images of West Crete
This printed information is © www.west-crete.com 1999 - 2007 - The West Crete information site -

Omalos in winter

tag

Located at an altitude of between 1100 and 1200 metres and with yearly precipitations of up to 2000mm (that's 2 metres!) falling mainly in the winter time the plateau of Omalos gets a lot of snow. Well worth a visit or more if you get a chance.

Because a lot of Greeks also come to Omalos in winter several hotels (with restaurants) stay open in winter. Among them To Exari and Neos Omalos. If you want to come and stay there at the weekend make sure that you book in advance as they can sometimes get pretty busy.

There are some excellent walks that you can do from Omalos but considering the quantities of snow (at times) you better have the right equipment. Snowshoes are great and for higher slopes you might need crampons and ice axe. Most people choose to stay on the plateau (partly because most Cretans do not have adequate snow gear and partly because they shun physical exercise) and will not venture very far at all so you'll generally get the hills to yourself.

 

Clicking on the photos will open a large picture in a new window
Omalos plateau
Omalos plateau
Old Verbascum macrorum stalks in the snow
Omalos plateau
Pond on the Omalos plateau
Bench by a frozen pond on the Omalos plateau
Omalos plateau from above
Above Xyloskala (on the way to Gingilos)
Dead cypress tree above the Omalos plateau
Above Xyloskala (on the way to Gingilos)
The summit of Pachnes seen from Xyloskala (with telephoto)
Omalos plateau
Snowshoeing on the slopes above Omalos
Snowshoeing on the slopes above Omalos
Trees on the slopes of Psilafi
Trees on the Omalos plateau
Omalos plateau seen from above (on the way to Kallergi)
Omalos plateau seen from above (on the way to Kallergi)
Trees on a slope above Xyloskala
Gingilos seen from Xyloskala
Gingilos viewed from the plateau
Summit of Gingilos
Summit of Gingilos
Summit of Gingilos

 

  Back to Omalos in winter photos - Page 1