Rouvas Gorge (Agiou Nikolaou)
Rouvas Gorge (Agiou Nikolaou)
4.5
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Duration: More than 3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
94 reviews
Excellent
62
Very good
28
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Nathalie D
2 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
First gorge we did in Crete. Very nice, variety of views/environment/nature from bushes with flowers, to rocky, to woods. Goats climbing steep gorges, huge rocks to climb and the waterparts were extra fun elements for the teens. We went up and down in 5h including breaks and picknick at end of gorge, and were glad to sit and relax at the cafe at the little lake where we started (and ended).
Written 12 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
manolis s
Zaros, Greece106 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
The route that connects with the European hiking path E4, is relatively easy to walk through
and is undoubtedly ideal for you if you wish to feel closer to nature, walk under plane trees and experience nature’s
beauty. Starting from Eleonas Hotel and follwing the path you will be leaded to the Monastery of Agios Nicholaos on your way through at approximately 500 meters.
At a 2 km distance you will find the gorge which leads to the amazing holly forest of Rouvas. There you will find the church of Agios Ioannis and the holly forest of Rouvas one of the few in Greece.
Beneath the hollies you will find the perfect place to enjoy your snack and relax during your way back where you can sit by the amazing wooden tables and drink your water.
Rouvas holly forest and gorge near the Zaros village, a place known for its natural beauty and the amazing lake Votomos, is welcoming visitors from all over the world.
The forest of Rouvas located on a plateau on the south of the Psiloritis massif is of high ecological importance since it is one of the few natural ecosystems in the area with tremendous ecological value.
The Rouvas Holly forest with the largest tuft of hollies in Europe as well as various orchids species and every kind of trees and huge pine trees create an unbelievably beautiful scenery.
Spring is an ideal time to walk through the gorge. The canyon is open throughout the year and especially during winter months during the rainy season the water level is relatively high which in the case of rain, that makes it difficult to access it.
Α round trip from the lake to the forest of Rouvas is 9 km and will take about 3-4 hours to be completed. But it is so worth it trying and seeing it!
The altitude at the starting point is about 420 and in the end the forest of Rouvas is 1100m.
You will be needing excellent hiking shoes or snickers.
Start point : Eleonas hotel
Total Length : 9 km
Total duration : 4 hours
Route Difficulty : 4/5
Ask for free map and information from the Eleonas Hotel .
and is undoubtedly ideal for you if you wish to feel closer to nature, walk under plane trees and experience nature’s
beauty. Starting from Eleonas Hotel and follwing the path you will be leaded to the Monastery of Agios Nicholaos on your way through at approximately 500 meters.
At a 2 km distance you will find the gorge which leads to the amazing holly forest of Rouvas. There you will find the church of Agios Ioannis and the holly forest of Rouvas one of the few in Greece.
Beneath the hollies you will find the perfect place to enjoy your snack and relax during your way back where you can sit by the amazing wooden tables and drink your water.
Rouvas holly forest and gorge near the Zaros village, a place known for its natural beauty and the amazing lake Votomos, is welcoming visitors from all over the world.
The forest of Rouvas located on a plateau on the south of the Psiloritis massif is of high ecological importance since it is one of the few natural ecosystems in the area with tremendous ecological value.
The Rouvas Holly forest with the largest tuft of hollies in Europe as well as various orchids species and every kind of trees and huge pine trees create an unbelievably beautiful scenery.
Spring is an ideal time to walk through the gorge. The canyon is open throughout the year and especially during winter months during the rainy season the water level is relatively high which in the case of rain, that makes it difficult to access it.
Α round trip from the lake to the forest of Rouvas is 9 km and will take about 3-4 hours to be completed. But it is so worth it trying and seeing it!
The altitude at the starting point is about 420 and in the end the forest of Rouvas is 1100m.
You will be needing excellent hiking shoes or snickers.
Start point : Eleonas hotel
Total Length : 9 km
Total duration : 4 hours
Route Difficulty : 4/5
Ask for free map and information from the Eleonas Hotel .
Written 13 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David G
1 contribution
Sept 2021
I had a really great hike up this gorge. Stick with it if you lose the track (it happened to me a few times). The total climb is around 530m and distance around 6km from the start to the top (so 12km in total for the round trip). Hiking at a relaxed pace it was around 4 1/2 hours to get up and back. There are some bits that you need to clamber over, so I wouldn't recommended it with young children.
Written 17 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RDWilde
Turnhout, Belgium217 contributions
Sept 2019
We did several gorges in Crete - this one was undoubtedly the lost challenging one. It was mid-morning 25-30 °C, some light to strong winds on the path. A landslide had cut some parts of the normal walking road but the getting around path was well signposted - as was the whole path to the gorge. We tried to make a circle but found after 2.5 hours the whole exercise too challenging so went back the way we came. On the walkway, especially in the higher parts of the gorge, there are very nice views. The church is nice to see but we could not find the entrance, unless we would go over a very shaky bridge.
If you do this walk, do not go on very hot days, take water, have excellent shoes, and enjoy the taverna at the lake after finished.
If you do this walk, do not go on very hot days, take water, have excellent shoes, and enjoy the taverna at the lake after finished.
Written 16 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
384marketam
Zaros, Greece3 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
I have walked Rouvas Gorge on three occasions. Once when it started to rain we had to return because rocks were falling on us from high above and twice in hot dry conditions. It is a fairly challenging walk and not really suitable for children. One needs the appropriate footwear and water. Commencing from lake Votomos I believe the round trip is approx 9 kilometers. I like the hike there is an interesting mix of terrain, fauna and flora but one needs to be fairly fit to do it. One can however try doing only part of it as on route there are a couple of rest stops. The trail is well marked with red markers and signs.
Written 7 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erika K
90 contributions
May 2023
This hike was on our wishlist but we are not fit enough to do 500+ m elevation gain, so we opted for a "lighter" version.
The start is at the Votomos lake, next to the taverna, winding up, and then walking on side of the mountain besides (and crossing) the gorge. It's very well marked, there are black arrow signs set up and white/red cercles painted on rocks all the way. At some point (after the climb through the laurel forest and arriving to the other side of the gorge) we turned back by following a track to the left (instead of continuing the climb up to the right). After a while this went past the big church we saw from the other side of the gorge, then became an asphalt road that we followed until the parking of Eleonas Country village where we used a shortcut up to the left to arrive back to the lake. All in all, 6,75km, 270m level difference. There are lots of wild herbs and flowers during the hike, great scenery, fabulous views and we met like 2 people during the whole hike.
The start is at the Votomos lake, next to the taverna, winding up, and then walking on side of the mountain besides (and crossing) the gorge. It's very well marked, there are black arrow signs set up and white/red cercles painted on rocks all the way. At some point (after the climb through the laurel forest and arriving to the other side of the gorge) we turned back by following a track to the left (instead of continuing the climb up to the right). After a while this went past the big church we saw from the other side of the gorge, then became an asphalt road that we followed until the parking of Eleonas Country village where we used a shortcut up to the left to arrive back to the lake. All in all, 6,75km, 270m level difference. There are lots of wild herbs and flowers during the hike, great scenery, fabulous views and we met like 2 people during the whole hike.
Written 15 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexander G
2 contributions
Oct 2019
A beautiful gorge which starts very close to Eleonas holiday cottages. I raced up and down in 2 hours but I would recommend taking longer to enjoy the views!
Written 18 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ARichard581
Hurstpierpoint, UK19 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
The first half of the walk is not too arduous, the views are nice and there are many different plants and flowers to see. Lots of goats too. From the waterfall (a trickle when we went), it is a steep climb and the path ran a little too close to the cliff edge for our liking, so we walked back the way we had come. It was a very hot day and we enjoyed a stop at a spring with a trough for the goats. There are many different types of sages and thymes on this walk and the scent was wonderful.
Written 29 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colin_and_Jay
Surrey23 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Nice walk and a good length. You really do need good boots as reviews suggest. Rocks are large and sharp. Saw several people starting out in flip flops..... bonkers! Problem is that the path becomes very narrow with big drops near the top and gravel makes the path slippery. Since vertigo makes me want to throw myself into the abyss, I decided it might be better to turn back before getting to the top. Good activity when the weather is overcast as it keeps the temperature down. Would have been nicer if some families had stopped their children from screaming and shouting (the gorge echos) so other people could enjoy the natural environment.
Written 20 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eamhair
Edinburgh, UK59 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
A wonderful walk up a spectacular gorge to a beautiful forest and magical chapel site amongst the highest mountains. Some very steep and scary sections across steep slopes / rockfalls. Don't underestimate the difficulty and length of this walk though- start early in the cool of the morning.
Treat yourself to staying at nearby hotel
Treat yourself to staying at nearby hotel
Written 17 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lohnt es sich nur die erste Stunde des Wegs (vom Parkplatz aus) zu gehen und dann umzukehren? Wenn man nicht so lange wandern möchte?
Written 21 May 2018
Aber ja. Bis zum großen Felsüberhang mit der ersten schönen Weitsicht ist es ca. eine Stunde. Bis dahin viel Salbei und einige Ziegen. Durchaus schön und nicht sehr anstrengend und auch für Ungeübte / Kinder machbar.
Written 22 May 2018
Hallo, wie lang muss man ca. wandern (gehen) bis man die Schlucht erreicht?
Written 22 April 2018
Das Ende der Schlucht ist vom Parkplatz am See in ca. 15 min. erreichbar.
Um die Schlucht (ganz hinauf) zu gehen, sollten Sie mind. 4 Stunden einplanen.
Written 24 April 2018
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