12°C
From Agios Ioannis, we take the dirt road which passes through the south-eastern corner of the forest of Rouvas, in an easterly direction. Then, it climbs on the eastern slope and after 4,5 km (approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes), leads us at an altitude of 1.300 m, where it splits into two branches, northwards and southwards.
The southern branch leads to the village of Gergeri.
We take the northern branch and after 1.900 m we come to a small flat area with a cistern on our right-hand side. Immediately after, we reach two right-hand branches which we ignore. We continue on the main unsurfaced road for approximately another 300 m, until we get to a plateau and a right-hand branch.
We then turn right (eastwards), through sparse vegetation of evergreen oaks. After 5 minutes, the dirt road leads us far into the plateau, where a well and a couple of watering troughs can be seen, amongst some characteristic rocks and oak trees.
The water of the well is not drinkable
From this point on, we begin to ascend along a small gully, on the western slope of the peak of Gyristi. We initially walk among oaks and bushes, which gradually thin out.
The footpath is not easy to discern, however the signs and red marks indicate the right way.
After about one hour of ascent (approximately 1.100 m), we reach a saddle at an altitude of 1.620 m, north of the peak of Gyristi (1.774 m).
The distant view of the city of Heraklion, to the east, and of the whole basin and the forest of Rouvas, to the west, is breath-taking.
If we continue northwards, along the ridge, after approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes we shall reach the top of the peak of Koudouni
From the saddle, we begin to descend the eastern slope, following the afore-mentioned gully. On our left side we see a large swallow hole. We pass through a totally bare, rocky area and after about 35 minutes we come upon another swallow hole, on our right. We walk along the northern edge of the swallow hole and continue climbing in a north-easterly direction; after approximately 10 minutes we arrive at a small flat area. We continue in a north-easterly direction until we get to a characteristic rock with a direction-showing arrow carved on it.
From this spot, we follow the fairly distinct path, which goes along the hollow of the slope in a south-easterly direction, and after approximately 35 minutes, the Mountain Shelter of the Mountaineering Club of Heraklion appears down below.
We continue until we get to a small water spring next to a characteristic oak, which has given its name to the area (Prinos = oak). From the spring, we continue southwards a little more, for 2 minutes, until we reach the mountain shelter, at an altitude of 1.100 m.
From the spring we follow the footpath which descends to a small plateau, passes through a small clump of oaks, and begins to follow a small gorge.
After approximately 600 m (20 minutes) of descent, we walk along a small boundary fence and reach the end of a dirt road, which we follow. Initially, the unsurfaced road heads south; we ignore a left side road, trace an arc towards the north and then reach a small stream.
From that point on, we continue on an asphalt road. We gently descend among olive groves, in an easterly direction, ignoring any side roads. After 3 km in total, we come to the main road, south of the village of Ano Asites (11).
Medium difficulty
E4 (Yellow/Black)
4 hours & 30 minutes
14500m
From April to September
Mountaineering, Bird watching, Hiking
The Rural Greece is an online portal that connects travellers with unique destinations and local businesses in the countryside, offering authentic experiences through activities that highlight nature, traditions and culture.
For the Rural Greece accessibility is fundamental to enhancing an inclusive tourism experience. Following the principles of inclusion and equality, the epaithros Rural Tourism Network and its member businesses are constantly working to enhance the tourism services provided, ensuring that all visitors have the opportunity to experience the authentic beauty of the Greek countryside.
Sustainability in tourism refers to a way of developing tourism that respects and protects the environment while strengthening the local economy and preserving cultural traditions. The aim of sustainable tourism is to provide unique and authentic experiences for visitors without harming the natural and social environment, while ensuring that local communities benefit from tourism activity.
This type of tourism is based on three pillars:
With sustainable tourism, visitors can have authentic experiences, knowing that the impact of tourism on the region is positive and lasting for future generations.
For Rural Greece, localism is one of the most important factors for the development of sustainable tourism, as it promotes a strong link between the tourism product and the local society, economy and culture. Through localism, visitors get the opportunity to explore authentic elements of the destination, such as local products, traditions and culture. This not only boosts the local economy, but also helps to sustain and strengthen local businesses, creating new jobs and supporting the development of local communities.
Furthermore, localism contributes to the sustainability of the tourism sector, as it reduces the use of resources from other regions and encourages the use of local goods and services, reducing the ecological footprint of tourism activities. Thus, integrating localism into tourism practices enhances sustainability awareness, both among visitors and local businesses, creating a more responsible and sustainable tourism destination.
