The area of Innahorion covers the southwestern part (169 sq.km) of the county of Kissamos and comprises 10 municipalities with 34 villages or settlements, with 2,266 permanent residents.
The Council of the Area of Innahorion (10th Area Council)
is an organization responsible for the development, and treatment of the resousces of the area.
The seat of this organization is the village of Elos.

Access

There is regular public bus service from Hania, Kastelli Kissamou the capital of the county, and Kolibari.
There are many organized excursions to the area, offered by almost all the travel agents, since this area is considered to be one of the prettiest of the island.
The road network is fairly good and the trip by private means is recommended (car or bike), starting from Kaloudiana near Kastelli or from Platanos at the western coast where one can enjoy the imposing view of the coastline

Facilities

There are quite a few small hotels or guest houses, taverns, cafes, mini markets, organized beach at Elafonissi, and a lot of cultural events.

INDEX

Villages

Amigdalokefali

• Livadia
  
• Keramoti
  

Sirikari

• Kioliana
  
• Kostogianides
  
• Sineniana
  

Topolia

• Aikirgiannis
  
• Kapsiana
  
• Koutsomatados
  
• Tsourouniana
  

Forests
The forest of "Peace"

Gorges
Topolia

Beaches
Elafonissos
Kambos

Islands
Elafonissos

Monasteries
Hrissoskalitissa

The municipality of
Amigdalokefali

The village is located at the west of the county of Kissamos on the foot of Koutroulis mountain, at 460 m a.s.l., 26km away from Kastelli Kissamou and 68km from Hania.
It is the seat of the municipality of the same name which includes 2 more villages, Livadia and Keramoti.
The inhabidants occupy with farming, stock breeding, fishing, bee-keeping and handicraft.
Trekking paths : Amigdalokefali- Kefali (4km)
Amigdalokefali- Keramoti- Kampos (6km)
Sights : The traditional village of Agios Myronas, the caves of Agios Mamas and Agios Mironas. The itinerary from the village to the beach where there is a fishing shelter, is also very interesting.
Cultural events :Patronal feasts of Agios Mamas at September 2, Astratigos at November 8, and Agios Panteleimon July 27.
Tourist Facilities :There are some cafe, one restaurant and accomodation for 10 people in 3 separate places.

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The municipality of
Elos

The village of Elos, built at an altitude of 560 m. It is located 57 kms from Hania ad is full of chestnut trees, and flowery gardens. The main products of the village are chestnuts sold all over Crete, honey and handicrafts.
Elos with 300 ihabitants is located 57 km away from Hania and 23.5 km from Kastelli at 560m a.s.l. Its is the seat of the municipality of the same name which consists of two more small settlements, Limni and Louhi
From the village passes the river Xeropotamos and in the past it created a swamp, which no longer exisits. Swamp means "elos" (in Greek) and this is probably the reason why the village was called Elos.

Trekking paths : Agios Dikeos- Koutrouli- Mpantouriana- Koufi Kara

Sights :

• The forest walk path to Mpantouriana and Koufi Kara - Andros.
  
• The traditional settlements of Koufi Kara, Arhontika, Mpantouriana.
  
• The old factory at Louhi.
  
• The Byzantine churches of Agios Ioannis (with frescoes) and Michael Archangelos at Elos.
  
• "Voulisma" at Limni
  
• The arbute tree forest at Louhi.

Cultural events :The last week of October the chestnut festival
Patronal feasts:
April 23, Agios Georgios
May,6, Agios Dikeos
June, 29, Agios Apostolos
August 6, Christou
October 7, Agios Ioannis
Tourist Facilities :7 rooms for rent, Hostel, 3 restaurants, 7 cafes, gas station, mini market.

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The municipality of
Kambos

Kambos, a small village built at an altitude of 340 m. overlooking the Libyan Sea, 27.3 km away from Kastelli Kissamou .
It is the seat of the municipality of the same name.
The village of Berbathiana belongs also to the municipality of Kambos.
The inhabitants occupy with farming, stock breeding, beekeeping, fishing and handicraft (goldsmith's art).

Trekking paths :
Kalogera- Platanakia
Kambos- Aerinos
Kambos- Koutouli
Kambos- Melissia- Modia

Sights :
Two old water mills, the gorge of Kambos, an old olive press operating with water, the church of Agia Paraskevi with frescoes from the Byzantine period (9th- 10th century) a monument of great importance for the local history and the church of Agii Pantes built in a cave.

Cultural events :
Patronal feasts: July 26, Agia Paraskevi an outdoor festival.

Tourist Facilities :
2 taverns 8 cafes 6 rooms for rent and a mini market.

• Tavern
  "The Wild Nature"
  Mpatistakis Giorgos
  Tel:+30822 41470 & 41690
  Kambos Beach- Kambos Innahorion

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The municipality of
Kefali

Kefali is located 440m a.s.l, 29.5 km away from Kastelli Kissamou and 62.5 km from Hania.
It is the seat of the municipality of the same name which also includes the villages of Simantiriana and Papadiana.
The inhabidants occupy with farming, stock breeding, and bee-keeping .

Trecking paths :
Sirikari- Aerinos- Kefali- Hrissoskalitissa

Sights :
The Tower of Kalergis, the byzantine churches of Agios Athanasios and of Metamorfossis tou Sotiros, both important monuments built in the 14th century, with frescoes.

Cultural events :
Several patronal feasts.

Tourist Facilities :
4 taverns, 4 cafes and 3 mini markets.

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The municipality of
Perivolia

Perivolia, a small village built at an altitude of 450 m. It is surrounded by small gorges, water falls and chestnut tree forests. The village is located 29km away from Kastelli Kissamou and 62km from Hania.
It is the seat of the municipality of the same name.
The inhabidants occupy with farming, stock breeding, bee-keeping and handicraft (barrels, traditional lamps, baskets).

Trecking paths :Agios Dikeos- Maha(2km)

Sights : The Skalidis museum, watremill, old olive-press, old school the archaologigal site of Myrina and tombs from the Roman period.

Tourist Facilities :2 taverns and a mini market.

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The municipality of
Sirikari

The nature of Kissamos is presented here in all its magnitude. Tree covered mountains and deep ravines, form a landscape of unique beauty. People who preserve their old customs, gentle, brave and hospitable.
Sirikari is the birth place of Theodoros Baxevanis, a hero who was killed in 1867 fighting the Turks.
Sirikari (53 inhabitants) is located 52 km away from Hania and 14 km from Kastelli at 500m a.s.l. Its is the seat of the municipality of the same name which consists of the villages :
Katsikantiana (20) , Kioliana (32), Kontokrithiana (15), Kostogiannido (31), Megalo Horio (62), Miheliana (10), Stratigiana (20), Siniana (54), Tzortziana (4) and Tsihliana (13).
The name Sirikari probably comes from the profession of the first settler, who has to be a silk weaver (Sirikaris).

Trekking paths : To Polirinia, Vlatos and Kambos

Sights : The gorge, the chesnut tree forest, the cave of the Holy Mother (Panagias), the byzantine church of Agii Apostoli with frescoes of 14th century a monument of great importance and two old factories.

Cultural events :Patronal feasts:
May,21, Agios Constantinos
July, 26, Agia Paraskevi
August 15, Panagias
August 29, Prodromos Ioannis
September 14, Timios Stavros
September 26, Ioannis
November 8, Mihail- Gavriil.

Tourist Facilities :3 traditional cafes and one mini market.

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The municipality of
Strovles

Strovles, is a small village built at an altitude of 450 m. 18km away from Kastelli Kissamou and 55 km from Hania.
It is the seat of the municipality of the same name.
The village of Aligi belongs also to the municipality of Strovles.
The place, plenty of water streams, is covered with chestnut trees, olive trees and wild vegetation.

The inhabitants occupy with farming and stock breeding.

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The municipality of
Topolia

Topolia is a principal village, at 280m a.sl., on the main road to the southern coast, 47km from Hania and 22km from Kastelli. It has 370 inhabitants and it is the seat of the munisipality of Topolia which is consisting of 4 more villages:
Kapsaniana
Tsourouniana.
Ai Kir Giannis, at the road to Kalathenes a village that took its name from a Cretan Saint, born in Sivas, at Messara, who helped to reorganize the Christians in Crete after Nikiforos Fokas recaptured it from the Arabs.
Koutsomatados at the end of the gorge of Topolia to the south.

There are a post Office and police station, carpenter's workshop, olive press, wheat mill etc.
The inhabitants are farmers, beekeepers and stockbreeders.
The village is built at the entrance of the famous gorge of Topolia and 27 km away is the monastery of Chrissoskalitissa

Sights :
The gorge of Topolia, the cave of Agia Sophia, 5km walking path through the forest to Milia, Koutsomatados, Mouri Sassalo.
The byzantine churches of Agia Triada at Topolia and Agios Georgios at Tsourouniana, significant monuments from the 14th century, and the churches of Agios Panteleimon, Agios Nikolaos and Agios Ioannis.

Cultural events :
December 24, the representation of Jesus birth. at the cave of Agia Sophia.

The gorge of Topolia

Within a short distance from the village of Topolia, to the south, begins the gorge of the same name, and ends after 1,500m at the village of Kartsomatado.
The gorge is full of plane-trees, wild olivetrees, flowers, and bushes. Its walls are 300m high, and the width in some cases is 5m only.
Through the gorge passes the river Tiflos.

Continuing to the South we pass through a short tunell, and reach the cave of "Agia Sophia".

The cave of
"Agia Sophia"

A short distance after the tunel, there is a well maintained footpath on the mountain side which reaches the Agia Sophia Cave at 285m a.s.l.
The cave is of great scientific interest, has a diameter of 70m and it is 20m high. There are marvelous stalagmites and stalactites of various shapes.
At the left end there is a small church with an icon that, as tradition says, came from Constantinople, and has been wedged in a rock
In the cave were discovered many finds from neolithic era.
Two patronal feasts are taking place there each year: One on Tuesday after Easter and a second on December 24, when the birth of Jesus is represented.

The municipality of
Vathi

Vathi is located at 320m a.s.l. 66 km away from Hania and 31 km from Kastelli Kissamou. It is the seat of the municipality of Vathi, consisiting of 3 more villages: Plokamiana, Moni Hrissoskalitissas and Tzitzifia.
From Vathi passes the road to the monastery of Hrissoskalitissa and the island of Elafonissos.
The village's old name was Kouneni and lately was renamed to Vathi. It is believed from several that here was the exact location of the Roman city INAHORION.
The inhabidants occupy with farming, stock breeding, fishing, beekeeping and handicraft.
At Stomio there is gypsum production unit and at Tzitzifia a quarry.

Trekking paths : Lako- Linia gorge.

Sights : The Byzantine churches of Archagelos Michail and Agios Georgios with well preserved frescoes
The gorge of Linia, with a cave and an old mine.
The gorge of Skotina (Plokamiana- Simantiriana)
Vathi- Stomio a gorge with geological interest.
Kagia Lakos -Traotripa- Hrissoskalitissa- Sklavopoula.

Cultural events :The last three days of July the festival "LAFONISSIA"
Patronal feasts: July 27, Agios Panteleimon, August 15, Panagias, November 3, Agios Georgios methistis. (it is the day when the barrels of new wine are opened)

Tourist Facilities :6 restaurants, 6 cafes, 3 mini markets, 4 hotels (C' class) 2 rent rooms 1 hostel.

Elafonnissos

History:

In 1824 850 women and children seeked refuge in the islet from the fury of the Turks. However the Turks managed to discover the passage from the mainland to the islet, walked over and slaughtered them all. According to the legend the sand on the beach took its red color from the blood of all the victims.

Natural Habitat :

Walking on the beach of Elafonissos the visitor can see various plants and bushes (Atriplex halmus, crithmum, maritimum, rura clepensis, ballota pseudodictamum etc.). There is also a small frog (bufo viridis viridis) endemic to the island and various lizards (podarcis erherdil elaphonisi) considered a protected species. There are also reported instances of a snake (coluber gemonensis gemorensis) . According to studies conducted by the Greek Ministry of the Environment the island serves as a breeding spot for the caretta-caretta sea turtle. Finally local fishermen have reported noticing Mediterranean seals ( monachus monachus) in the open sea.

There are very few indigenous species of birds on the area, but the area is very important to ornithologists since it is the last stop from Europe to Africa for migrating birds.

The Monastery of
Hrissoskalitissa

In 1900 the monastic order resident on the monastery was disbanded by the Turks and its lands sold. Solitary monks however continued to live there and maintain the old building as best as they could.

Today the monastery is open to all people who can visit and maybe stay for a coupe, of nights if there are free cells.

• Greek Tavern
  "MONASTIRI"
  Lyrakis George
  Hrissoskalitissa
  tel: +30822 61429
  Languages:English, French

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The municipality of
Vlatos

Vlatos is located at 380m a.s.l. 54 km away from Hania and 18 km from Kastelli Kissamou. It is the seat of the municipality of Vlatos, consisting also of the village Rogdia, at 610m a.s.l.
The village is built in a tree covered valley, with olive trees, chestnut trees and wild vegetation. It consists of many quarters, Bertiana, Korakiana, Koutsounara, Arhontika etc which maintain the original cretan style.
The inhabitants occupy with farming, stock breeding and beekeeping . The main products are olive oil and chestnuts.

Trekking paths :
Forest- Psilo Kefali- Plakia

Sights :
The forest which is characterized as a national park and is protected by authorities.
The walking paths from the forest to Milia a traditional settlement for tourists, and from the forest to Lagos and Rogdia.
The traditional settlements of Arhontika, Mothiana. etc.
The big plane tree, a natural monument, at Miheliana.
The byzantine church of Agios Georgios and the church of Agia Triada with remarkable belfry.

Cultural events :
The first ten days of August the festival of Nature.
Patronal feasts: May 8, Agios Georgios at Milia, May 21, Agios Constantinos at Mili, june 9. Agios Georgios at Karidaki, June 20, Agia Triada at Vlatos, July 27, Agios Panteleimon at Vlatos, August 29, Agios Ioannis at Vlatos, September 2, Agios Mamas at Rogdia and September 8, The birth of Holy Mother at Vlatos

Tourist Facilities :2 restaurants, 5 cafes, 3 mini markets, 12 rent rooms.

The forest of Peace
The forest of Vlatos covers the area surrounding the village. It has been characterized as a natural park, and as an area of exceptional beauty. There are chestnut trees, platans, pine etc.

Visitors can follow a footpath through it, or hike through the forest to the top of the mountain and to Plakia.

The "Park of Peace" was founded in 1970 by the Cultural Association of Vlatos with the cooparation of Goethe Institute and the support of the Bavarian Department of Forests.
It is an experimental park with 150 species of plants, covers an area of 1,000,000 sq.m. and is part of an extended area of 20 sq.km. which have been reforested.

Map of Kissamos
Road Map of Kissamos
Tourist Facilities
Aerial Tour
info MAP