LASITHI PLATEAU & CAVES

Our first stop is at the historical monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, a monastery inhabited and run by nuns, which is located in an idyllic landscape. Here you can admire the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary, plenty of frescoes and a variety of other icons, dating back to the 14th century.

Then, we head to Lasithi Plateau, one of the few areas in the Mediterranean with permanent inhabitants at an altitude over 800 meters. It is surrounded by the Dikti Mountains and 18 quaint villages, which still retain the atmosphere of another era. You can admire the remaining famous windmills and the Venetian ditches, the drainage system of the Plateau.

The next stop will be the village of Psychro. You can visit the Dicteon Cave with the fantastic stalactites and stalagmites, where according to the myth God Zeus was born. Psychro is also well known for its handmade ceramics and the workshop there will leave you with the best impressions after your visit.

A legendary cave, the Kronion Cave, is our next stop. Cronus, Zeus’ father, used to live there before Zeus’ mother moved him to the Dictean Cave to rescue him from his father’s rage. The cave is said to be guarded by a giant dragon and no one is allowed to enter. It is a cave of great archaeological value, as it was used as a dwelling, a burying site and a place for worship.

Our last stop, Tzermiado, the capital of the villages on the plateau, will amaze you with its natural beauty, its traditional architecture and its breathtaking views. Here you can take pictures of the wonderful landscape, rest for a while and enjoy your lunch in one of the local taverns.

09:45              Arrival in Monastery of Kera

10:15              Departure from Monastery

10:40              Arrival in Dictean Cave

12:30              Departure from Psychro – Ceramics

13:15              Arrival in Kronion Cave

13:45              Arrival Tzermiado

15:00              Departure from Tzermiado

16:30              Arrival Heraklion

ROUTE:                                100 km

DURATION:                                      8 hours

STAY IN KERA MONASTERY:     app. ½ hour

STAY IN DICTEON CAVE:                       app. 1 ½ hours

STAY IN CERAMICS:                                app. 30 min.

STAY IN KRONIO CAVE              app. 30 min.

STAY IN TZERMIADO:                 1 hour and 15 min.

ΕXTRAS:       Entrance Dicteon Cave:                      6.00 €

Entrance Kera Monastery:      2.00€