2-day hiking in Psiloritis on Oct. 5-6

Psiloritis, the stone giant of Crete, border of earth and sky, dominates the entire island with its wild beauty. Mountain villages on the edge of the cliff; unique caves; impressive karst formations; deeply shadowed canyons; small plateaus and bare alpine zones make up a unique scenery.

The mountain range of Ida, better known as Psiloritis, reveals to us through its cloud-covered peaks Crete in all its glory. The volume of the White Mountains to the west; the Dikti (Lasithio mountains) to the east; the Mesara plain, the Asterousia Mountains and the immensity of the Libyan sea to the south; Heraklion and Rethymnon with the Cretan sea as a background to the north. Among the many peaks of its main massif, the five largest stand out: Timios Stavros (2,456 m), Agathias (2,424 m), Stolistra (2,325 m), Voulomenou (2,267 m) and Kousakas (2,209 m.).

Almost half of the year it is covered with snow, which melts in the spring and feeds its underground rivers and deep caves with huge amounts of water. The robustness of the landscape exudes Doric and Levantine, fully intertwined with the character of the people who live up here, most of them cattle breeders. As genuine descendants of Cretan Zeus they are hospitable, proud, impudent, hard-headed but with an open, sensitive and wise soul that seeks the deeper meaning of life in the simplicity of things.

In the past, as Herodotus testifies, Psiloritis was covered by dense forests where all the wild animals of the Cretan fauna lived, including the Cretan goat (kri - kri). Today, there are few remaining forests. The largest, the forest of Rouva, near Gergeri of Heraklion, is home to endemic and rare species of plants and animals, such as the Cretan wild cat. Other smaller forests can be found on the Vromoneros plateau – near Kroussons of Heraklion – on the slopes of Zaros and in Pardi, near Amari in Rethymnon. The bare mountaintops are dominated by rare raptors such as vultures, vultures, hawks and golden eagles.

In 2001, the Psiloritis Natural Park was established, which has even joined the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, thus achieving global recognition for this place. Beautiful hiking trails have been developed within the Park that reveal the natural and geological secrets of the mountain.

Myth and history have left their indelible marks on Psiloritis. From ancient times and for many centuries it was a sacred place of worship. The famous cave Ideon Andron, cradle of the Father of gods and men Zeus is what first gave the mountain so much glory and sanctity. Nearby, in the middle of the route from Anogeia to the cave is the archaeological site of Zominthos where the largest Minoan mansion has been excavated and is in good condition.

A series of towns and beautiful villages surround the roots of Psiloritis. In the mountainous Mylopotamos with the heroic Anogeia as its capital, you will meet authentic Cretans and enjoy the proverbial Cretan hospitality. Not far from Anogeia, the road leads to Skinakas, another peak of Psiloritis. The Observatory of the same name operates here under the care of the University of Crete. On the plateau of Nida (1,450 m.) are scattered the mitata, stone vaulted shepherd's lodges and cheese factories that will impress you with their wise construction.

1st day

Our meeting will take place in the city of Rethymno (port or airport) and then we will go up to the mountains and to Lakkos of Mygeros and at an altitude of 1670 m.

From here begins the paved-stone path, the well-known Strata of Psiloritis, which will lead us to the Highest peak of Crete and at 2456m. At the top dominates the church of Timios Stavros and a well that is filled by the rains and snows.

From the top we can see most of Crete and of course some of the Aegean islands such as Santorini and Milos.

Return by the same route and continue to a local cafe in Anogeia for tsikoudia and Cretan flavors.

4 – 5 hours of hiking

2nd day

After our breakfast with a view of the valley of Mylopotamos we will start an interesting hike towards Agios Hyakinthos starting from the position of Anogeia at an altitude of 900m.

With the help of forest roads and the European path E4, we cross forests of maples and privets to reach Fournos, where the stone church of Agios Hyacinthos is located. (For his love for Christ, he was declared a saint of the Orthodox in love and celebrates on July 3.) After our break we continue to Lakko tou Gaitanis and following the old path from the location of Megala Playa we end up at the starting point with an endless view to the cape Chania

4 – 5 hours of hiking

Cost 225 euros / person