Crete is home to the stunning beach of Karoumes, located 110km east of Agios Nikolaos and 29km southeast of Sitia. To get to the beach, visitors must leave their cars in the village of Chochlakies and traverse the 3.5km long gorge of Chochlakies, part of the E4 trail. This walk usually takes 1.5 hours (at a low tempo), though the gorge is inaccessible after rainfalls. Upon reaching the beach, visitors will find small pebbles, calm and crystal clear waters, and a variety of trees offering shade. There are also two secret beaches nearby, located 300m and 400m south of the main beach. Additionally, 700m north of Karoumes beach is Mavromouri, a sandy beach well-protected from wind and waves and surrounded by rocky hills. For those looking for a bit of adventure, there is Pelekita cave 3km south of the beach, and an ancient quarry used for the construction of the Minoan palace in Kato Zakros. Guests can also explore the Skinias beaches and the E4 trail south of Kato Zakros.
