Rodopos Peninsula

Rodopos is a long and hilly promontory in North Crete, between Kissamos and Kolymvari. In the beginning of the cape there are a few villages with magnificent sea view from above and small pebbly beaches, trying to develop some kind of tourism for people who seek tranquility and close-to-nature holidays. Such are Ravdoucha and Afrata. The major part of Rodopos is undeveloped and the high slopes reach almost vertically the sea, forming a few rocky coves with deep and crystal clear water.

The peninsula is accessible via dirt road which starts from the Rodopos village and continues for 18 km before it reaches the northernmost part, called Cape Spathi. There you can see some old ruins of military posts. A few kilometers before you reach Spathi, the road bifurcates and if you take the right direction, it will lead you to Menies beach, a beautiful pebbly cove between the cliffs, located on the east coast. The beach has coarse grey sand mixed with pebbles and flat rocks in the sea, with amazing transparent water and a couple of tiny sea caves in the cliffs. On this beach there are also the ruins of an ancient temple called Diktinna.

There are no buildings or facilities on Rodopos peninsula, once you pass the village of Rodopos. On the way you will see old churches but no shops or cafes are available. There is one more beach on the west coast which can be accessed by car but it is more rocky than Menies and less visited, so you can be the only visitors.

Photos

highlights: rocky promontory between Kissamos and Kolymvari, nature in Chania Region, Crete, Greece