Vreiko Cave

You can also visit the cave with children. By not being technically challenging at all, it provides families with kids with a safe form of adventure that children will definitely appreciate. Our kids really enjoyed exploring the cave. What they liked most was playing with the shadows and light cast by their headlamps. They also enjoyed descending down the rope and being able to see the geological formations so close up. We even turned off all the lights for a while and experienced complete darkness. It was a unique experience for them and the very next day we went to another similar cave.

Don't forget to take headlamps for the kids too. Everyone needs their own source of light, as the cave is otherwise completely dark.

Here you will find a number of geological formations

The Vreiko Cave with its labyrinthine passages and cave chambers has long fascinated explorers and curious travellers alike. Its name derives from the nearby Vreiko Mountain, which towers above the surrounding landscape. The intricate network of stalactites and stalagmites that have formed in the cave over millions of years creates a unique atmosphere, which is enhanced by the fact that there is no one else in the cave but you.

The play of light and shadow in the cave

Explore it yourself

When you arrive at the cave there is a ladder waiting for you to descend to the entrance. The ladder is relatively new, made of wood and placed here by the local authorities to make it easier for tourists to access. Enjoy the last rays of sunlight and enter the cave, where beautiful geological formations await you.

The entrance to the cave is via a ladder

Unlike Skotino cave, it is smaller, with less challenging terrain. You will also find a rope that is fixed along the edge of the cave. Not only does it help you find your way back, but most importantly you can hold on to it as you descend down. The floor is not made up of stones, as in other caves, but a combination of stones, clay and sand. It can therefore be quite slippery.

Inside the Vreiko Cave

As soon as you climb the first narrow path inside the cave, a large chamber full of stalagmites and stalactites of different sizes and shapes opens up. This room is 60 metres long and 15 metres wide, while the ceiling height reaches up to 12 metres in some places.

View of the first chamber

The rich decoration of this space divides the cave into different parts and creates the impression of many smaller rooms. Holding on to the rope, you will gradually get deeper and deeper.

Other formations you can find in the cave

The lower part is also large and has an area of 1 500 square meters, with a lower ceiling. It is richly decorated with various formations whose colour goes from white to beige to black, according to the minerals that helped shape them. At the end of the lowest room, you can see that some parts have been flooded in the past.

Also suitable for children

Vreiko Cave is also suitable for visiting with children. By not being technically challenging at all, it provides families with children with a safe form of adventure that children will definitely appreciate. Playing with shadows mirrored on stalactites, as well as the whole journey through the cave, is a very attractive form of entertainment for children and they definitely won't be bored. Don't forget to take headlamps for the kids as well. Everyone needs their own source of light, as the cave is otherwise completely dark.

Journey into the depths of the cave

How to get here?

You can only get here by car. You can rely on google maps. They will lead you to your destination. The Vreiko Cave is located near the village of Pefki, about 70 km southeast of the town of Agios Nikolaos. For the last kilometer you will drive on an unpaved road and park your car at the roadside just outside the village of Pefki.

From here you will have a 10 minute hike through the hills. Along the way you will encounter several signs with the name of the cave and the direction.

The way to the cave with a sign

The road offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. And although it may seem that the scenery looks the same as other caves, it is not. You'll find a number of colourful shrubs here.

The way to the cave

History of the cave

In addition to its natural beauty, the Vreiko Cave has an important place in history and mythology. Archaeological findings suggest that the cave was inhabited as early as the Neolithic and served as a refuge for ancient people seeking shelter from the elements. Archaeological findings suggest that the cave was used in the Minoan period and perhaps even earlier.

Vreiko Cave