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Description
Gavdos is the southernmost Greek island, located to the south of the much larger island of Crete. The island is rocky and hilly and roughly triangular in shape. Its highest point is Mount Vardia with 345 metres. Gavdos has been designated by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. Gavdos has forests of pines and junipers, olive groves and a variety of other vegetation, such as maquis.
During bird migration in spring many birds make a stopover on the island. For example in the spring of 2024 at the Gavdos Bird Observatory, 74 bird species were ringed. The most abundant species were Garden Warbler (705), European Bee-eater (373), Spotted Flycatcher (342) and Blackcap (281).
Among the other bird species you can encounter on the island or have been recorded on the island are European Turtle Dove, Chukar, Eurasian Nightjar, Great Snipe, European Shag ,Squacco Heron, European Honey-buzzard, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Scops Owl, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, European Roller, Eleonora's Falcon, Woodchat Shrike, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Semicollared Flycatcher, Blue Rock Thrush, Isabelline Wheatear, Black-eared Wheatear, Spanish Sparrow, Trumpeter Finch and Scopoli's Shearwater.
Details
Access
Gavdos is only accessible by ferry from the island of Crete from the small harbours of Paleochora and Chora Sfakion. The ferry company is called Anendyk (see the link below). Mostly the small car ferry departs 3 days a week from Paleochora (e.g.Monday to Wednesday) and 3 days from Chora Sfakion (e.g. Thursday to Saturday). Always check the departure times on the website as there are constant changes.
The island is 25 Km2 with quit good roads. Best to travel by car. In the low season, buses only run the route between Karave (harbor) - Sarakiniko and Agios Ioannis. During the summer months, all villages on the island are served daily. There are good possibilities to hike on the island as there are many paths and roads you can explore on foot. On the map you see some options for walking.