Zaros. Southern and Central Crete
 At the heart of Psiloritis mountain (upper Base) lies the most imposing geological formation of the area, the Agios Nikolaos Gorge. Zaros, the area’s main village, is located just below the gorge’s exit.
The village is girdled by trees since the area is blessed with abundant spring waters that are directed to an ancient and complex above-ground channel system alongside the road. After all, Ζαρός comes from the pre-Hellenic word Ζα+ρους, meaning rich water flow. Important traces of a Minoan settlement have been discovered, northern of the village, at the great springs of Sterna and Votomos. The roman city of Gortys was watered by those springs using a 12km-long closed pipe, an impressive hydraulic achievement, part of which is still visible.
Zaros is located along Koutsoulidis river valley and is surrounded by numerous hills that form a stunning ground relief.
Zaros is the ideal destination for Greek or foreign visitors seeking to explore central and southern Crete. One of Crete’s most beautiful villages, located at the southern foot of Mount Psiloritis. Zaros provides the necessary facilities for almost 300 overnight stays per day.
The village has preserved its beauty and originality even though tourists have been visiting the area since 1980. The local population has equally managed to remain unaffected by tourism. Far away from tourist herds and all-inclusive hotels, you will have the privilege to enjoy unique Cretan hospitality. Something fairly common is to sit at a café (kafeneio) with the locals; they will instantly welcome you and invite you to a raki. We will not be surprised to suddenly find yourself at someone’s home eating and drinking with his family just like old friends. You will soon become friends, and that is exactly why you will come back to our blessed land gifted with so much spring water and beauty.
From Zaros you can go for numerous one-day excursions:
Agios Nikolaos Monastery, Agios Nikolaos Gorge, Rouvas Forest
(6kms, 4.5 hours on foot)
 The gorge’s path, 6kms long (4.5 hours on foot), is considered as one of Crete’s most stunning routes and forms part of the European walking route E4 - Crete. The eastern slope of the gorge’s entrance features the Agios Nikolaos Monastery and the Agios Efthimios hermitage. Being central Crete’s most important gorge, it presents outstanding vegetation and wonderful geomorphological formations. It is one of the richest ecosystems of Greece, as far as flora is concerned, in the past it featured wild goats. Following the gorge’s path (supervised by the Forest Service) you reach the breathtaking forest area and the picturesque Agios Ioannis church, next to a small stream with plane trees. There is also a small mountain hut.
 The Rouvas forest is one of the most solid forest complexes of Crete where much of Crete’s flora thrives. We find maple trees (Acer sempervirens), plane trees (Platanus oriendalis), cypress trees (Cupressus sempervirens), pines (Pinus brutia), holm oaks (Quercus ilex) and wild pear trees. The forest covers a total area of about 3000 hectares. A unique feature of the forest is that the oaks present an unusual size, larger than the shrub-like oaks usually found in Greece. The slopes and the forest itself feature many mitata (stone-built shepherd huts).
 The village of Kamares is located at the southern foot of Mount Psiloritis, 15 km from Zaros and you can go there by car. From Kamares begins the path that leads to Cave of Kamares, a large cave at an altitude of 1780 m. just below the Mavri summit (1950m).
The path is rather steep and reaching the cave may take as much as 3-4 hours. The path is very well marked; it passes through dense holm oak (oak subspecies) forest and meets 3-4 fresh water springs.
Zaros - Kouroutes by car and 2,5 hour walk to the top Timios Stavros of Mount Psiloritis
 Featuring quite a few summits above 2000 m. (Timios Stavros being the highest at 2456 m.), Mount Psiloritis offers numerous mountain routes and hiking trails that also form part (most of them) of the European walking route E4. Hikers may use the mountain hut of the Greek Mountaineering Club of Rethimno located just above the village of Kouroutes. The mountain hut is accessible by car and then a 2.5 hour walk will lead you to the top.
For the excursions listed below we have calculated distances/duration and we can propose sites worth visiting, where to stop for coffee or a meal etc. For obvious reasons, we would not like to post all this information on the web but we can easily forward it to your e-mail address.
- Zaros - Near Agia Galini - Kissou Kampos - Drimisko - Monasteri of Preveli - Ligkres - Kerame - Drimisko - Kissou Kampos
- Zaros - Lentas - Gorge of Tripiti - Koumasa - Vagionia - Agioi Deka
- Zaros - Listaros - Monastery of Odigitria - Agiofarago
- Zaros - Pompia - Kali Limenes
- Zaros - Winery of Plouti - Gortys - Metropolis
- Phaestos - Matala - Komos
- Zaros - Faneromeni Dam - Voroi Folk Museum - Kokkinos Pirgos
- Zaros - Vorizia - Platanos - Agia Galini
- Zaros - Moires - Timpaki - Agia Galini - Agios Pavlos - Triopetra
- Zaros - Vorizia - Fourfouras - Amari Meronas - Gerakari - Spili - Agia Galini - Zaros
- Zaros - Vorizia - Fourfouras - Thronos - Monastery of Arkadi - Margarites
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