Swimming under waterfalls

Another bucket list item checked off. The tantalising, unspoiled beauty of Kourtaliotiko Gorge needs to be seen to be believed.

The best way to describe this day is as somewhat random. It was online discovery set by my sister and I’ll be honest I wasn’t sure I understood the hype initially. Luckily for me sometimes the best things come when you least expect it.

Despite my reservations of the two plus hour car journey I, like most people, was happy to go and see a pretty Waterfall. I had no idea how majestic that waterfall would be. On our little jaunt in Crete, we travelled from Hersonissos in our little rental car across the Cretan countryside. Away from the sprawling beaches and ancient ruins, we headed into Crete’s more rugged territory. The landscape became more dramatic, marked by cliffs and mountains with steep drops. We made stops at windmills and tiny churches dotted throughout along our route. We drove on past fields of agricultural activity. I sat in the back of the car listening to music and taking in the miles of unbroken greenery.

Getting to the site does seem to be tricky if you don’t have the luxury of a rental car. The nearest bus stop is a half hour walk away, in Asomatos. It’s possible to get a bus there from Rethymo but these buses are limited. Some tours do offer a stop at the Gorge so it’s worth exploring the best route on your…