Trail E4 Agarathos - Kasteli - Kastamonitsa
This part of the E4 European trail is one of the easiest you can find in Crete as it is entirely through paved and dirt roads (in fair condition). As it is quite long, you can explore it by car, but we suggest thinking of cycling. The route offers good views of the olive groves of Pediada province.
The route starts from the monastery of Agarathos, which is considered the oldest operating monastery in Crete. We get the dirt road heading northeast of the monastery and walk across the barren rocky hills north of Sambas village. We reach Sambas village and head eastwards to meet the village of Agii Apostoli, hosting the Byzantine church of Saint George. We continue our course to Kastelli, but it is a good idea to make a small redirection across the village of Sklaverohori. In Sklaverohori there is the church of Panagia, bearing very old frescoes of foremost artistic value.
We reach the capital of Pediada province, Kastelli, with the important churches and start ascending to village Xidas. Xidas is located close to the antiquities of Lyttos, one of the most important Cretan towns of the Greco-Roman era. We finish our route in Kastamonitsa, a beautiful village built on the western outskirts of the Diktaean Range.
Agarathos - Kastelli 3:00 (11 km) and Kasteli - Kastamonitsa 2:00 (7 km)
