Crete's Vai Palm Tree Forest

Travel to Crete’s Eastern tip and you will find yourself at Vai’s palm forest. Vai has a colony of 5000 trees of the Phoenix Theophrastus variety that are located very close to the water’s edge. A few smaller clusters of this tree are found in other areas of Crete in Preveli and the Canary Islands, but the Vai palm forest is the most impressive collection of these palm trees in Europe.

 

The name of the tree comes from the word “vagia” which means “rims of palm tree” in Greek. The forest supposedly grew from the cores of dates that were thrown on the beach by Arab pirates. While that story is unlikely, it’s more probable that these trees are endemic to the area and have been growing in Crete since ancient times.

 

The land of the Vai palm forest itself is owned by Toplou Monastery. Toplou Monastery is the largest landowner on the eastern side of Crete. At this monastery, you can find a collection of icons from the Byzantine period.

How did Vai Palm Forest get Famous?

Vai palm forest is unique in Crete because it is a jungle right next to the beach, making you feel like you are in an exotic location in the Caribbean or in the tropics. The Vai palm forest, most easily accessible from the towns of Palekastro and Sitia, became famous in the 1970s because of a British TV advertisement. It featured a coconut dessert covered in chocolate and claimed that Vai palm forest was a place where you could find “the taste of paradise.”

 

Vai palm forest’s popularity grew quickly among campers who set up camp on the shores, which ultimately damaged the Vai habitat. Because the palm forest was under threat of becoming a trash dump, the local authorities designated Vai palm forest as a protected area in order to preserve Vai’s trees.

What can I do on Vai Beach?

Vai beach is about 200 meters long and is ideal for rest and recreation. It has sunbeds, umbrellas, and water sports. You can rent paddleboards, kayaks, or pedal boats. In the palm forest itself, there are walking paths and observation points. 

 

When should I Visit Vai Beach?

The best time to go to Vai beach is between April and June, or between September and October. These are ideal times because it is not uncomfortably hot. 

 

What Other Sites are Near to Vai Beach?

To access Vai beach, the closest large city is Heraklion, which is 2.5 hours away by car. The closest towns to Vai beach are Palekastro and Sitia. Nearby is the monastery of Toplou, which owns the Vai palm forest land. Other nearby sites include the Palace of Zakros, the Archaeological Site of Itanos, and the Chochlakies Gorge.

 

Are There Other Palm Tree Forests in Crete?

Yes! The palm forest of Preveli is the second largest in Greece. It is found below the monastery of Preveli, next to the Kourtaliótiko gorge in the Rethymno prefecture. The beach is known for its extensive forest of Phoenix Theophrastii.