Destinations

Vai, Palm Forest

Vai palm forest lies in a beautiful valley and by a sandy beach, just north of ancient Itanos: 28 km from Siteia, 8 from Palaikastro and 6 from Toplou by their respective roads. Covering 200 stremmata (50 acres), it is made up of the native Theophrastus palms – the largest colony not only in Greece but also in all Europe. A large enough stand exists at Preveli, with smaller clusters elsewhere, eg. at Aghios Nikitas. The palm also turns up here and there in the SW Aegean islands, Cyprus and Turkey.