PREVELI BEACH

Preveli is located about 35 km south of Rethymno and 10 km east of Plakias. Preveli Beach, also known as Lake Preveli or Phoenix, lies at the exit of the impressive Kourtaliotiko Gorge, where the Great River (Megas Potamos) flows into the sea.

It is one of the most famous beaches in southern Crete, attracting thousands of visitors every summer. During the 1960s and 1970s, it was also a popular destination for hippies. Along the banks of the river, a large grove of Theophrastus palm trees creates a rare, almost tropical landscape. The river forms a small 500-meter-long lagoon before reaching the sea and flows year-round.

Visitors can walk along the river under the shade of palm and other trees, and continue into the beautiful gorge. Swimming is possible in the cold freshwater pools formed along the riverbed. A major fire in 2010 destroyed much of the area, but the palm grove has largely regenerated over time.

At the river mouth, a sandy beach with pebbles and sand is formed, where the seawater remains cool due to the river inflow. On the eastern side of the beach, there is a distinctive rock formation resembling a heart. The beach is only lightly organized, as the area is protected and does not allow umbrellas.

Access
There are two main ways to reach Preveli, from the west or the east.

The first option is to drive from Plakias towards the Preveli Monastery, following the signs. About 1.5 km after the Kato Monastery of Preveli, you will reach a large parking area near the dramatic cliffs west of the beach. From there, a path descends to the beach, taking around 15–20 minutes on foot. The return involves a steep uphill climb.

Alternatively, you can drive along a dirt road toward nearby Drimiskiano Ammoudi and follow a short 5-minute path to the beach. However, this route does not offer the spectacular cliffside views from the western side. Small boats also operate routes to Preveli from Agia Galini and Plakias.

The beach takes its name from the nearby historic Preveli Monastery, a men’s monastery founded in the 16th or 17th century and dedicated to Saint John the Theologian. There are two monasteries: the old (Piso) and the new (Kato). The old monastery is abandoned and can be found a few meters south of the old stone bridge of Preveli.