We’re bound for the southern edge of Lasithi, where the waters of the South Cretan Sea brush the island’s shores and a more select face of Crete unfolds. The route we’ve chosen gathers the prefecture’s defining traits into one complete experience. From vibrant Ierapetra to the pine-clad Selakano Forest, the historic Monastery of Panagia Exakousti, and Mirtos, one of Crete’s loveliest seaside villages, this road trip delivers scenes of authentic Crete.
We wander between monuments and nature trails, wrapped in coastal calm, on a journey that captures Lasithi’s richest palette of experiences. Every visit to the Megalonisos – Great Island, Crete’s nickname – feels different from the last, as if it’s been left untouched, waiting to be discovered anew.
Ierapetra: The southernmost town of Europe
Our route begins in Ierapetra, one of Lasithi’s three cities. A singular blend of history, culture, and modern development, it’s an ideal starting point, alive with distinctive energy. Known in antiquity as Ierapytna, its strategic position elevated it to a major commercial hub and fueled its prosperity.
A stroll along the seafront and the Venetian fortress of Kales; the cobbled lanes of the old town in Kato Mera that stir memories of another era; a visit to the house where Napoleon Bonaparte spent a night in the old quarter; and a tasting of local products – the true guardians of tradition – all reveal its character. The sea breeze accompanies every step, while agricultural production and a robust tourism network make Ierapetra a cornerstone of Crete’s strength.
Selakano: The Island’s Rare Forest
Leaving the city’s charms behind, we head northwest to Selakano. This is one of Crete’s rarest forests, filled with pines, maples, firs, and cypresses. Among the island’s most important ecosystems, Selakano draws walkers and nature lovers with easy trails that wind through the landscape’s embrace. The forest is also famed as one of Crete’s foremost honey-producing areas, underscoring its tight bond with the local economy and tradition.
Walks here unfold beneath the shade of broadleaf trees, through heady scents and birdsong, with scenes that flood the senses and linger in a traveler’s memory. Springs, rivulets, gorges, and sunlit clearings heighten the landscape’s storybook quality – shaped by nature’s grandeur and the land’s enduring force.
Monastery of Panagia Exakousti: A Place of Memory and Faith
The next stop lies near the village of Malles, at the Monastery of Panagia Exakousti. Built in a strategic spot and wrapped in flowering vegetation, it has long been a site of Orthodox worship and a spiritual refuge. Today it functions as a women’s monastery and impresses with distinctive exhibits of handicrafts. Its understated architecture, frescoes, and aura of serenity invite contemplation. Exakousti forms part of Crete’s rich religious heritage, inseparable from the residents’ struggles, faith, and perseverance.
Mirtos: The Seaside Village
The route concludes in Mirtos, one of Crete’s most charming coastal villages. The settlement still holds fast to its traditional allure: whitewashed houses, narrow lanes, tavernas at the water’s edge, and a simplicity of daily life that wins over visitors. Elders linger over their morning coffee at the kafeneio, children play in the square, and the air carries the scent of fresh vegetables and herbs. Mirtos Beach, with its dark, fine pebbles and crystalline waters, offers moments of calm—an ideal finale to the road trip.
A Road Trip of Contrasts
The Ierapetra – Selakano – Mirtos route distills every facet of this land of contrasts. Touring southern Lasithi moves from the energy of a developed city to the peace of a rare forest, from the historic resonance of an old monastery to the simplicity of a seaside village – revealing, in striking fashion, the different faces of the Cretan soul. In this way, the road trip becomes a complete travel experience, rich in authenticity, nature, and history.
Read also:
Lasithi Experiences: Where Adventure Meets Cretan Beauty
Lasithi’s Beaches Unfiltered: A Visual Ode to Crete’s Lunar Coast
The Churches and Monasteries of Lasithi
