Dikti Mountains ~ Το όρος Δίκτη

These mountains are rugged and rocky, with snow and cold conditions in winter, with fertile plateaus dotted amongst them, the most famous of which is Lasithi Plateau.

There is plenty to explore. Rockclimbing, hiking, caving and horse riding are all popular, and in spring the mountains burst with wildflowers. Greek mythology tells us that Zeus was born or raised in a cave here, called the Dikti Cave, it is near the village of Psyró.

Nature abounds in the remote and unique ecology of the mountains. Rare birds to spy include the Bonelli Eagle, falcons, ravens, the Griffin Vulture and the Bearded Vulture.

There are small mammals such as the Cretan marten and badger, and weasels, voles, hares and hedgehogs. Reptiles such as snakes and lizards, and ever present scorpions hiding under the rocks.

The E4 European Walking Path passes through these mountains. This path is 320 km long in Crete and winds from the west to the east taking in the breathtaking scenery and high mountains in Kriti.

With plenty of history, high in the mountains 1100m behind Tzermiado lie the ruins of Karfi, where the Minoans lived around 1000 BC.

The villages of Tzermiádo, Agios Giórgos, Psyró, Marmakéto, Agios Konstatínos, and Avrakódes are agricultural villages of the Lasithi Plateau.

Another Dikti Mountain village is Kritsá (pictured), near Kastella Mountain, which leads to the Plateau of Katharo. Kritsá is known for its proud Cretan traditions, and for its picture-postcard whitewashed village and mountain scenery, so much so Kritsá was a movie set for Italian-French production “He Who Must Die” 1957, based on the work of Cretan author Kazantzakis. The village has a fascinating history, as home of the freedom fighter female leader Thriliki Kritsotopoula, who died in the Battle of Kritsá in 1823.