Thripti Plateau
Thripti Plateau is located at Thripti range rising above the village Kavousi, in Ierapetra province, at an altitude of 850m. It's really one of the most beautiful places worth visiting in Crete, which is totally unknown to most Cretans. Its natural beauty is very special and so are the Thripti mountain hiking trails, which are part of the European path E4, which starts from the Iberian Peninsula, passing the Alps down to Crete, where it stops at Zakros.
The village of Thripti is not inhabited by permanent residents today, as they all have left their home for a better life in the urban centers. However, on weekends and in the summer, many of them come to enjoy nature and the coolness of the plateau and keep their crops. Moreover, you will meet a few shepherds who live here in the summer with their flocks.
On the plateau the vegetation is lush, and you will find many fruit trees like apple, pear, walnut, almond trees and many vineyards. But what makes Thripti stand out is the only remaining pine forest of the mountains of Sitia, extending till the mountains of Makrigialos. Much of this was burned out by a huge fire in 1987. Lastly, the range Thripti are the starting point of one of the wildest gorges in Europe, the Gorge Ha, which is an important habitat in Crete.
If you come to the plateau, it is worth strolling in the village and ascend to the top of the Stavromenos peak, where sea views is stunning. Thripti can be accessed via a paved road starting from the village Pano Chorio near Ierapetra. Also, other nice routes are by dirt roads through the lush village Orino, over Makrigialos and through the village Kavousi.
