I Took Roads and Alleyways

The route covers a total of 71 kilometers and lasts about two (2) hours by car or motorcycle, without stops. It is easy, accessible all year round, and ideal for lovers of gastronomy, folk culture, nature, and adventure.

From the center of Rethymno, the route leads toward Amari, with a key landmark being the Arkadi Monastery and the nearby Museum of Eleutherna—rare beacons of history and culture. The journey continues through the village of Thronos, the Monastery of Asomaton, Monastiraki, Amari, Meronas, and Gerakari. Along the way, Patsos Gorge, the Potamon Dam, and Yious Kambos with its unique Cretan tulips reveal the rare natural wealth of this remarkable route, offering countless opportunities for stops and hiking excursions.

And as always in Crete, everything finds its place at the table, where staka with eggs, pilafi, slow-roasted meat, and oven-baked dishes take center stage. Chickpeas with pork and boiled meat served with thick pasta bring unique tastes and memories. Amari cheeses—from graviera and kefalotyri to tyrozouli and anthotyro—carry the freshness and aroma of the mountains. The thrοumbes olives of Ampadia add authentic flavor, while the local olive oil stands as the foundation of every recipe.

To the sounds of the lyra and mantinades, the voice of the land is heard. In the dry-stone walls marking the fields, in the centuries-old olive trees, and in the carob that sustained generations, lies the wisdom of self-sufficiency.

The Amari route, beyond its landscapes, surprises with its rare flavors and unique products, which can be purchased at the many local shops and dairies of the region. If accommodation is needed, the warm hospitality of the area awaits in its guesthouses, lodgings, or hotels.

Route Products

PDO products: Graviera of Crete, Pine-thyme honey of Crete, Thrοumba olives of Ampadia.

PGI products: Cretan rusk, Rethymno wine, Cretan wine.
Special products: Dairy products, aromatic herbs, thyme honey, thrοumba olives, Gerakari cherries, meats, apaki, sausages.

Route Delicacies

Boiled meat: A traditional dish with few but high-quality ingredients, brimming with the flavors and aromas of Crete. Local sheep or goat meat is boiled in large cauldrons until tender, and then in its broth thick pasta or rice is cooked, creating a feast of taste and fragrance.
Traditional Cretan cured meats: Their preparation involves smoking pork with local aromatic plants and herbs such as thyme and sage, which lend a distinct aroma and flavor. The best known are apaki, vinegar sausages, and syglino. They are fried in a pan or cooked over fire and paired with roasted potatoes, wine, or tsikoudia.

Chochlioi boubouristoi (snails fried with rosemary): Perhaps the tastiest way to enjoy snails in Crete. The snails are washed and placed in a pan dusted with coarse salt, fried in olive oil with rosemary, and deglazed with strong local vinegar.