This trip probably couldn't be considered as a single trip if one would like to use a local traffic connection. Perhaps, it could be usable for those who set off (from Chania) by car to return at the evening. But for the others, this trip is just a starting part of a big track into mountains.
The village of Kámbi is situated on NE foothills of Levka Ori and the Volika Refuge is above it at the altitutde of about 1300m. First, how to get to Kámbi. There is a bus connection from the Chania main bus-station to Kámbi but only one service a day leaves, around 14:00 and, in addition, just during working days. A problem already at the bus-station could appear - while on the ticket there is clear-written the name of village – Kámbi (or Kampoi), the driver of the bus can replay on your question (if it is a bus to Kámbi) whether you wish to get to Kámbos what could be a little bit misleading. You must say “yes” and for – maybe less then one hour – you are in the village. Keep in your mind, the bus is not terminated here so you must be on the alert to get out. Kámbi is about the third or fourth stop out of the town (after the bus overcomes hills and starts to go down). As soon as you are in the village all is going better now. You are on a small square beside a two-aisle church in front of which there are road signs among which also the sign toward Volika is. Perhaps, there were some tavernas in the village in the former times, but currently “a dog has died” there what means all your supplies must be in your backpack already. Follow this direction along a quite straight road as far as a Y-junction. There are two possibilities how to continue. Either along the bitumen road to the left which is running over some small settlements and behind the last one turns into the dirty shepherd’s road which terminates (after many and many boring kms winding on hillsides) just under the refuge or (the second possibility) to go to the right (in this direction also an old wooden hiking signpost points) as well along the tarmac road first but only for a shorter distance in place where a cartway to the left branches (the wooden hiking signpost). The way is marked from this spot already by well-visible yellow-white marks which lead you as far as Volika (and still farther). Now, the route runs, at first, past several houses then through a shallow valley with fences and some barns on the right side as far as the place where (beside the barn) a gate (= an “openable” part) in fences is. Now go through and keep yourself on the left near the fence. Marks appear again and they put you on the dirty shepherd’s road above. The way is still well marked. Now follow this road to the left. Just after it crosses in a loop a shallow ravine it comes in front of the next gate (a wider one like for a car). There are two possibilities how to go on again. To go through the wide gate in the fence means you have to turn to the right before the road starts to descend and struggle up through quite rough terrain upward to find next (smaller) gate in the fence. The better is (the second possibility) to turn in front of the wide gate to the right and go on along the fence upward. Yellow-white marks appear and lead you along a footpath to the next (above mentioned) smaller gate. As soon as you are behind this smaller gate all is going well. The ascending and winding footpath is quite well built and runs on the right-hand slope of the gorge (if you are facing to the mountains, thus upward). Also black plastic pipes lying underfoot point the right direction. After a certain distance, the path crosses the gorge and goes on the opposite slope. When the path returns on the right-hand slope again the first black-yellow E4 route’s pole appears. Now, these poles mark the route in parallel with yellow-white marks as far as the road under the Volika refuge. Cross it and continue uphill to the orange building visible high above. The Volika is very important trailhead for those who set off to the Lívada Plateau from this side of mountains (via Mt.Spathi, Ghourghoutha tou Spathiou area and Stavrou Seli saddle). Lívada is one of the most important intersections in Levka Ori. One can continue from it along the E4 route either toward the Niátos Plateau (via the Sideroportas saddle between Agio Pneuma and Grias Soros peaks and over the Kástro-massif) or in the opposite direction to the Katsiveli Refuge (from this place, more possibilities how to continue are disposal again) and, finally, there is a connection between Lívada and the end of the Therisso road, as well. The Volika Refuge is indeed locked but in its rear part an unlocked add-on extension with large bunk-bed inside is and, as well, there is a round-year working water source not so far from this chalet (if you are standing in front of door of the extension and facing to the mountain, thus, the building is beyond your shoulders, the spring is to the left, about 300 – 400m away under cliffs, roughly at the same altitude as the refuge is or a little bit higher only).
