The European path E4 beginning at Gibraltar crosses Spain, France Switzerland, Germany Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria and ends up in the south-eastern edge of the Mediterranean Greece, finishing its journey at the island of Venus, Cyprus. In Greece, the Hellenic Mountaineering Association has been appointed by the European Ramblers Association, its coordinative body, to define and the path. Today the Hellenic federation of Mountaineering and Climbing is its administrative body. In the route that lies furthest in the south of Greece, the E4 crosses Crete, beginning at Elafonisi, on the west coast and ending up at Kato Zagkros , on the east coast. In this route, the path often branches off, so that hikers have the chance to choose among routes of variable natural and cultural beauty. In the prefecture of Rethymnon the E4 path also comprises two branches, the northern one and the southern one. The northern branch comes into the administrative borders of the prefecture from the region of Argiroupoli village and the northern one from the region of Rodakino. The two branches meet at the plateau of Nida on the mountainous mass of Psiloreitis and, from there, the path goes on to the administrative borders of the prefecture of Heraklion. The two branches of the prefecture of Rethymnon cross areas of great natural beauty and lands of important geological, archaeological, historical, and generally natural value. They also offer the chance to go hiking in the mountains of Krioneritis, Kedros and Psiloreitis. Especially, mountain Kedros and south-western part of the mountain range of Psoloreitis belong to the Natura 2000 European network, in which Kouraliotiko gorge, which is close to the E4 path, is also included. The southern branch is recommended to hikers in good form and to those, whose interests focus on Byzantine era. The northern part is recommended to hikers that are more interested in the Venetian occupation and modern culture.