Trail E4 Spili - Kedros- Gerakari
This part of the E4 European trail starts from Spili and ascends to the peak of the wild massif of Kedros. Kedros, despite being quite low (peak at 1776m), is one of the most tiring places to walk in Crete, due to the high inclination and being full of spiky rocks and steep cliffs. The signing of the trail with the typical E4 yellow-black marks is quite sufficient.
The route starts from Spili, where we can fill our bottles from the fountains of Kefalovrissi with clean fresh water. We walk to the east, till we reach the springs at the exit of Agia Fotia Gorge. From there we enter a dirt road that crosses the pine wood of Vatolaki and ends at Kissos village.
At Kissos we can make a stop at the main square with the ancient plane tree for a coffee and refill our bottles in the fountain of Kissos. Below the square, you can visit the secret old fountain of the village. From Kissos we follow the dirt road that heads eastwards and then start ascending to the west ridge of Kedros from a trail. When we reach the ridge we head east and watch for the E4 marks till the peak of the mountain and the chapel of Analipsis, where we have amazing views of the surrounding valleys, the plateau of Gious Kambos, the mountains of Psiloritis and Lefka Ori.
From the peak, we return back and follow the sign to Gerakari that heads northwest. From there we descend to Profitis Ilias chapel, built next to a spring with fresh water, and then reach the road that will take us to Gerakari, well known for its delicious cherries (if early summer, seek them).
