Kournas

Kournas is the name of a village and nearby lake on the island of Crete, Greece. It is in the Apokoronas region of Chania regional unit close to the border with Rethymno regional unit, 47 km from the town of Chania. Kournas is a fairly large village perched on a hill overlooking the lake. It is in the Georgioupoli municipality, not far from the town of the same name. A working village which has seen less depopulation than some of its neighbours, Kournas is known for its pottery and many popular taverns. The taverna's seats are largely in the road - it is popular for its specialties of 'kokoretsi' (grilled offal) and 'galaktoboureko' (custard and orange tart).

Crete's only freshwater lake, Lake Kournas, is relatively large, with a perimeter of 3.5 km. Although almost all touristic leaflets say that it is possible to walk around the lake, that is not true. At least not at the end of the rain season (winter). There is a nature preserve on the Southwest of the lake. But there is a rustic road from the North of the lake to the Hills on the West of the lake too.

The lake used to be called 'Korisia' after ancient 'Korion', a city thought to be in the area with a temple to Athena. The lake reportedly used to be full of eels but now is better known for its terrapins and tourism. Tavernas and pedalo rental shops line part of the shore. Overall, however, the lake retains its beauty, the White Mountains reflected in the mirror-like waters. The width, at the point where the landing stage is built, is about 800 m and the water is of a quality to have caused no ill effects to the writer when he swam across.

If you stand, barefoot, in the water on the sandy beach, tiny fish will (painlessly) nibble dead skin from your feet for free! This is a treatment, which several tourist shops currently (2012) offer at a price.

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Márcio Reis
16 June 2017
If you're going to Chania make a stop here. A must visit Lake between Rithymnon and Chania. You can take a paddle boat to enjoy the lake by 1 hour for €7.
Kimonas Frangiades
15 August 2012
Don't miss out on the dinning experience that "Taverna Athitis" offers ! 5 Star quality and taste at a perfect value-for-money price ratio
Ondrej Henek
29 June 2014
There is awesome view from the hill above the lake but you have to go through bushes, rocks and scare some sheeps. Mostly for experienced hikers but the reward is worth it!
Yiannis Papasavvas
9 June 2019
Beautiful lake between mountains.Nice atraction to spend a few hours with a pedalboat 7€ per hour and maybe if you are lucky, you will see the turtles. Food and drink available on the lake coast
Eugene Pougatch
18 August 2018
A gorgeous secluded freshwater lake. Be sure to take a paddle boat and reach the opposite side of it to try and find turtles there, and stroll over the depth to maybe see red carps.
Dima Skywalker
18 July 2013
В кафе Онейро вай фай пароль 55555. Лежаки платные - 5евро, вход в озеро очень камянистый, но в целом интересное сочетание гор и озера на острове который ассоциируется исключительно с морем вокруг :)
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Nadya Popova, Helga Deer and 19,585 more people have been here
Map
0.7km from Eparchiaki Odos Georgioupolis-Argiroupolis, Apokoronos 730 07, Greece Get directions
Fri-Sun 11:00 AM–7:00 PM
Mon-Tue 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
Wed 11:00 AM–7:00 PM

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