Katharo Plataeu
Katharo Plataeu
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
106 reviews
Excellent
70
Very good
32
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Graham B
Devizes, UK41,460 contributions
Sept 2013 • Couples
Despite having visited Crete more times than I can remember, I had never ventured up to the Katharo Plateau, so decided to give it a go after spending part of the day in Agios Nikolaos. You follow the road to the mountain village of Kritsa, after which the road starts to climb sharply, affording jaw-dropping views back towards Agios Nikolaos.
At 1150 meters above sea level, the Katharo is considerably higher than Lassithi but is way less developed or cultivated. It has no peripheral road as does Lassithi but a series of tracks, some pretty rough, that lead to the few small villages up here. Rusticity is the word here, little black clad old ladies, and the occasional farmer riding a ricketty three-wheeled tractor that in many places, would have been consigned to the scrap yard years ago.
We stopped at a taverna in one of the villages, Kopraki, and for once, were rather pleased to find that neither of the people in that taverna spoke any English, so we ordered our drinks as best we could and sat outside, in the shade from the heat, although it was considerably cooler here than down on the coast.
If you have a 4 x 4, it is possible to access the Lassithi plateau via the dirt road that runs north from Kopraki, to join the Neapoli - Lassithi road a kilometer or so east of Mesa Lassithi. Next time we will bring a 4 x 4 rather than a Peugeot 206 and make that ride. Wonderful.
At 1150 meters above sea level, the Katharo is considerably higher than Lassithi but is way less developed or cultivated. It has no peripheral road as does Lassithi but a series of tracks, some pretty rough, that lead to the few small villages up here. Rusticity is the word here, little black clad old ladies, and the occasional farmer riding a ricketty three-wheeled tractor that in many places, would have been consigned to the scrap yard years ago.
We stopped at a taverna in one of the villages, Kopraki, and for once, were rather pleased to find that neither of the people in that taverna spoke any English, so we ordered our drinks as best we could and sat outside, in the shade from the heat, although it was considerably cooler here than down on the coast.
If you have a 4 x 4, it is possible to access the Lassithi plateau via the dirt road that runs north from Kopraki, to join the Neapoli - Lassithi road a kilometer or so east of Mesa Lassithi. Next time we will bring a 4 x 4 rather than a Peugeot 206 and make that ride. Wonderful.
Written September 16, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nealfo
Duns, UK35 contributions
Oct 2012 • Couples
Took this trip in our hire car on the recommendation of a local gallery owner. "see the wild trees and landscape" she said. She was right, the higher up you go the more rugged the land scape. Plenty of opportunities to stop, take photographs and enjoy the views. look out for the goats in the trees!! On reaching the plateau you can stop for a drink and take a walk, we ended up taking a local dog for a walk as it joined us. A nice place to see if you want some thing a bit different, will be going back again this year, only thing is do not be put off by the road at the beginning, it does get better.
Written September 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stormswept
Oxford68 contributions
May 2013 • Solo
Such a beautiful and magical place, totally unspoilt...don't really want to encourage people to go there to be honest!
Written April 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra D
Louth, UK13 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
We took a Landrover Safari trip up here which meant we could both enjoy the truly amazing views. Our guide/driver was very knowledgeable and spoke perfect English (being an ex-pat). Plenty for the true traveller here as there's lots of culture, landscape, and history waiting to be discovered. Food in the mountain tavernas is excellent and authentic. Would do this again!
Written August 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oonagh2402
Perton10 contributions
Oct 2013 • Couples
The views are fantastic and the road is ok as you drive up to the top of the Plateau. However, at the top the road surface is poor to non-existant and the signposting difficult to understand. We ended up going round in a circle on dirt tracks more suited to a 4X4 than the car we had hired! Several other cars appeared to be in the same predicament ... we never did find the road we were looking for and ended up going back the same way we had come!
Written October 30, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frandjac
Manchester, UK3 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
As you drive up you get fascinated by the little villages you pass through and the change of scene together with the change of temperature. in midsummer you feelit grtting cooler & cooler the higher you go. It is unbelieveable how they constructed a road up there.
Written March 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
moglentours
Nottingham, UK694 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
go in the day as dangerous roads at night a real worthwhile visit especially if your a photograper. we timed it too late and got caught out. my photos were all blue but good.
Written August 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
njk17
Newcastle, Australia350 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
This is a beautiful, if somewhat precarious drive from Agios Nikolaos. Only an hour or less but the terrain changes dramatically, and the temperature drops noticeably. The plateau itself isn't that amazing but the views on the way up are fantastic and the tavernas at the top are simple, cheap and lovely for lunch. We made it in a very small two wheel drive car - roads are sealed all the way up...you just need to take it slow!
Written August 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tristan D
Lichfield, UK1 contribution
Aug 2014 • Family
well worth a visit to see stunning landscape and the real crete rather than the tourist traps. best way to see it is via a jeep safari
Written August 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francesco M
Milan, Italy208 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
The Plateau itself is not very interesting but the road from Kritsa to get up there is very nice. If you are in the area or visiting Kritsa, you should take a couple of hours to see the landscape and the views on your way there. Once you get there try some of the best yoghurts and honey in one of the restaurants of Katharon.
Written July 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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