Lake Kournas

Visit Kournas Lake on the island of Crete, which is surrounded by hills, just a few kilometres away from the sea and at the boundaries of Chania and Rethymno. The lake was known as Korisia in antiquity and is nowadays a destination attracting thousands of visitors every year. The lake’s water increases during winter, from adjacent sources in the mountains and decreases in summer revealing a gold sandy strip. The shallow clear waters at the shore gradually get darker towards the centre of the lake, reaching a maximum depth of 22.5m. Gaze at its surface mirroring the green surrounding, a safe haven to the area’s avifauna and protected by the Natura 2000 program.

Home to a large number of birds and animals, Lake Kournas is the place where you can encounter moorhens, ducks, geese, herons, cormorants, eels, water snakes, goldfish and rare species of turtles who are permanent residents of this friendly wetland.

If more time is available explore the area and visit:

the picturesque village Kournas (at 4km from the lake) and the cave with its beautifully formed stalactites and stalagmites
Argyroupolis village where you’ll get the chance to see parts of the excavated ancient city Lappa. The area is renowned for Agia Dynamis springs, which is surrounded by a wooded area and crystal clear waters flowing from the mountains and some old mills.
the wonderful tourist village Georgioupolis, where you’ll find lot’s of resorts and accommodations, a long beach next to Almyros River that flows through a verdant place and ends up in a picturesque harbour.

How to get there

From either Chania or Rethymnon head towards Georgioupolis from the National Road and follow the old rural road towards lake Kournas for approximately 4.2 km (watch for the road signs).

Nature