Agia Irini is a small, picturesque village located 98km southeast of Agios Nikolaos and 11km south of Ziros. It is possible to access the village either via dirt tracks starting from Kalo Horio or Hametoulo, both 7km long. The village is the starting point of the spectacular Agia Irini Gorge, which leads to a secluded cove with a small islet, Hamili, located opposite. It is one of the most remote beaches in Crete, surrounded by steep cliffs and sharp rocks, and a few tamarisk trees. To reach the beach, visitors can either hike the imposing gorge, traverse the dirt track from the village, or come by boat from Goudouras or Xerokambos.
The Agia Irini Gorge is actually a set of two parallel canyons that merge shortly before the sea. Both canyons are very wild, rocky, with steep slopes and high walls. Hiking in the gorge can take 2-3 hours, depending on pace, and can be quite strenuous due to the steep slopes (the gorge begins at 500m altitude near Hametoulo settlement and ends at sea level). Adventure seekers should be aware of the dangers of the area and take proper precautions.
