Crete’s beautiful forests turn into forbidden zones during the fire season, so forget about your woodland strolls and off-road adventures. Thanks to Decision 87/8-5-2025 from the Deputy Governor of Rethymno, both tourists and locals will get their steps in somewhere else until October 31, 2025. This annual ritual kicks in when the fire risk index—announced daily by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection—hits a level 4 or 5. Chasing that Instagram shot on a high-risk fire day? Big mistake.
Here’s what the fire season bans mean for anyone on Crete:
- Certain woodlands and gorges become “look-but-don’t-touch” zones during the fire season whenever warnings hit 4 or 5.
- Areas locked down include:
- In Rethymno, peri-urban forests of Evligias, Profiti Ilias, Agios Ioannis; the reforested area south of Arkadi Monastery; Mylon Gorge.
- In Agios Vasileios, the urban forests near Kissos, Agouseliana, Agios Ioannis; lands south of Kourtaliotis Springs and 50 meters on each side of the Kourtaliotis riverbank up to Preveli Lake; the palm forest zone at Preveli, reforested areas to the lake’s west.
- In Mylopotamos, Margariton Gorge.
- In Amari, Agios Antonios Patsou Gorge.
- Is the fire index at level 5? The full “do not pass go” applies to all the above, plus every last bit of the monitored Kourtaliotis Springs sector in Agios Vasileios.
- The government maps out each banned area, so there’s no pleading ignorance.
- You can check which areas are closed on the Civil Protection site or, for the chronically lost, the CivilCrete Talos app.
CivilCrete Talos App
Look, Crete’s fire season bans aren’t random. Wildfires move fast, and the whole “trailblazer” fantasy ends with fines, panic, or much, much worse. Need to know if today’s a perfect day to not go bushwhacking in a closed zone? Stop guessing—there are tools for that.
The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection posts the fire risk map daily at civilprotection.gov.gr. It’s there, in bold, for everyone from sunburned tourists to grumpy locals. The CivilCrete Talos app—free on Google Play and iOS—gives more than a map. It offers:
- Locations of all shelters and meeting points on the island, plus GPS directions for when your sense of direction fails.
- Campsites and first aid kit spots, mapped for the unlucky and the unprepared.
- Push alerts about severe weather, earthquakes, or anything that ruins a picnic.
- Exact GPS coordinates, altitude, address, and the ability to call 112 by pounding the red SOS button if things go sideways.
- The current fire hazard map, 10-day weather forecasts, and emergency bulletins from professionals who worry so you don’t have to.
- Live earthquake data (in case you want to know why your beach chair is shaking) from the Geodynamic Institute of Athens.
- Quick access to every phone number you’ll need, from hospitals to rescue services, without hunting through old flyers.
The app even lets you download first aid guides, hiking safety tips, and marked trails. You’ll find municipal contacts, police, fire service, and even the Crete Civil Protection office, all just a tap away—perfect for anyone who forgets they’re not Bear Grylls.
Remember, these fire season bans are serious. Crete protects its forests, especially in blistering summer, and everyone plays by the same rules: tourists, hikers, beach-goers, Instagrammers, and locals.
Stay informed, respect the closures, and save your woodland adventures for another season unless your idea of living dangerously involves fines and lectures from Greek officials.
