Lasithi Plateau

From the north-eastern exit of Kastamonitsa (1) and on, the road goes along the foot of the western side of Mount Dikti, in a north-easterly direction; 350 m after the last houses of the village we come to a church and two side roads on the left (2) which we ignore and continue straight on, to the right.

We ignore a branch road (3) going uphill to the right that we meet 250 m further on, and continue straight, descending. After 1.000 m, we come to a left branch road and a spring with drinking water (4).

We follow the main road which passes through Kastelli (1) from west to east, and then begin to climb the hills east of the plain of Kastelli.

After 3 km of ascent through the hills, on the asphalt road, enjoying a magnificent view to the west, we arrive at Xidas (2), a village built on a slope beneath the summit where the ruins of Ancient Lyktos are to be found.

From Xidas, we continue on the asphalt road, and after 4 km we reach Kastamonitsa (3), at the western foot of Mount Dikti.

From Agarathou Monastery (1), we follow the dirt road which goes northwards; after approximately 100 m, we turn right onto a downhill dirt road which passes through a small slope north of the gardens of the monastery.

On our left, up the hill, a small chapel can be seen.

We continue on the unsurfaced road, hiking on slopes full of shrubs and low vegetation, and after about 1,8 km we come to an asphalt road (2). We go down this road for 1,5 km, until we emerge onto the main road, at a spot where there is an old farmhouse and a few cypresses (3).

From Ano Archanes (1), we follow the asphalt road, which passes through a small plain with vineyards, until we reach Kato Archanes (2).

From Kato Archanes, we continue for 500 m on the main road, in a northerly direction. We then come to an uphill dirt road (3) on our right-hand side, which we follow for 400 m, to the first turn-off (4); there, we take the right-hand branch.