Network of Green Routes in Chania Prefecture

The Prefecture of Chania with its beautiful natural wealth receives even more visitors each year, either hikers or climbers.

Our Association in its effort to promote these visitors in hiking routes different from those of the E4 trails, has signed ten (10) routes in the wider region of Lefka Ori, but also in semi-mountainous regions of our prefecture.

This signing was conducted with the support of the operational program of the community initiative LEADER + and the help of O.A.DY.K.

These routes were characterized as Network of Green Routes in the Chanea Prefecture. They will function additionally to the E4 trails and constitute the first core of the wider network of trails, which our Association tries to make widely known.

These routes are easy to hike and we believe that they will help the tourist development of the inland. Each route has different signs, easily recognizable and bidirectional, with colourful geometric forms, in squares with white background signs of 0,15x0,15 centimetres.???

The signs have been placed on trees or on stable stones and rocks or even on pillars of chestnut trees next to each path. Also, where possible, paint has been used to make signs in the same colour and form for each route. Maps with detailed information will be placed at the starting point and end of each route.

These ten Green Routes are the following:

1. ZOURVA-TROMARISSA

Hike duration: 2 hrs 30mins ascent. Return to Zourva 2hrs descent to Zourva

Sign: Red circle in white square background

2. SIRIKARI-POLYRRINIA (gorge)

Hike duration: 2 hrs 30mins. Crossing of the gorge

Sign: Small, green, , square in white square background

3. KOUSTOYERAKO-POLYFIMOS'CAVE-SOUYIA

Hike duration: 4hrs. The route leads to Souyia on the E4 trail which is running parallel to the coast.

Sign: A square, half white and half blue.

4. KAMBI-VOLIKAS Refuge-SPATHI SUMMIT (altitude 2.046m.)

Hike duration: 5 hrs 30mins ascent. Return to Kambi

Sign: Yellow circle in white square background

5. VOLIKAS Refuge-MILE CAVE

Hike duration: 2hrs ascent. Return to Volikas

Sign: A square, half white and half yellow.

6. TAVRI-SFAKIA Gorge-SFAKIA

Hike duration: 6hrs Crossing of the gorge. Approach from the E4 trail of Askyfou.

Sign: Small, blue square in white square background

7. ANOPOLI  (Sfakia) -LOUTRO

Hiking duration:1hr 30mins descent. Return to Hora Sfakion by boat

Sign:Small, yellow square in white square background

8. AYIOS IOANNIS (Sfakia)-AYIOS PAVLOS-AYIA ROUMELI

Hike duration: 2hrs descent. 1hr to Ayia Roumeli from the E4 trail which is running parallel to the coast.

Sign: A square, half white and half red.

9. AYIOS IOANNIS (Sfakia)-KORMOKOPOS CAVE

Hike duration: 2hrs ascent. Return to Agios Ioannis

Sign: Blue circle in white square background.

10. GONI - (Askyfou of  Sfakia)-AMBELOS-ASFENDOU-AYIOS NEKTARIOS

Hike duration: 5hrs descent. Crossing of the Asfendou gorge

Sign: Green circle in white square background