Self-Drive. Group Jeep safari tour in southern Crete, in contact with sea – nature – tradition.

Our excursion begins with a visit to the impressive Aposelemis Dam. The dam of Aposelemis river was a very tough project that was eventually completed in 2012. At the bottom of the lake there is the village Sfendyli, the few residents of which were forced to move to another place.

The waters of the lake of Lagada area come mainly from the springs of Kastamonitsa and the Plateau of Lassithi. The lake has become an important wetland for central Crete. The capacity of the dam is 23 million square meters and its target is to supply with water the capital of Crete, Heraklion, and the areas of Hersonissos and Agios Nikolaos.

Stop for photo shooting.

Tour of Traditional Settlements. Our tour continues towards the village of Kastamonitsa, ending at the ancient Lyktos – Lytos or Xydas to visit the Roman aqueduct.

Rest stop. The small village of Amariano in the province Pediada is known for its picturesque alleys, the square with the old plane tree 900 hundred years old and the traditional coffee shops. In the square there is the old fountain of 1898 and a cistern, where the visitor can drink the water of the spring that comes from the mountain area of Afentis Christos in Dikti Range.

In the same square there is the war memorial of Amariano people and the church of Agia Paraskevi, where we can see an embedded capital (apparently coming from Ancient Lyktos). According to the tradition, the temple was built here to protect the inhabitants from the evil spirits living at the spring.

Next to the small dam of Kera in the village Ini we meet the picturesque church of Panagia Kera dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi (Life Giving Spring). The temple bears no frescoes inside. Next to the temple there is a small cave with a spring of water, which is considered holy. The surrounding area is great as there are many cypress trees around, and just beyond the church there is an old watermill.

Lunch in the traditional village of Skinias. Enjoy your lunch in the traditional village Skinias, while relaxing in an authentic Cretan atmosphere.

Near the village of Demati there is a magnificent arched bridge, one of the most beautiful in Crete, built for the safe crossing of the longest river in Crete, the Anapodaris. It has four semicircular arches with parapets and pointed cantilevers that mitigate the intensity of the water. The road that passes over it is almost flat and is covered with cobblestones with river stones.

The Demati bridge is the largest Venetian bridge in Crete and dates back to the mid-13th century or a little later.

• After a relaxing break, the convoy starts again, driving through many small villages, old olive trees and vineyards to the coastal village of Tsoutsouros.
• In Tsoutsouros with the sandy beaches of the South Crete, you can enjoy a refreshing swim or a fresh drink by the beach.

  Read about Tsoutsouros Village in our Tour Quide

The Byzantine church of Saint Panteleimon in Bitzariano (or Pigi) is considered to be one of the oldest Christian temples in Crete. It is built in a beautiful natural environment and is located about 3 km near the small town Kastelli in the province of Pediada. It belongs to the architectural type of the three-aisled vaulted basilica, with its three aisles dedicated to Saint Panteleimon, Life-Giving Spring (Zoodochos Pigi), and Saint John (Agios Ioannis).

The initial phase of this important mid-Byzantine building dates back to the second half of the 11th century. From the initial phase of the building, parts of the south wall and the east wall are preserved with three semicircular arches with the central one being the largest. The south wall has four arches, two of which are on the east side of the original temple and the other two are dated in a reconstruction phase that took place in the 12th century. The remaining walls and the roof date back to the 13th century. Much of the upper part of the west wall had collapsed as early as the late 19th century.

It is speculated that in ancient times the site was used as an Asclepieion or a Holy Spring. The pillars and the lower part of the masonry come from marble elements of an earlier Roman or Byzantine building, as well as crosses and inscriptions from Byzantine reliefs from ancient Lyttos. Inside, there are two rows of arches that separate the aisles. These dividing arches rest on columns without capitals except for one of the columns that have the peculiarity of being made exclusively of four Corinthian capitals, placed one on top of the other.

The church was decorated with murals, many of which survive to this day in three layers. In the second half of the 11th century, the icon of Saint Nicholas in the eastern part of the south wall and the frontal depictions of Christ and Saint Panteleimon on the front of the eastern pillars are dated. The end of the 12th century includes the depiction of Saints Arsenios and Efthymios belonging to the reconstructed western part of the south wall and Saint John the Baptist (Agios Ioannis Prodromos) in the niche of the sanctuary of the southern aisle. In the third layer of frescoes (13th century) belong the representations of the Holy Communion (Melismos) in the central arch, the Communion of the Apostles higher, and the enthroned Virgin Mary among archangels. The south wall depicts in turn the full-size figures of Saint Anne breastfeeding the Virgin Mary, Saint George, Saint Theodore, an Archangel, a military saint, and again Saint George. Finally, two guardian Archangels are depicted on either side of the main entrance.