And when are you intending to do this walk?

I'll be in Sfakia August 12 until September 5, so sometime then.

[Jean]

Sorry, I won't be there then but will be doing the walk in April. Enjoy it, and take plenty of water with you.

[Mihalis]

Will anyone be in Sfakia between Aug 24 and Sep 1 that has intentions of walking this gorge or willing to? Is the path/walk from Kallikratis to Manikas easy to follow? I am concerned about getting lost or going wrong way.