Samaria Gorge full-day hike

Operated by Crete Transfers Co

The Samaria Gorge is the longest walkable gorge in Europe and the single most famous hike in Crete. Our day begins with an early hotel pickup and a scenic drive up to the Omalos plateau, where the trail starts at an altitude of more than 1,200 metres. From the wooden staircase of Xyloskalo the path drops steeply through pine and cypress forest, with the White Mountains towering on either side. Over roughly 16 kilometres the gorge narrows and widens again, passing the abandoned village of Samaria and a chapel half-hidden in the trees. The dramatic high point is the Iron Gates, where the rock walls close to just a few metres apart and rise hundreds of metres overhead. Throughout the walk you may spot the kri-kri, the wild goat found only in this corner of Crete, picking its way along the cliffs. The trail ends at the old village of Agia Roumeli on the shore of the Libyan Sea, where there is plenty of time for a swim and a relaxed lunch by the water before the coastal ferry carries us to Sougia or Chora Sfakion. From there our vehicle is waiting for the drive back to your hotel. This is a demanding full-day walk of five to seven hours on uneven ground, so good footwear and a reasonable level of fitness are essential. In return you get one of the great natural walks of the Mediterranean, led from start to finish by a licensed local guide.

Highlights

• Hotel pickup & drop-off
• Licensed guide
• Ferry from Agia Roumeli
• Entrance fee included