Route: Ravdoucha to Aghia Panaghia
Area: Crete
Date of walk: 26th April 2026
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.6 miles
Ascent: 850 feet
Weather: Sunny and warm
After two days of constant rain, normal service was resumed on Crete today and we decided to take a coastal walk on the island. We drove to the small village of Ravdoucha and parked in an area beside the small church of Agios Georgios, which commands a lovely view over the Gulf of Kissamos. We walked down a quite road for about 10 minutes before branching off to the left at a hairpin bend. We passed by a small construction site, which will no doubt be a villa in due course, and passed through a wire gate in a fence. This brought us onto the narrow coastal path which we’d follow for the next couple of miles
There were tremendous views across the Gulf of Kissamos, part of the wider Aegean Sea, as we walked at high level, weaving in and out of gullies and crossing over rocky headlands. We descended to the small church of Agios Vasileios and chatted to a friendly local who informed us that this was ‘Santa Claus Church’. I wasn’t sure if my leg was being pulled, but have since ascertained that Agios Vasilis or Saint Basil the Great is the Greek counterpart to Santa Claus, celebrated on New Year’s Day rather than Christmas
Beyond the church we walked along a stony beach before an up and down to another beach. The church of Aghia Panaghia, overlooking the sea, was the far point of our walk. The path continues to the village of Nopigia but this section of the route is less dramatic, so we turned round at the church and retraced our steps back to the start of a wonderful coastal walk, enjoying the glorious views for a second time
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After two days of poor weather, it was a relief to awake to sun and blue skies at the Hotel Elia. We decided to go for a walk along the coast
A 20 minute drive brought us to Ravdoucha, on the western coast of the Rodopou Peninsula. We parked by the small church of Agios Georgios and set off down the road, heading south
We followed a quiet road, enjoying wonderful sea views
Looking back
The start of the coastal path. Another peninsula, Gramvousa, is in the distance, and the area of sea between the two peninsulas is Kissamos Bay, part of the wider Cretan Sea
Another view back
We continue above Kissamos Bay...
The town of Kissamos and the Gramvousa Peninsula
We head towards a rock outcrop known as Cape Sideris...
Looking back towards Ravdoucha
Cape Sideris and the Gramvousa Peninsula
The path has many ups and downs, but none of them very steep
We pass above Cape Sideris, looking across to the Gramvousa Peninsula
We descend to a stony beach below...
A swallowtail butterfly
We arrive on the small beach and walk along it for a while
The small church of Agios Vasileios, where a friendly local informed us that it is known as 'Santa Claus Church'
Inside the church, a portrait of Agios Vasileios (St Basil). In Greek tradition St Basil is the equivalent of Santa Claus, bringing gifts on New Year's Eve rather than Christmas - hence the nickname 'Santa Claus Church'
If anyone is looking for a photo of a herd of goats walking along a beach, I'm your man
Looking back to Cape Sideris
We clamber up to a rock outcrop
Kissamos ahead as we continue along the coastal path
We descend to the rocky cove below
Looking back along the stony beach
We arrive at the far point of the walk, the church of Aghia Panaghia. From here we retrace out steps back to the start, enjoying the wonderful sea views for a second time...
It had been a wonderful walk in temperatures of 24c, double those of yesterday. As a result, we were thirsty...
Back at the Hotel Elia - cheers, or Yamas!
