The E4 path in Greece
The E4 European Long Distance Path is a path that is under the surveillance of the European Ramblers’ Association (EWV) and the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing.
The Routes of the E4 European Path in Crete and the Prefecture of Rethymno
In Crete, the path begins its way at Kissamos in the Prefecture of Chania and ends up at Zakros in the Prefecture of Lasithi. The oldest and most experienced mountaineers of Crete have cooperated in order to choose the regions crossed by this path. Therefore, it is guaranteed that everyone, who walks this route, gets to know the most beautiful and interesting mountaineering landscapes and unexplored Cretan nature, since it passes by old paths, villages, monasteries and Crete’s high mountains.
E4 crossing Crete from west to east
In the route that lies furthest in the south of Greece, the E4 crosses Crete, beginning at Elafonisi, on the west coast, and ending up at Kato Zakros, on the east coast. In this route, the path often branches off, so that hikers have the chance to choose among routes of variable natural and cultural beauty. Walking at a fast pace, it takes about 15 days to cross Crete following the E4.
In the prefecture of Rethymnon, the E4 path also comprises two branches, the northern one and the southern one. The northern branch comes into the administrative borders of the prefecture from the region of Argyroupoli village and the northern one from the region of Rodakino. The two branches meet at the plateau of Nida on the mountainous mass of Psiloreitis and, from there, the path goes on to the administrative borders of the prefecture of Heraklio.
The two branches in the prefecture of Rethymnon cross areas of great natural beauty and lands of important geological, archaeological, historical and, generally, cultural value. They also offer the chance to go hiking in the mountains of Krioneritis, Kedros and Psiloritis. The southern branch is recommended to hikers in good form and to those whose interests focus on the byzantine era. The northern branch is recommended to hikers that are more interested in the Venetian occupation and modern culture.(Source: e4nar.gr)
Please continue reading in the very informative website of the E4 hiking path in Crete The Routes of the E4 European Path in Crete (http://www.e4nar.gr/index.php?l=1), and walk on the 14 routes that the E4 Path follows in Crete.
Hyper-marathon on the E4 Crete
On the Cretan section of the E4, a hyper-marathon with a starting point in Kissamos and finish line in Kato Zakros was held in 2012. The trans-Cretan distance of 595.7 kilometers was covered from 22 June to 2 July 2012 and took 10 days, 2 hours and 44 seconds, with temperatures of 38-40 degrees.
Congratulations to the two marathon runners Nikos Thanos and Stergios Arapoglou.
