Roadtrip Crete Day 3 Koutsounari to Agia Galini
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 29-11-2025
Route Summary Motorcycling in Crete is a true pleasure. This island has many beautiful winding roads with thousands of bends, idyllic villages, stunning views of the sea, bays, beautiful passes, and ravines.
The locals are very hospitable. The roads are reasonable, but it's recommended to rent an all- or off-road motorcycle, as there are also many poor roads with potholes and unpaved sections.
This highly touristy island boasts many hotels, particularly along the coast. There are also B&Bs and several campsites. This tour will focus on campsites.
The routes can be explored by motorcycle, car, or quad bike, and there are several rental companies in Crete where you can rent all-road, custom, quad bikes, buggies, scooters, and cars. Prices for a weekly motorcycle rental range from €280 to €900, depending on the model.
Renting from Eurodriver has the advantage that they can deliver your motorcycle anywhere, so you can hop on your motorcycle at the airport and start your journey.
This route is worth 5*****Stars because of the beautiful roads, stunning views and sights along the way.
Share this route 
Animation
Verdict
Duration
10h 0m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
210.29 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review Your first visit can be planned at the museum in Hierapetra. This museum houses the archaeological collection of Ierapetra, which originated at the end of the 19th century during the Turkish occupation of Crete and was previously housed in various buildings. It is currently housed in the Commercial Ottoman School building. The collection includes:
• Minoan art: painted sarcophagi, lamps, pottery from the late Minoan III (1400-1200 BC), mostly stirrup jars and kraters.
• Geometric figures and pottery (9th-8th century BC).
Archaic art: statuettes and relief plaques from the late 7th and 6th centuries BC.
• Classical and Hellenistic pottery and figurines from the end of the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD.
• Roman reliefs and statues.
• Tomb and motif inscriptions from ancient Greek and Roman times.
• Clay sarcophagus, which was found in a rock-cut, horseshoe-shaped tomb in the area of Episkope in Hierapetra and dates back to 1450-1400 BC.
We drive towards the mountains along a beautiful narrow country road. You can stop for a photo at the dam and the artificial lake of Bramiana. This reservoir was built in 1986 near the village of Bramiana to supply water to the 30,000 greenhouses around Ierapetra. It is located 5 km northwest of the city, on the road connecting Ierapetra to the village of Kalamafka. The lake covers an area of 1,050 hectares and has a capacity of 15 million cubic meters, making it the second-largest wetland in southern Greece, after the Potami Dam in Amari. The best time to visit is in early spring, when the water level is at its peak. In summer, the water level drops, and the ruins of the church of the Prophet Elijah are sometimes visible at the bottom of the lake.
We continue our journey to Kalamafka. This road winds through the mountains and is a series of curves, with the occasional hairpin bend. The asphalt is good, but the road is narrow, so watch out for oncoming traffic. Along the way, you can enjoy the beautiful views.
Just before Kalamafka you can turn right for a short stop at the viewpoint “the Holy Cross Timios Stavros”.
We drive through the village of Kalamafka before heading south again, again with beautiful panoramas. You can visit the Sarakinas Gorge. This beautiful gorge is approximately 1.5 km long and varies between 3 and 10 meters wide, but at a few points it reaches the lake. The walls reach a height of about 150 meters. The Kriopotamos River flows through the gorge, which, thanks to wet winters and dry summers, carries water at varying levels throughout the year.
We'll stop for lunch at Diavatis Greek Restaurant. Then we'll drive downhill to the coast. Along the way, you can enjoy the beautiful panoramas again, and there are places where you can safely stop for photos.
We then drive along the coast from Keratokambos to Archanes. Along this road are several small beaches if you want to take a break.
We drive along a beautiful, winding road with its fair share of hairpin bends along Mount Asphandilia. Then we visit the ruins of the Phaistos Palace, which was excavated at the beginning of the 20th century by the Italian archaeologist Halbherr. The earliest settlements at the site, which lies near the Yeropotamos River, one of Crete's few year-round rivers, date back to the Neolithic Period (c. 4000 BCE). Small settlements were likely scattered across the hill where the palace later stood during the Early Minoan period. Dark-on-light pottery (Agios Onouphrios ware) has been found in the prepalatial levels on the hill, but no Vasiliki ware from the Early Minoan II period has been found at the site.
The Old Palace was built on the site at the beginning of the second millennium, known as the Protopalatial Period (c. 1900–1700 BCE). Construction required enormous effort. First, three enormous terraces were leveled. The palace was then built on two of these terraces: the Theatrical Terrace and the Lower Terrace.
After this, we drive via the town of Tympaki on a beautiful winding road through the mountains to the end point of this beautiful day, the campsite "No Problem" in the beautiful seaside village of Agia Galini.
This route is worth 5*****Stars because of the beautiful roads, stunning views and sights along the way.
Links 
Usage Want to download this route?
You can download the route for free without MyRoute-app account. To do so, open the route and click 'save as'. Want to edit this route?
No problem, start by opening the route. Follow the tutorial and create your personal MyRoute-app account. After registration, your trial starts automatically. 
Disclaimer
Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Nearby routes 
Crete
About this region
Crete (Greek: Κρήτη, Modern: Kríti, Ancient: Krḗtē, [krέːtεː]) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Corsica. Crete rests approximately 160 km (99 mi) south of the Greek mainland. It has an area of 8,336 km2 (3,219 sq mi) and a coastline of 1,046 km (650 mi). It bounds the southern border of the Aegean Sea, with the Sea of Crete (or North Cretan Sea) to the north and the Libyan Sea (or South Cretan Sea) to the south.
Crete and a number of islands and islets that surround it constitute the Region of Crete (Greek: Περιφέρεια Κρήτης), which is the southernmost of the 13 top-level administrative units of Greece, and the fifth most populous of Greece's regions. Its capital and largest city is Heraklion, located on the north shore of the island. As of 2020, the region had a population of 636,504. The Dodecanese are located to the northeast of Crete, while the Cyclades are situated to the north, separated by the Sea of Crete. The Peloponnese is to the region's northwest.
Humans have inhabited the island since at least 130,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic age. Crete was the centre of Europe's first advanced civilization, the Minoans, from 2700 to 1420 BC. The Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenaean civilization from mainland Greece. Crete was later ruled by Rome, then successively by the Byzantine Empire, Andalusian Arabs, the Venetian Republic, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1898 Crete, whose people had for some time wanted to join the Greek state, achieved independence from the Ottomans, formally becoming the Cretan State. Crete became part of Greece in December 1913.
The island is mostly mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east. It includes Crete's highest point, Mount Ida, and the range of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) with 30 summits above 2000 metres in altitude and the Samaria Gorge, a World Biosphere Reserve. Crete forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece, while retaining its own local cultural traits (such as its own poetry and music). The Nikos Kazantzakis airport at Heraklion and the Daskalogiannis airport at Chania serve international travelers. The palace of Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement and ancient Minoan city, is also located in Heraklion.
Read more on Wikipedia
Crete and a number of islands and islets that surround it constitute the Region of Crete (Greek: Περιφέρεια Κρήτης), which is the southernmost of the 13 top-level administrative units of Greece, and the fifth most populous of Greece's regions. Its capital and largest city is Heraklion, located on the north shore of the island. As of 2020, the region had a population of 636,504. The Dodecanese are located to the northeast of Crete, while the Cyclades are situated to the north, separated by the Sea of Crete. The Peloponnese is to the region's northwest.
Humans have inhabited the island since at least 130,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic age. Crete was the centre of Europe's first advanced civilization, the Minoans, from 2700 to 1420 BC. The Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenaean civilization from mainland Greece. Crete was later ruled by Rome, then successively by the Byzantine Empire, Andalusian Arabs, the Venetian Republic, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1898 Crete, whose people had for some time wanted to join the Greek state, achieved independence from the Ottomans, formally becoming the Cretan State. Crete became part of Greece in December 1913.
The island is mostly mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east. It includes Crete's highest point, Mount Ida, and the range of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) with 30 summits above 2000 metres in altitude and the Samaria Gorge, a World Biosphere Reserve. Crete forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece, while retaining its own local cultural traits (such as its own poetry and music). The Nikos Kazantzakis airport at Heraklion and the Daskalogiannis airport at Chania serve international travelers. The palace of Knossos, a Bronze Age settlement and ancient Minoan city, is also located in Heraklion.
View region
Statistics 
8Amount of RX reviews (Crete)
8119Amount of visitors (Crete)
334Amount of downloads (Crete)
Route Collections in this region Eight beautiful routes in Crete Greece
This is a collection of 8 routes for an 8-day tour on the Greek island of Crete.
Motorcycling in Crete is a real pleasure, this island has many beautiful winding roads with thousands of bends, idyllic villages, beautiful views of the sea, bays, beautiful passes and ravines.
The locals are very hospitable. The roads are decent, but it is advisable to rent an All or Off Road motorcycle, as there are also many bad roads with potholes and unpaved areas.
On the very tourist island there are many hotels, especially along the coast, there are also B&B and a number of campsites. In these routes we assume camping accommodation.
The routes can be driven by motorcycle, car or quads and there are several rental companies in Crete where you can rent All Road, Custom, Quads, Buggies, scooters and cars.
Motorcycling in Crete is a real pleasure, this island has many beautiful winding roads with thousands of bends, idyllic villages, beautiful views of the sea, bays, beautiful passes and ravines.
The locals are very hospitable. The roads are decent, but it is advisable to rent an All or Off Road motorcycle, as there are also many bad roads with potholes and unpaved areas.
On the very tourist island there are many hotels, especially along the coast, there are also B&B and a number of campsites. In these routes we assume camping accommodation.
The routes can be driven by motorcycle, car or quads and there are several rental companies in Crete where you can rent All Road, Custom, Quads, Buggies, scooters and cars.
View Route Collection