Elygia Gorge (Valachas)

The Elygia Gorge, also known as Valachas, is located in the Asterousia Mountains, south of Heraklion, in one of the wildest and least altered landscapes of Crete. The gorge is crossed by a river that collects waters north of the peak of Kofinas and carries them to the Libyan Sea, forming at its end an impressive beach with clear waters and a small pine grove. It is a technical gorge with waterfalls and steep descents, which makes it particularly attractive to experienced canyoning enthusiasts.

The most impressive descent reaches 60 meters and is known as “Tis kopelias o Pidos” (“The Maiden’s Leap”). According to local tradition, the name is linked to the legend of a young woman who chose to throw herself down the waterfall rather than submit to an unwanted marriage proposal, a story that adds a strong symbolism of tragic courage to the gorge. Before the large waterfall there are smaller descents, which can be bypassed via a via ferrata route, one of the first to be opened in Crete, with steel cables and footholds, offering alternative ways of movement and spectacular views of the gorge and the mountain. The full descent to the sea takes about four hours.

The name Valachas comes from the word “volakas,” meaning rock, aptly describing the character of the river and the landscape. Today, the Elygia Gorge remains a wild and authentic place, combining local myth with unspoiled natural beauty and intense adventure.

*The photograph is sourced from the official website of the Asterousia UNESCO MaB Biosphere Reserve.