{"id":2407,"date":"2026-04-02T07:47:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T05:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/?p=2407"},"modified":"2026-04-02T09:21:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T07:21:33","slug":"keri-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/travel-guide\/nature\/keri-forest\/","title":{"rendered":"Keri Forest \u2013 A Hidden Green Oasis Above Heraklion"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2407\" class=\"elementor elementor-2407\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3c049e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c3c049e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a112d15 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a112d15\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Keri Forest \u2013 A Green Oasis Above Heraklion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21da345 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21da345\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Tucked away in the hills of northern Crete, just a short drive from Heraklion, lies one of the region\u2019s most surprising natural escapes: Keri Forest. Located at an altitude of around 300 meters, this peaceful woodland offers a refreshing contrast to the rugged, rocky landscape that dominates much of the surrounding area.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">A Forest Born from Vision<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Unlike many of Crete\u2019s wild landscapes, Keri Forest is not entirely natural. It is an artificial forest, carefully reforested by the former municipality of Malevizi. Covering an area of approximately 5 square kilometres, the forest was created to restore greenery and provide a protected natural oasis in an otherwise dry environment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Today, the area is dominated by pine trees, with occasional cypresses adding variety to the scenery. Over time, the forest has developed its own ecosystem, offering shade, fresh air, and a sense of calm that feels worlds away from the busy coastline below.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-892d511 gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"892d511\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t\n<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"892d511\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Keris_Forest_03\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTgzNywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2xhdDM1LmV1XC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI2XC8wMlwvS2VyaXNfRm9yZXN0XzAzLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6Ijg5MmQ1MTEifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_03.jpg'><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1014\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_03.jpg\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"view of the Keris forest\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_03.jpg 1014w, https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_03-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_03-768x473.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1014px) 100vw, 1014px\" \/><\/a>\n<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"892d511\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Keris_Forest_04\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTgzOCwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2xhdDM1LmV1XC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI2XC8wMlwvS2VyaXNfRm9yZXN0XzA0LmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6Ijg5MmQ1MTEifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_04.jpg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1014\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_04.jpg\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"view of the Keris forest\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_04.jpg 1014w, https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_04-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_04-768x473.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1014px) 100vw, 1014px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbbdbf2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cbbdbf2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Location &amp; Access<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Keri Forest is situated near the village of Kera, close to the impressive Almyros Gorge. Access is part of the adventure: a dirt road begins roughly 300 meters after Voulismeno Aloni and leads you into the forest.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">While the route is accessible by car, it is especially enjoyable for those who appreciate a bit of off-road exploration\u2014making it a perfect stop for adventure tours and nature lovers alike.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dec6eb2 gallery-spacing-custom elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-gallery\" data-id=\"dec6eb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-gallery\">\n\t\t\t\n<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"dec6eb2\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Keris_Forest_02\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTgzNiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2xhdDM1LmV1XC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI2XC8wMlwvS2VyaXNfRm9yZXN0XzAyLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImRlYzZlYjIifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_02.jpg'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1014\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_02.jpg\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"trees in the Keris forest\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_02.jpg 1014w, https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_02-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_02-768x473.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1014px) 100vw, 1014px\" \/><\/a>\n<a data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"dec6eb2\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Keris_Forest_01\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTgzNSwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2xhdDM1LmV1XC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDI2XC8wMlwvS2VyaXNfRm9yZXN0XzAxLmpwZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImRlYzZlYjIifQ%3D%3D\" href='https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_01.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1014\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_01.jpg\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"bird\u00b4s eye view of the Keris forest\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_01.jpg 1014w, https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_01-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lat35.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Keris_Forest_01-768x473.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1014px) 100vw, 1014px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f024e7c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f024e7c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Breathtaking Views<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">One of the highlights of Keri Forest is its dramatic eastern edge. Here, steep vertical cliffs drop down towards the Almyros canyon, opening up panoramic views that stretch across the landscape.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">From certain vantage points, you can see:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The winding path of the gorge below <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The city of Heraklion in the distance <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The shimmering waters of Amoudara Bay <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">There is also a small hill within the forest that offers one of the best viewpoints in the area. From here, the combination of sea, city, and mountains creates a truly memorable panorama\u2014especially during sunset.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3da8832 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"3da8832\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/shorts\\\/uLd50Pm_rQc&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6aaa1c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6aaa1c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">A Paradise for Hikers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Keri Forest is a popular destination for hiking and outdoor activities. Several trails pass through the forest, including routes that connect with the Almyros Gorge.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Whether you are looking for a relaxed walk under the shade of pine trees or a more adventurous hike combining forest and canyon terrain, the area offers something for every level of explorer.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"western\" align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Why Visit Keri Forest?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Keri Forest is not a typical tourist hotspot\u2014and that is exactly what makes it special. It is a place where you can:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Escape the heat and crowds of the coast <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Experience a rare green landscape in northern Crete <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Enjoy panoramic views over one of the island\u2019s most beautiful regions <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Combine nature, light adventure, and photography in one trip <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">For visitors exploring the Heraklion area, Keri Forest is a hidden gem worth discovering\u2014especially if you are seeking something beyond the usual beaches and city sights.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">If you are looking for a place where nature, tranquility, and breathtaking views come together, Keri Forest should definitely be on your list.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Keri Forest \u2013 A Green Oasis Above Heraklion Tucked away in the hills of northern Crete, just a short drive from Heraklion, lies one of the region\u2019s most surprising natural escapes: Keri Forest. Located at an altitude of around 300 meters, this peaceful woodland offers a refreshing contrast to the rugged, rocky landscape that dominates [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nature"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2407"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2407\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2432,"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2407\/revisions\/2432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lat35.eu\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}