If you want to feel Chania at its authentic best, head to the villages. Some are mountainous and others coastal, but all capture the essence of Chania: the traditions, customs, contact with nature, and the gloriously slow living of locals who greet you like an old friend. Taking your time to explore some of the Apokoronas villages will reward you over and over.

The district of Apokoronas is located in the north-eastern corner of the Chania prefecture and at the foot of the White Mountains. Apokoronas’ morphology of the terrain is very interesting. To the south, there are the high – and famous – White Mountains of Crete, or Lefka Ori. In the central and main part of Apokoronas, we find picturesque plateaus that have been formed between the surrounding hills. Is one of the greenest regions of Crete and contains some interesting sights, such as picturesque villages Vrisses, Georgioupolis, and Lake Kournas.

Vrisses is a small picturesque town with less than 1000 inhabitants relatively close to Chania city and constitutes the administrative seat of the municipality of Apokoronas. Boutakas River which originates from the White Mountains passes through the village of Vrysses, where there are many beautiful taverns, and flows into the beautiful beach of Kalyvaki in Georgioupolis, after being mixed with saltwater.

Georgioupolis is located in the gulf of Almiros in the prefecture of Chania, near the boundaries of the prefecture of Rethymnon. It is a seaside village built in a magnificent region, between the mouths of the rivers Almiros and Perastikos. The river Almyros empties into the port of the village after creating a lake that is a shelter for many wild animals and birds. The village has many trees and a harbor which can be reached by a scenic road with eucalyptus, which starts from the square.

Kournas Lake is the only freshwater lake in Crete. The lake is in a beautiful landscape, lying in a valley among the hills. Kournas Lake is the ideal place for an afternoon walk or a day trip nearby. Many people like to have an afternoon picnic there. The landscape is lovely and relaxing, whether you want to go for a walk in the countryside, swim or ride a sea bike on the lake.
Taking your time to explore Apokoronas will reward you over and over!!