11 Gates: Hike in the region of Rethymno through different Shepherds pastures, Crete

Our guide/driver will pick you up from your hotel (Rethymno district) at 9:00. You shall arrive to your destination after 25 min. Your journey starts near the imposing Monastery of Arkadi.

During your hike, you will open 11 fences. You will enter thus 11 different pastures, each one having its own story to tell. Follow the shepherd's paths, explore the Cretan nature off the beaten tracks and learn all the little secrets and traditions of the Cretan agriculture.

This hike has 3 different stages:

• The first part of the hike is quite easy. You will have the sensation of leaving behind the view of the sea and going towards the mountains. The highest peak of Crete (Psiloritis 2456m) is often in sight. If you happen to do this walk at springtime, you will walk through green fields and countless flowers. For sure, you will come across no one on your way. Perhaps, if you are lucky, you'll meet an authentic shepherd. Most of the time, sheep and goats run free in these lands. You will see some drinking troughs as well as some very beautiful trees.

• During the second part, you may enjoy a small pique-nique prepared by your guide; you will eat what the sheperds eat as a snack. The view is magnificent... You can see the sea from above and feel the cool breeze. The second part ends up at a little church which is open to anyone most of the time.
• The third part is a little bit more difficult. You will get out of the easy path to follow the E4 (European Path Network), sometimes even passing from unmarked fields. You will visit an abandonned church as well as a new one, which is build inside a rock. As you open the last fence... you will feel free and calm, full of beautiful images to bring back home. After that, we return to the car, and we end our journey in a small kafeneio. Mme Irini is so welcoming and, although the scenery is a little bit strange and even... kitsch (as it is in most villages!) the food served there is homemade and suitable for all preferences (vegetarian friendly). The raki is great quality and the owner's love is more than enough to make you feel like home.

Highlights

• Have a short visit in the monastery of Arkadi 
• Enter 11 different pasturelands 
• Enjoy the remarkable view of Psiloritis peak
• Traditional snacks on the way
• Have light lunch in a local kafeneio
• Take the E4 trail and walk through unmarked territory
• Visit an abandoned church built inside a rock