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This range lies between Heraklion and Lassithi. Its highest summit is Spathi (2.148 m) and there are two more peaks at an altitude of more than 2000m.

Lassithi Plateau, the largest in Crete, lies at the heart of the range at an altitude of 850 m. It is surrounded by a series of smaller plateaus such as Katharo, Limnakaro, Mari, Lapathos, Omalos, Erganos and Nisimos. There is a mountain shelter at Limnakaro from where hikers ascend to Spathi.

Several gorges are found in the range of Lassithi. Apart from the two gorges named Havgas at Katharo and Kalamafka, there are more canyons such as Sarakina, Adrianos, Ambelos, Roza and Kritsa.

The Dikti range has shown a significant diversity in flora and fauna. The lower mountain sides are covered by olive, carob and pine trees. To the south-east, Selakano is the largest pine wood of Crete and close to the village Krasi lies the holm oak wood of Azilakodasos.

The fertile plateaus and valleys of the Dikti range produce a large variety of agricultural products: potatoes, vegetable, pears, apples, walnuts, cherries, etc. Livestock breeding (sheep and goats) is yet another traditional activity in this region. The famous Diktaean Cave where Zeus is said to have been born is open to the public.

 

What to see on the Diktaean Range:
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Havgas Gorge (Kalamafka)

The Gorge of Havgas is located very close to the village Kalamafka, just 12km north of the city of Ierapetra. Note that there are several other gorges with the same name around Crete, such as the Havgas Gorge in Lassithi Plateau.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.14 (7 Votes)
Omalos Lake at Viannos

In Omalos there is nothing, except from the small chapel dedicated to the Holly Spirit. The plateau is only used by local shepherds during the summer months. On every winter the plateau is dressed in white, making the landscape very beautiful. When the snow melts in the center of the plateau a small lake is formed, which is still there till early summer.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.80 (5 Votes)
Katharo Plateau

The plateau Katharo lies 26km south of Agios Nikolaos and 16km west of Kritsa, at an altitude of 1150 meters. The waters of the Plateau are transported through the beautiful gorge of Havgas into Lassithi Plateau. Katharo is uninhabited, although there are several farmhouses belonging to the village of Kritsa.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.20 (5 Votes)
Nissimos Plateau

The Small Plateau of Nissimos is located 55km southeast of Heraklion, on the northern side of the Lassithi Plateau, at an altitude of 890m. Access is quite easy as there is a passable uphill road, 2.5km long, starting from the village Tzermiado.

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Erganos Plateau

The small plateau of Erganos is located at an altitude of 950m at the southern slopes of Dikti Mounts and takes its name after the ancient town of Erganos that was built on the adjacent peak Kefali. The plateau is used today for growing vines, while the views of the surrounding wooded peaks and the valley of Embaros is very nice.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.67 (3 Votes)
Lapathos Plateau

The Plateau of Lapathos is located about 77km southeast of Heraklion and 36km west of Ierapetra, near Kato Symi village. It is a small but beautiful plateau. The background of the plateau is the wild beauty of the Lasithi mountains and the slopes of Selakano. The vegetation in the Plateau is not dense and there are many rocky places.

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Shelter Strovili (Limnakaro)

The shelter is located at position Strovili at an altitude of 1533m over Limnakaro Plateau at Dikti Range. It can be accessed either by walking 2:30 hours from Avrakontes village or by driving the dirt road from there. From here one can hike to the peaks Spathi (2148m) and Afendis Christos (2141m). The shelter can accommodate 12 people. . It is available upon request to its operator, i.e. the Mountaineering Club of Lasithi (www.fysi.gr).

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.11 (9 Votes)
Azilakodasos Wood

The holm oak wood (Azilakodasos) is located 11km west of Vrachasi and 9km south of Malia, in the foothills of Mount Selena. The small forest can be accessed either by walking the smooth path from Krassi village or by following the trail from Malia that runs uphill. There is also a small network of forest dirt roads in the area.

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Roza Gorge

The gorge of Roza is an offshoot of the gorge of Ambelos. It starts from a point near the rural road that crosses the gorge of Ambelos and has east-southeast direction, leading to Kera.

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Havgas Gorge (Katharo) at Lassithi Plateau

Through the gorge passes Havgas river that carries water from the plateau of Katharo to Lassithi. Then the water reaches Chonos (the hole from which waters of the Lassithi Plateau escape the plateau), comes out from Fleves and reaches Aposelemis dam. The river has water for several months a year. Thus, make sure you get properly informed about the weather because the canyon carries a lot of water during periods of rainfall.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.80 (57 Votes)
Sarakina Gorge

16km west of the Ierapetra is the traditional village of Mythi. At a short distance from the village, the small Sarakina Gorge starts, which ends near the Mirtos. The length of the canyon reaches 1.5km and its width ranges from 3 to 10 meters, with only a few points exceeding that.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.00 (7 Votes)
Agia Fotini Cave and Agia Anna church

The cave of Agia Fotini is on located on Mount Louloudaki, 7km south of Avdou village, at an altitude of 760m. 35km east of Heraklion is the Avdou village, where a sign "Agia Fotini Cave - 7 km”, shows the direction. From there you enter a dirt road, which leads to a small square below the mouth of the cave. Following the steep path on foot, the visitor arrives at the entrance of the cave.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.64 (48 Votes)
Diktaean Cave

The impressive cave of Zeus, the Diktaean Cave, is located just 10 minutes walking-distance from Psychro, in Lassithi Plateau, at an altitude of 1025m. In Psychro there is plenty of parking areas, with plenty of restaurants nearby. Two paths leading to the cave start from the parking area. The easiest path is the left one, because in the right path (the oldest) the stones are worn by thousands of tourists and are slippery.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.65 (13 Votes)
Trapeza Cave (Kronion)

The cave Trapeza, also known as Kronion Cave, is located between the village Marmaketo and Tzermiado, in Lassithi Plateau, at an altitude of 860m. It’s located near the secondary road that connects Marmaketo with Tzermiado School. There are signs leading to the cave both in Tzermiado and Marmaketo. A path with steps, hidden in trees, leads to the cave after ascending for 5'. The entrance to the cave is quite indiscernible and the view to Lassithi plateau from there is magnificent.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.47 (19 Votes)
Lassithi Plateau

The wonderful Lassithi Plateau is located about 25km south of Malia and 70km west of Heraklion city. Located in a peaceful and fertile region, it is surrounded by the wild mountains of Dikti and several smaller plateaus. The views of the surrounding mountains of Selena and Afendis Hristos are majestic.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.50 (2 Votes)
Limnakaro Plateau

The Limnakaro Plateau lies on the northern slopes of Mt Dicte, near the Lassithi Plateau, at an altitude of 1,120 metres above sea level. It is enclosed by the peaks of Lazaros (2,048 m) to the east-southeast, Strovili (1,533 m) to the west and Megali Korfi (1309 m) to the north.

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Omalos Plateau at Viannos

Omalos Plateau of Viannos is located at the southern foot of Mount Dicti, next to Kato Simi and Viannos, 60km southeast of the city of Heraklion. It can be accessed more easily from Kato Simi, but there are also alternative routes that are worth driving on dirt track (such as the road starting from the Lassithi Plateau and another track coming from the smaller plateau of Lapathos).

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.77 (13 Votes)
Selakano Wood

The forest Selakano is located 35km north of Ierapetra, in the southeastern part of the Dikti massif, surrounded by the four highest peaks (Lazaros 2085 m, Spathi 2148 m, Afendis Christos 2141 m, Psari Madara 2090 m). The area can be accessed via asphalted road that runs through a magical route till the village Selakano and starts either in Ierapetra or Kalamafka.

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.93 (14 Votes)
Kato Symi Wood

One of the nicest villages in Crete is the forested village of Kato Simi by Viannos in Heraklion Prefecture. Together with the ruined village of Pano Simi, they lie in the heart of the largest pine forest of Crete, with the neighboring Selakano and Malles woods included. 

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 4.21 (7 Votes)
Plane tree of Krassi

In the village square of Krasi, near Malia, there are three plane trees, the trademarks of the village. The most important of them is the platan in the center of the square, which is considered to be the oldest and most majestic of the plane trees in Crete.

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