Things to do in Samaria Gorge
Those walking boots will get a good workout during a hike through the Samaria Gorge, one of Crete’s natural wonders. This 16km-long ravine is the longest in Europe, so it’s a serious – but spectacular – five to six-hour trek that’s not for the unfit or faint-hearted.
Most Samaria Gorge hikes start at the Xyloskalo staircase, which zigzags some 200 metres down into the gorge. You pass tiny chapels as you walk between the high ravine walls, possibly spotting some of the island’s wild ‘kri-kri' goats on your way. The highlight, though, is the ‘Iron Gates’ – the narrowest section of the gorge where the 300-metre-high walls stand just 3 metres apart. Simply spectacular. At the end, you reach the seaside village of Agia Roumeli, where if you’ve made good time, you can take a refreshing dip in the sea or fuel up on traditional Greek food at a taverna.
If you love the great outdoors and a bit of adventure, a gorge hike is a must when visiting Crete. A trek, guided by a local expert guide, offers the perfect combination of natural beauty, culture and history.
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How to get there
Samaria Gorge
Chania
Greece
Reviews Samaria Gorge
“We did not complete the walk and had to climb back to the top and go back to the hotel by taxi (€150). According to the Tui information, I fulfilled the criteria for the walk (no heart condition, asthma) and I have in the past done fell-walking in the Lake District, but I was unprepared for how rocky the terrain would be beyond the initial steep descent. I feel the information should include the need to be a current regular hill/mountain walker, prepared for unremitting stony/rocky terrain.”
“The description of the trip is not accurate, we were not prepared for the day due to misinformation on the excursion description. It says the trip was 8 hours, we were out for 15! The gorge is beautiful but it gets extremely hot which made it hard work, we completed it by 2pm but had to wait until 5.30 for the boat, and then after the 1hr 30 boat, a 2 hour coach drive. Beautiful gorge but certainly not as it was described”
“This was fantastic! 16km in total and the guide and group were really friendly. The hike was exhausting in the 30 degree heat but it was nice to relax after in the taverna and on the beach!!”
