Vai Palm Forest

Some 20km west of Sitia, is one of the most spectacular sights in Crete: a palm tree forest covering an area of approximately 200 sq meters. According to local legend, the forest grew from the pits of dates that were thrown here by Egyptian soldiers, Saracen pirates and King Mithridates’s army. Vai is one of the largest attractions of the Mediterranean island of Crete and the largest natural palm forest in Europe, made up of palm tree Phoenix Theophrasti. The forest is located at the exit of a quite narrow valley and ends at the beach. Within the forest is a spring of good sweet water and a small brook with numerous oleanders within the riverbed. The forest is unique not only for its beauty but also for the species of palm trees it’s comprised of. The rare palm trees Theofrastou (Phoenix Theophrasti) embrace an exotic beach with golden sand and blue-green water that has been awarded with a Blue Flag.