Palm Forest of Vai

The palm forest of Vai is located 24 km away from Sitia, on the eastern edge of Crete. It is a stunning, exotic place, a synonym to natural beauty. It measures 200 sq km and stretches along a small valley which leads to a sandy beach endowed with a green-blue sea.

There are many legends about its origins. Some say that the Phoenicians – allegedly the original settlers of Itanos- were the first to plant palm trees there; others believe that is was created because of the date palm seeds thrown away by Egyptian soldiers, or Saracen pirates, or invaders.

But no matter how is was created, its growth and preservation is due to the hot and dry climate and the underground water of the Valley. Its name comes from the local term for a palm “vagia”.

It is full of palm trees (Phoenix theophrasti) and it is the only palm forest not only in Greece, but in Europe as well. There is nothing similar in Europe in terms of size and beauty.

Its uniqueness is the reason that it was declared one of the 19 most sensational forests in Greece and back in 1973 it was declared a protected natural area. The palm forest of Vai is definitely a unique place, worth of visiting.