Having visited Preveli on our previous visits to Crete we wanted to get there nice and early so we could see the small palm beach without hordes of people. Our hosts told us of a short cut to park to the east of the beach near Limni Preveli and a short coast walk to the main beach. The track they tell us is fine and with our 4x4 no problem. I do remember though being incredibly nervous riding this route, the track was full of deep pot holes with hardly any passing points and drops to the sea. I would not recommend this route and would never do it again!

However, we did it, parked and walked to find Preveli with very few people, in fact none on my photos, so maybe it was worth it!

We walked the gorge along the palm fringed water which runs through it all year round running out onto the beach. It is truly beautiful area. We have such fun climbing over the boulders and in the water. At one point I let Russ go ahead as the water ran very deep, it was up to his chest so we walked through with our bags on our heads! We went as far as we dared coming to an end as the boulders were enormous blocking the gorge. The river is full of fish and water boatman but we didn't see the terrapins we saw last time. We crossed to the other side for a while and walked that route back to the beach. It is a lush tropical place and its great to walk in a gorge with water in it. We look forward to hopefully one day walk in many other gorges during the out of season months when we retire and stay for a few months in Crete.

We had lunch near where we parked the car, just recall it being at bit rubbish to Cretan standards.

Returning to the dreaded track we continue along the coast on white roads, tracks to Agios Pavos peninsula. This beach is one side with steep sand dunes behind the narrow beach, we go to the beach the other side and settle down for our picnic and rest of the day.

Snorkelling was fun with deep boulders filling the sea landscape and large fish to be seen including parrot fish and dabs which I had not seen yet on this trip.