Preveli Beach, one of Crete’s most distinctively beautiful beaches, has long been a tourist attraction since its heyday as a hippie hangout in the 1960s and 1970s. The old Preveli Monastery, which is situated at the top of the canyon, is the inspiration for the lake’s additional names, Lake Preveli and Phoenix/Finikas. It’s located on the southern tip of Crete, just where Kourtaliotiko Gorge merges with Preveli Gorge and where the Megalos Potamos (Grand River) flows into the sea.

It has a vast palm grove, which offers walking in the shade from below and fantastic photo opportunities from above. There is also relatively little development compared to many other beaches because it is a protected natural area.