Ikaria: Ranti Forest-Raos Choutra-Petropouli

Ranti forest is an absolutely magical place. Its singularity is given by the holm oak tree that is the dominant specie. It is the last remaining forest of this kind in the North Eastern Mediterranean and a Nature Monument of the Greek State. Please, be careful, you will be inside a priceless treasure.
The hike combine a long walk by the forest with the visit to the little village of Petropouli. It is a good idea to plan to have lunch in Petropouli before to return (the duration of our track includes it). If you only want to visit the forest you will find indications about how to really shorten the hike (length 3.8km/ gain 240m). All these proposals have been inspire by hikes suggested at Ikaria Island a book that is worth to buy. http://www.ikariaguidebook.com/
The starting point is in the route from Evdilos to Magganitis, before the church of Agios Dimitros. If you drive from Evdilos you will find a huge area to park in the left side of the route. Some meters after the parking area, in the opposite side of the route, when it turn left, you have to look for blue and green spots that a while after became red. After going up, the path continue by the middle of the ridge, without getting close to the cliff or entering the forest.
Following the red spots, in some point you reach a cross (WP1) where you have to turn right. After, you reach another cross (WP2) where you have the possibility of shortening this hike: if you turn right you achieve WP5 in some minutes. If you decide to follow our entire track you will enjoy Ranti forest for a longer walk. All the options are marked with the same red spots.
Before reaching Petropouli you can visit the entrance of a cave called Raos Choutra (WP3) The interior is dangerous and you must not enter without proper equipment. From WP3 you achieve the village (WP4) easily by a nice path.
To return you have to take a pave road (WP5) and shortly after you have to look for a not clear path on the right side (WP6). After that difficulty it is easy to follow the path looking for the red spots.
After rentering the forest, at WP7, you have to leave the clear path, marked with red spots, and look on your left for faint path, marked with cairns, that will lead you in front the parking area.