The gorge of Samaria is the gem of the White Mountains! Hidden in the south part of the Chania district, it is the biggest gorge in Europe, covering an area of 18 kilometres in length. The nature park of Samaria was added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO in 1981, with the aim to give prominence to and to protect valuable habitats for man and the rest of the biosphere. The gorge of Samaria is counted among the top destinations of the Chania district, and a journey to Chania can never be considered complete unless you visit the gorge. You should therefore attempt a visit there, and its beauty will definitely not disappoint you.
The gorge’s path starts at Xyloskalo (Omalos plateau, 1.227 meters altitude), and after following the river bed, it ends up at the littoral village of Agia Roumeli. The trail of Samaria is the most visited trail in the country. It is perfectly equipped with signals and signs which eliminate the danger of getting lost, it is comfortable and very well maintained, mostly with stones and soil. It is not considered a very difficult hike, vivid proof of which is the fact that hundreds of people cross it daily from the opening (in May) till the closing of its visiting season (in October). It is an enjoyable hike, a bit demanding as it is quite rocky, with many landscape alternations and a multifaceted environment. However, one should always keep in mind that though the trail as a whole is not tricky, one should be more careful during some parts of the trek.
Trip Itinerary:
We pick you up from your hotel or a near location early in the morning, and we drive to Omalos plateau. The mountain guide who escorts the trip will collect the money for the entrance fee and the ferry fare on the bus, in order to give you your tickets later. After reaching Omalos, we have a short stop for breakfast & coffee (optional) before you enter Samaria. Then we start hiking. Inside the gorge, you can walk at your own pace. Our escort follows the group at the end, so if anyone needs any sort of help during the hike, he will be there. The gorge ends up at the village of Agia Roumeli. Our escort will have already stipulated a meeting point there to give you the ferry tickets. You have free time to swim in Agia Roumeli or have lunch (optional). At 17:30, the group gets the ferry to Sougia or Sfakia (usually Sougia). The bus will be waiting at the port to drop you off at your hotel or the location you have been picked up from.
If you wish to explore more options return to the Hiking, Cycling & Outdoor Adventures page.
Beautiful. It is a very good experience to taste some native flavors, as well as to know villages near the most beautiful city of Crete. The guide had a lot of knowledge of what was seen on the tour. Luis02/01/2025 Worth It! This was an authentic and unforgettable Cretan experience. Visiting in November, we had the advantage of a small group, which made it even more special. Step by step, we learned to prepare a variety of traditional recipes in a warm, familial, and comfortable setting. The guide, hosts, and cook were exceptional, making the entire experience truly worthwhile. Highly recommend! Jonahira C28/11/2024 An unforgettable experience This was a tour that had very personal significance for me. It certainly gave me a lasting impression and great respect for both the people of Crete and the soldiers involved in this time of war. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and handled the day with commendable sensitivity combined with warmth and humour. Pioneer58908020/11/2024 Ask for Thanisis as your guide! Thanisis is an excellent, informative guide. We made several stops at unplanned locations so he can educate us about the terrain, the natural plants, life and foods, and we even got to see some men harvesting olives, which was not planned. All of the food we tasted was excellent, come hungry. It ends with a spectacular lunch that’s a real spread, with wine. This was a highlight of my trip to Chania. Lisa B19/11/2024 Family style meal prep and lunch. Family style meal prep and lunch. Vegetable and herb prep, along with pastry prep. Definitely recommend and will do again. Best excursion on our cruise by far. Wayne S01/11/2024 Best excursion! Wonderful experience. My favorite excursion of our entire cruise! We made delicious food and enjoyed eating it all! The hosts were so lovely and welcoming. Tonya S01/11/2024 Tradition Crete cooking Wonderful & tasty cooking experience. They grow most of the produce & show us how to make traditional, yet simple Crete dishes. The wine tasting was lovely and we even feed the sheep! The setting is in the foothills of the mountains with lovely views of the olive orchards & sea below. A G22/10/2024 Brilliant trip with welcoming hosts and delicious food We had a brilliant day trip. Alex, our guide, picked us up promptly and the drive was comfortable. Alex was very knowledgable and friendly. Our hosts, George and Diamond, were also wonderful. We didn’t just cook and eat delicious food, we tried different wines, fed some sheep, learnt about olive oil production and local history. Everyone was extremely welcoming and accommodating, I would highly recommend this trip. Louisa Q21/10/2024 A cooking and wine experience. The whole experience was wonderful. From the cooking and wine tastiing to the history and feeding mulberry leaves to the sheep. Alex, our guide was knowledgeable and accommodating. The hosts were charming. And the food was amazing. Beautiful setting and lovely views. Well worth the time and cost. Julie S19/10/2024 Seven villages of Chania Our guide, Yannis, was very informative. We had a wonderful discussions, walk through seven villages, taste and history of Chania (Crete). Highly recommend this tour. Pradeep T19/10/2024
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