Samaria Gorge More Than Just a Hike: An Untouched Crete Experience

Experience the untouched beauty of Crete on a hiking tour of the Samaria Gorge. Traverse unspoiled terrain, swim in crystal waters, and explore traditional villages at your own pace.

Duration: 14 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Omalos - Early in the morning, you will be picked up from designated spots around Chania via a luxurious bus and reach the starting point of your tour in Omalos Plateau around 7am. The panoramic view of the gorge from the plateau is a photophile’s delight, so after short stop for pictures and/or breakfast, you will hop on the bus and depart for the traditional village of Sougia. It is there that you will hop on a boat and sail along the coast of Crete till you reach Agia Roumeli.

  • Samaria Gorge National Park - No holiday in Crete is complete without a trip through the 2nd longest gorge in Europe, the Gorge of Samaria. It is the longest and most imposing ravine in the Mediterranean. It is 16.5 kilometers in length from the position of Xyloskalo and terminates at Agia Roumeli in the Libyan Sea.
    We will arrive around 7 o’clock in the morning and after a short break you will start walking. Descending the 600 wooden steps you will be intrigued by the beauty and serenity of this massive gorge which is shadowed by the white Mountains.
    You will come across the church of St. Nicolas, built on the ruins of an ancient temple. Afterwards you will reach “Portes” or “Iron Gates”, the narrowest pass of the gorge. The hike ends at Agia Roumeli.

  • Agia Roumeli - Agia Roumeli is the home of one Greece’s most beautiful beaches. Nestled between mountains, this beach boasts some great scenery.
    A small village at the exit of the Samaria gorge on the south shores of Sfakia in Crete, with unique beauty and interesting historical background.

What's Included
  • Air-Conditioned Luxury Bus
  • All Fees and Taxes Included
  • Full Liability Insurance
  • Guided Hiking Escort
What's Not Included
  • Admission to Samaria (5 € per adult, children free of charge on the spot in cash)
  • Boat ticket (13€ per adult, 5.50 € per child 5-12 years old on the spot in cash)
  • Personal expenses, extra beverages or meals
Additional Information

Immerse yourself in the authentic heart of Crete as you explore its pristine landscapes, bathe in its clear waters, and wander through its quaint villages.

Our Samaria Gorge hiking tour lets you experience all these at your own preferred speed.

You’ll begin your adventure bright and early, with pick-ups arranged from specific locations around Chania in a comfortable bus, getting you to the Omalos Plateau, the departure point of the tour, by around 7 in the morning.

Benefiting from the shade cast by the nearby White Mountains and abundant natural springs for hydration, this leisurely hike promises lasting memories for each participant. A dedicated hiking guide trails behind your group for your safety and to offer help when needed. Your return journey back to the pick-up spot gets underway around 5 in the evening.

  • Pick up/Drop off is conducted only is select spots in Chania. Depending on your location, you will be advised on the time and place after booking.
  • Be sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes for the trek through the gorge
  • It is advisable to bring the following items with you: sunscreen, sunglasses and hat
  • It is important to stay hydrated, so bring a bottle of water (you can refill it in the gorge’s springs) and a light snack (fruits etc.)
  • Υou can swim at Agia Roumeli beach just after you exit the gorge so make you have a swimsuit and beach towel with you
  • Τhe entrance fee to Samaria as well as the boat fee are paid with cash on the spot
  • Half way down the gorge lies the old village of Samaria, which has a telephone for communication with the police, a pharmacy, and two mules to transport injured persons.
  • In the village of Samaria, take a quiet walk around and you may catch a glimpse of the endangered kri‐kri. They are usually very friendly towards people!
  • Upon reservation please advise the exact name of your hotel in order to send you the exact pick up time and place
  • Τhe trip is not recommended for any person with a history of knee problems, high blood pressure, cardiac and pulmonary problems, pregnant women and for anybody who suffers from vertigo/fear of heights
Location
Omalos
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(303 Ratings)
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J4638xejordang
Jul 31, 2024
Samaria Gorge Hike - This was incredible. My wife and I are 34, she was really nervous about the hike, but said she would do it again! The views were stunning. It is a lot of downhill and rocky. It took us 5 hours total finish the hike. Swimming at the end was so fun. Our legs were definitely sore for three days after though. One thing we wish we did was rent the walking sticks, we think that would have helped us stabilize ourselves a little more with wearing tennis shoes, not hiking shoes. There were plenty of fresh water springs that were safe to fill your water bottles up with and tasted good and safe.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Esmeralda_k
Jul 23, 2024
Samaria Gorge hike - Absolutely fantastic! Wasn’t expecting to be able to do the 6 hour hike but it was easier than I thought in the end. If kids can do this, then do can I! The view was amazing! The organisers were excellent, very professional, organised and informative. 5 stars to them!
Review provided by Viator
Deons2024
Jul 18, 2024
A Hike Well Worth It - The outdoors and trecking people are going to love this. Samaria Gorge is an amazing place to see, particularly when it towers over you and there are layers of earth millions of years old around you. You do need to be physically fit for this, but 13-15 km in 6 hours is very manageable. Not to mention you have a great lunch and beach break waiting for you at the end.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C1655pjtimc
Jul 12, 2024
Tough but Spectacular Day - A fantastic day, organisation without fault, guide super, gorge spectacular. Coach was air conditioned which was a god send at the end of the day as the last 3km of the walk was hot beyond anything I've experienced (although from the UK so not a high bar!), really well driven on some very mountainous roads. Guide gave just the right amount of information and some interesting facts during the coach journey without overdoing it. Available without being in in your face, basicly you make your own way down while she swept up any stragglers to ensure every makes the ferry. The gorge is spectacular and I would recommend to anyone interested. It is nearly all down hill but it is rough ground. I wore trainers which I would not recommend if you have hiking boots (I did not bring them to Crete), by the end the soles of my feet were suffering from the rough ground. It is also very hot, especally the last 3km from the National Park exit to the ferry. It's tough but very much worth the effort, time and cost.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fotios_r
Jul 9, 2024
Wonderful scenic walk - Long 5 hour walk but in beautiful/scenic surroundings, I only do daily 30 minutes walks at home and I found the walk not difficult. But you need to always be mindful due to the rocky uneven path. I strongly recommend if you like scenic walks
Review provided by Viator
Nuria_p
Jul 7, 2024
Amazing! - It was a fantastic experience for my two children 16,14 years old, we did the hike in our own pace. The trip was super organized from the beginning to the end. Instructions from super Ingrid clear. Very kind, friendly and fluent in lots if languages guide. Super star. And our bus driver was very talented and friendly aswell. We will recommend 💯
Review provided by Viator
Thomasl27
Jul 4, 2024
Great trip! But requires you to be a little trained - Fantastic tour starting at 1250m and ending by the sea. The tour is according to the organizer 16km but my training clock showed 18km. The trip takes 5-8 hours depending on how well trained you are. The first 4 km is steep downwards. Then it flats out. After 7km you get into the ravine itself as some places are very narrow with high precipitated mountains on either side. The last 4 km is open and warm. Otherwise you are mostly shielded by mountains and forests. There are natural water sources all the way so you don't have to bring a lot of water The only negative was a little bad information about the trip home and that the guide did not accompany us to the boat. It ⁇ 't have been a big deal if there hadn't been 2 boats at once and there were 500 people there. It seemed that many were unsure PP which boat to take. We left the hotel at 6 and were home at 21
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adrienne_d
Jul 4, 2024
Beautiful hike! It's a... - Beautiful hike! It's a long day though (6am to ~830pm). The beach at the end is lovely. There are towels, chairs, and umbrellas available for rent. The beach also has an outdoor shower which feels great after hiking & swimming.
Review provided by Viator
Julie_b
Jul 1, 2024
Gorgeous! - Very good experience! We love it Tough hike but you are well rewarded by the magnificent view and scenery.
Review provided by Viator
Todd_l
Jul 10, 2024
Worse hike ever. Why torture yourself for over ten miles! - Worse hike ever! You are walking over all sizes of rocks for over ten miles. My legs were gone after the first 3 kilometers straight down hill over various sized rocks. I didn’t enjoy the scenery because I was regretting the decision the whole way. I wanted out! Do this hike if you want to torture yourself. The only bright spot was our guide Demitris. He was amazing. I’m from California where we have many mountains and hiking trails. And I would never do the Samaria Gorge hike again even for a million dollars.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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