Description

Chrissi Island

One of the 81 uninhabited islands of Crete is Chrissi or Gaidouronisi (donkey) island. The residents of Ierapetra call it “the Island” as there is a special relationship between them.

Chrissi lies 8 miles away from Ierapetra’s coast, in the Libyan sea. Chrissi is almost flat with colorful volcanic rocks covered in gold sand, purple shells and sand dunes. It is 5 km long and has an average width of 1 km and an average height of 10 m. the highest hill is on the east part and is called “Kefala” 31m high.
From over there the visitor can have an impressive view of the Libanon cedar forest, probably the last existing in Europe. The density of these trees is approximately 28 trees per hectare and in average age of 200 years old.

On the west part of the island the visitor can see the well-preserved chapel of Agios Nikolaos (possibly built in the 13th century), the saltpan, which still gathers salt, the old port, the Minoan ruins, some Roman carved graves and the lighthouse.

At the Byzantine era the main source of income was fishing, salt export and export of “porfira” a scarlet dye produced from shells for the cloaks of Europe’s royalty. Later pirates forced the inhabitants to flee Chrissi for safety in Crete and used the island as a hideout. Many pirate and merchant ships have sunk in the area.

In the sea around the island the variety of the marine species is impressive. Around 54 different species of fossils were set on the volcanic rocks 350000 to 70000 years ago, when Chrissi was covered by water.
A number of them still live in the sea around. As a result all the northern coasts are full of shells. The turquoise waters around the island are shallow. Up to 1 km north and south, the depth doesn’t exceed 10m. This makes Chrissi the best place for snorkeling. Chrissi looks like the last paradise on Earth. A place to dream, swim and go walking.
About 700m east of Chrissi is a small rocky island “Mikronisi”. On Mikronisi hundreds of herring seagulls make their nests. For the well-preserved rare ecosystem and its beauty, Chrissi is protected as an “Area of Intense Natural Beauty”.

In Chrissi’s unspoiled and fragile environment visitors must act with utmost respect towards nature.
It is not allowed to litter, to collect rocks, shells, plants, to light fires to walk outside the designated paths and to camp.

Included

* NOTE: !!! Our Guides are LICENSED and Members of the Union official Guides in Crete.

** NOTE: !!! Our Drivers are Professionals and English speaking.

INCLUDED
Vehicle, fuels, tolls (wherever exist), parking fee,
English-speaking driver, English or French-speaking guide, insurance covery of the passengers up to €500,000 in total, VAT and all taxes.

NOT INCLUDED
*Entrance fees in archaeological and historical sites, hotel accommodation wherever needed, beverages and meals.

If you are interested in booking this Private Tour please fill in these details that follow and you will be informed of the pricing details.