Hiking the High Deserts of the Madares
When: From May to October
Languages: Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Finnish, Swedish, Turkish,
Duration: 8 hours
Meeting Point: Agora (Market Hall) in Chania; or if you prefer, pickup from your hotel
Dress Code: Casual, warm clothes, hat, sun block, good walking shoes, a back-pack for water and light snacks, and a full meal after the hike
Including: Services of an officially qualified Greek tourist guide, entry fees, lunch, and bottled water
Food: Yes
Walking difficulty: Difficult walk, participants must be physically fit
Rest rooms/WC: Yes
The ultimate highlands of the island of Crete, the so-called Madares, are located in the White Mountains. The quest of this hike is Mt. Pachnes: at 2453m it stands second only by a mere 3 meters to Mt. Psiloritis at 2456m. This adventure calls for travel in 4 x 4 vehicles in order to access a parking plateau three hours from the top. The landscape of Pachnes is barren, almost Martian-like; the views from the summit are breathtaking, almost surreal — on a clear day you can see forever. This trip can be combined with other spectacular hikes in the same area, including the E4 European long distance path, that meanders east-west along the spine of Crete.