Routes and trails
E4 European Long Distance Path
There is one large trekking or hiking route on the Greek Island of Crete, which is part of the E4 European Long Distance Path. The E4 trail covers the White Mountains (Lefki Ori), Mount Psiloritis (Mount Ida) and the Mount Dikti. The E4 Path is 320 km long.
It begins at Kastelli in the west of Crete and crosses along the whole Island reaching Kato Zakros in the east where it ends.
The E4 Path route is quite varied and can range from what amounts to simple walking on smooth asphalt roads to some hefty hiking in rugged gorges, right up to some real mountain trekking.
In parts the E4 Path is very overgrown, difficult to follow, and often not marked at all.
Description of trails:
A) Kostamonitsa to Selakano
The E4 Path enters the Prefecture of Lassithi from the western side of the Dikti Mountains. Leaving the village of Kostanomitsa and the settlement of Tihos, it climbs the old Venetian Trail towards the Plateau of Lassithi. From the summit you can enjoy the magical scenery of the largest Plateau in Crete below. Ascending the asphalt road towards the village of Kato Metochi, go through it and towards the next village of Aghios Haralambos. E4 now becomes a dirt road. Continuing on you arrive at the village of Psichro, where you can visit the cave in which, according to mythology, the god Zeus was born. Leaving this village, move onwards along the trail towards the villages of Aghios Georgios and Koudoumalia. All of these villages are found within the Plateau of Lassithi and at an elevation of 900 metres. Now your ascent begins, a total of approximately 950 elevation metres. Exiting the village of Koudoumalia, you can enjoy the last view of the Plateau, before reaching another much smaller plateau : the Plateau of Limnakaro. Passing by the church of Our Lady, you should take the opportunity of filling your canteens at the nearby farmhouse. On the right slope of the mountain, you can see the shelter "Strovidi" hat belongs to The Climbing Association of the Plateau of Lassithi. The dirt track goes through the small Plateau of Limnakaro and continues uphill to the summit of Seli, which is the highest point of the route at 1800 metres. You will need a total of 3.5 to 4 hours from the village of Koudoumalia to get here. Five minutes before the summit, on your right, you will find the spring of "Avarsami". Here begins the downhill path towards the settlement of Selakano and the magnificent pine forest that is one of the few remaining in the Prefecture.
B)
Selakano to Vasiliki
At the entrance to the settlement of Selakano, follow the dirt road to the left
which leads to the settlement of Mathokotsana, which you pass through to the
end. Caution must be exercised here because of the many junctions to the left
and right, and the signs must be strictly followed. The dirt road goes above
the large village of Males but not through it. To your left and right there are
enormous pine trees and holm-oak frees. Looking to the right and below, you can
admire the view of the Libyan Sea and the town of lerapetra. Continue along the
various dirt roads until you reach the asphalt road which leads to the village
of Prina, one kilometre away. Leaving Prina, take the dirt road that goes to
the small village of Meseleri, where the pine forest ends. Go through the
village and continue uphill, passing by the monastery of Vriomeni located above
the village of Stavros. The dirt road continues and meets with another dirt
road, which comes from the settlement of Asari. Here under the huge planetree, you
can rest and fill up your canteen with water. From this spring, you continue
northeast on the downhill dirt road towards the village of Vasiliki, which is
surrounded by countless olive tees.
C)
Vasiliki-Papagianades
After going through the small village of Vasiliki, follow the asphalt road that
leads to the lerapetra-Aghios Nikolaos highway. Cross over this highway to the
other side to take up the dirt road that leads to the small village of
Monastiraki. Pass through the village going uphill along the rough dirt road
following a southeasterly direction. At a marked point turn left, leaving the
dirt road behind. Now you are on an uphill trail that eventually leads to the
dirt road that comes from Kato Chorio and continues on to the mountain village
of Thripti. On the left below is one of the most accessibly difficult gorges of
Crete, the Gorge of Ha (climbing equipment mandatory). Continue uphill until
the village of Thripti, gazing down for the last time on the green valley of
lerapetra which is located at the narrowest point between North and South of
the island. Going through the upper part of the village of Thripti, you pick up
the dirt road again. On the right is the tallest peak of the Sitia mountains,
the peak of Afentis Estavromenos (The Crufixication of Christ) at 1,476 metres.
Continuing downwards, go through the village and keeping left, pick up a trail that goes uphill towards a large transmission antenna. From this point you head downhill criss-crossing trails and dirt roads until you reach the village of Chrisopigi. Beyond this village, following along the dirt road you will arrive at the village of Daphni. After passing through this village, keep on the dirt roads that pass below the village of Kato Kria and continue onward towards the valley of Lithines. At the lowest point of the valley is the old settlement of Adromili, located in the midst of very tall planetrees. A little below the settlement is the picturesque church of Aghios Apostolos (The Apostles) where there is a water spring. From here, head uphill along dirt roads until the small village of Vouri. From this village, cross over the lerapetra-Sitia highway to reach the village of Papagianades, where you can refresh yourself at the old spring in the village.
D)
Papagianades-Kato Zakros
Having passed through the village of Papagianades, walk uphill for 100 metres along the
asphalt road to reach a dirt road on the left, which goes uphill to the village
of Armeni. To the right you can observe the old settlement of Etia, and the
large stone building of Demetzo.Further down along the dirt road, follow the
asphalt road from the village of Armetis towards the village of Chandras,
continuing on until the large village of Ziros. To the right and left you can
see vineyards, and windmills that pump water from wells. Walking towards the
left along the narrow laneways of Ziros, you arrive at the dirt road that winds
uphill and takes you to the Plateau of Mavros Champos. After a short time, you
reach the little church of Aghios Georgios at Skalia, where there is a large
stone water structure. The dirt road now goes downhill until it reaches the
village of Ano Zakros. Passing though the village, take the dirt road for a
short distance, and then follow the path that leads to the magnificent Gorge of
Nekron. The red rocks of the deep gorge accompany you as far as the village of
Kato Zakros on the eastern coast of Crete.
Here ends the long route that is E4.
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