Cities

The gorge of Saint Charalambos is a small, but beautiful canyon located south of village Ano Asites. It takes its name after the church of Saint Charalambos located at its beginning. Till the middle of spring, the gorge has water, forcing hikers to traverse (to hike along its walls).

The monastery of Ayiasmenos (Hallowed, Sanctified) is located 2km north of Ierapetra, near the main road connecting the town with Pahia Ammos. The church of the monastery is dedicated to Agii Pantes (All Saints) and in the late 19th century it hosted the home of the Bishop of Ierapetra and Sitia.

The Boutakas River is located in the province of Apokoronas in Chania, which originates from the White Mountains near Vafes village. It passes through the village of Vrysses, where there are many beautiful taverns, and flows into the beautiful beach of Kalyvaki in Georgioupolis, after being mixed with salt water.

The mountain shelter at position Samari is located at an altitude of 1417 meters on the west side of the gorge of Agios Nikolaos. It's a single-room stone building with a wooden attic that can accommodate up to 20 climbers. It has 2 W.C., fireplace and there is a possibility for cooking. There is water available from a cistern which is not potable.

Above Krya Vryssi we meet one of the highest waterfalls in Crete, the waterfall of the wild gorge Gre Daphne, known as Rechtas. It has water until spring and falls from a height of 100m! A little further down, in the ravine of Gre Daphne, there is the rock climbing field of Krya Vryssi.

Paliamas Olive Tree has been declared monumental by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities due to its relief trunk and size. This olive tree dates back to the Sub-Minoan First Geometric period, produces big olives and it’s got a big cavity in its trunk, where three people can fit in. Its perimeter at its foot measures 20.40 meters and at a height of 80 cm from the ground it measures 10.50 meters.

The monastery of Gorgolaini hosts two ancient trees that have been declared a nature monuments by the Greek state: a cypress and a plane tree. Both are located at the end of the garden, one next to the other.

This part of the E4 trail starts from the historical monastery of Arkadi, heads to antiquities of the ancient town Eleftherna and then concludes at the village Margarites. The highlights of the route include the monastery of Arkadi, the ancient necropolis and the Roman cisterns in Eleftherna and the traditional houses of Margarites.