Samaria Gorge Excursion

Samaria Gorge in Crete is a spectacular natural wonder that attracts visitors from all over the world. Here are some excursion highlights that you might enjoy:

• Hiking the gorge: The main attraction of Samaria Gorge is the hike through the canyon, which is about 16 km long and takes about 4-6 hours to complete. The hike is challenging but rewarding, with stunning views of the rugged landscape and the chance to spot wildlife such as the rare Kri-Kri goat.
• The village of Omalos: The starting point of the hike is the mountain village of Omalos, which is worth exploring on its own. The village is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and has a few taverns where you can enjoy a traditional Cretan meal.
• The Iron Gates: This narrow section of the gorge is the most dramatic and impressive part of the hike, with towering cliffs on either side and the river rushing through the narrow channel.
• The abandoned village of Samaria: About halfway through the hike, you’ll come across the abandoned village of Samaria, which was abandoned in the 1960s due to its remote location. You can explore the old houses and learn about the history of the village.
• The beach of Agia Roumeli: At the end of the hike, you’ll reach the coastal village of Agia Roumeli, where you can cool off with a swim in the sea or enjoy a drink at one of the beachfront bars. From here, you can take a ferry back to Chania or Sougia.
• The flora and fauna: Samaria Gorge is home to a variety of plant and animal species, including the rare Cretan Wildcat, the Griffon vulture, and the Cretan Ibex. Take some time to appreciate the natural beauty and diversity of the gorge.

No visit, no vacation to Crete is complete without crossing the Samaria Gorge. Samaria Gorge was acknowledged in 2010 as one of the wildest, most virgin and unique natural parks in the world and was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) of UNESCO.

Come with us to explore Samaria Gorge. This excursion is one of the longest but also one of the most beautiful.

Our adventure starts very early in the morning and our first stop is in Skaleta for breakfast.

Then we move to Omalos Plateau. There the walk starts from Xiloskalo, where we enter this vast canyon of 18 klm.

We usually need 6-7 hours to cross the gorge. The path follows the route of the ancient river Taras. On the way, we can see the caves that formed a natural shelter for the Cretans in war times and now they are natural habitat of the well-known wild goats or kri-kri. Halfway we come across the village of Santa Maria, which is currently abandoned. Three kilometers prior to our exiting this gorge, we reach the Iron Gates (Sideroportes), the narrowest spot of the route, just a few meters wide but 300 meters high.

A bit later we arrive in the small fishing village of Agia Roumeli, where we have quite a long time to lunch and to get a refreshing swim before boarding the slip that leads us back along the coast to Sfakia. There our coaches wait us to get us back to hotels.