Lasithi Plateau

A little beyond the junction to Limnakaro, east of the large water storage pit, there is a right-hand turn-off which leads to the chapel of Agia Pelagia (1).

From the small cemetery (1) at the eastern exit of Agios Georgios, we follow the dirt road towards the east. After 1.300 m, we come to a junction (2), the right-hand branch of which leads to the plateau of Limnakaro.

On our left lies a big water storage pit; we walk along its eastern bank and 850 m after the Limnàkaro junction we come upon a smaller water storage pit (3), which we bypass on its north-eastern side. We then reach the entrance to the Gorge of Havgas (4), where we see a structure made for channelling the water of the gorge into the water storage pits.

We return to the saddle (1) before the Varsami water spring; from here we continue eastwards, on the main path, and then pass onto a low ridge. A mitato (shepherd’s stone dairy hut) can be seen on the opposite, northern slope, south of the low ridge, where we can take shelter in case of need.

From this point on, we can take a due north-easterly course; after approximately 2 km we reach the summit of Spathi.

Somewhat south of the shepherd’s stone hut (1) which is located at the western side of the plateau of Limnakaro, a cart track continues gently uphill, following the left (eastern) bank of a dry water course. After approximately 800 m, the stream that runs along the western side of the plateau joins with another stream, which runs along the foot of its eastern side.

We follow the road south of Agios Georgios for 300 m. Slightly before the settlement of Koudoumalia, we come to a complex of agricultural tourism facilities on our left-hand side. There, a secondary road (1), with a southerly direction, begins, which we follow for approximately 500 m. We then come upon a fork and take its left (southern) branch; we continue for 100 m, until we reach an uphill main dirt road (2), which we take southwards for 850 m.

At the western entrance to the village of Tzermiado (1), where the Health Centre of the Lassithi Plateau area is to be found, a dirt road begins, which snakes on the slope until the small plateau of Nissimos.

Just after the entrance to the plateau, there is a left branch of the road (2) which leads to the foot of the western slope, next to a small chapel (3).

Northwards, in the distance, the summit of Selena can be distinguished.

After the Kato Metochi village square, at the south-eastern exit of the village (1), we leave the asphalt road and enter a dirt road on our left, which passes through the plateau, among cultivated fields. We continue straight on, in a south-easterly direction. After 1.000 m we bypass the settlement of Agios Charalambos (2) to the north.