Lapathos to Psari Madara peak (2086m)

Just before the Lapathos plateau we head northeast on a dirt road and proceed uphill towards the location of Protolitsa. The road is quite good until the small but beautiful plateau of Protolitsa with the haughty huge prinos scattered around and from here a bad and unmaintained dirt road continues since it is no longer used, until the abandoned sheepfold of Tziris, at 1730m.

Just before we reach the old sheepfold and the highest point of the road (this is the highest road in all the Lasithi Mountains) we leave the road and head northwest on an inconspicuous path, which easily leads to the Kalogeros area with its characteristic hill and the pond with spring water that exists until the snow melts on the surrounding peaks.

Then we step on the Lasithi Madara, following the suspected path and taking direction from the piles of stones that have been placed at various points. Also, once we reach the ‘hidden’ valley of Kalogeros with the hill with the rocky peak in the middle, we see the entire impressive ridge outlined in front of us and to the north. Without the need for a path, we proceed towards the point where the ridge begins (a little to our right) and simply follow it, gaining altitude slowly but steadily.

Due to the lack of a path from this point, a little caution will be needed in planning our steps as we climb. The route offers impressive views over the South Cretan or Libyan Sea, the Afendis Christos peak to the west (2142m) and Spathi peak to the north (2148m), while from the peak of Psari Madara, weather permitting, the view towards the entire Selakanos valley and the wider eastern region of the Lasithi prefecture is extensive.

A route of moderate difficulty, without particular gradients, if we exclude the last section before the climb to the top.

So when these snows melt, the natural lake is created in the center of the plateau, which is maintained until the summer and its waters are drained through the ground, enriching the water table of the area.