Afrata is a beautiful seaside village 28 km from Chania and 3.5 km from Kolymbari. One kilometer from the village, in a quiet little bay, is the beach of Afrata.
It is a pebbly beach free of wind. It is an ideal place for a holiday as the wildness of the surroundings combined with the picturesque village and the tranquility of the beach fascinate every visitor. The beach is organized with umbrellas and sun loungers and a tavern to provide the essentials.
Driving from Kolymbari is easy, you just need a little attention because of the narrow road. After the village of Afrata, the road continues through a beautiful gorge full of trees and aromatic plants, ending in the bay.
On the way from Kolymvari to the village, you will find the historic monastery of Holy Mary Odigitria and the Orthodox Academy. The monastery is of particular importance to the island’s history as the Ottoman conquerors disembarked in 1645 and the first part of the Greek Army in 1897, leading to the declaration of the Greek-Turkish War in 1897. Projectiles on the walls are still visible on some walls, by the canons with which the Ottomans set fire to the Monastery.
In addition, the visitor deserves to see the beautiful cave, Ellinospilios cave where important archaeological finds have been found. The cave is inaccessible so it needs attention. The cave entrance is just above the sea. The cave is made up of two corridors, which lead to the same room, which was named “The Tomb Room”, as archaeologist Bate discovered ancient graves after excavations. The path to the cave is located north of Afrata and continues northeast.
