Samaria Gorge Tours and Activities

With its sheer walls and tight passageways, the Samaria Gorge is one of Crete’s most striking natural wonders. With this tour, all the logistics are taken care of so all you need do is complete the challenging 10-mile (18-kilometer) hike. Set off from Chania in early morning and arrive at the trailhead ahead of the crowds. After the guided hike, board a boat back to Chora Sfakion, then a bus back to Chania.

Join an escorted tour, enjoying a morning bus trip towards the west Crete, followed by a stop to Omalos plateau. Begin your walk with the group into Samaria gorge and enjoy its unique morphology on your way to the longest gorge hike in Europe. Reach Agia Roumeli south coast, where your sailing trip will bring you to Sfakia.

With traditional villages and plenty of warm Mediterranean sunshine, the Samaria Gorge is the longest of its kind in Europe—but it’s also a challenging and rewarding hike, considered by many to be among the toughest in Crete. This adventurous full-day combination bus and hiking tour from Chania takes you deep into the gorge itself, where large boulders lie beneath soaring limestone cliffs. Follow a 10-mile (16-km) route though the Samaria Gorge and experience the best of the Crete countryside with a guide.

Walk one of Europe’s longest canyons on this full-day hiking experience through the Samaria Gorge from Chania. With an experienced guide, hike the 10 miles (16 kilometers) through this breathtaking gorge, part of the Samaria national park in Crete’s White Mountains. Walk between towering cliffs, pass abandoned villages and absorb the awe-inspiring natural scenery and tranquility. Keep a steady pace during the 6-hour hike, sometimes over rocky terrain, and finish with time for a swim and lunch at Aghia Roumeli village. Numbers are limited for a more personalized, small-group experience.

Lace up your hiking boots for a guided walk through the Samaria Gorge National Park. With a guide, you’ll discover the trails that might be difficult to find alone, taking in the landscapes around the Tara River. It’s a long hike, with roughly six hours of walking time, but the route lends itself to some of the most camera-worthy nature on Crete. Round-trip coach transport from Heraklion is included.

Hike Crete’s Samaria Gorge without worries about getting there or back or going it alone with this full-day trip from Chania. Trek the 11-mile (18-kilometer) gorge past streams, cliffs, and abandoned villages; absorb the untouched scenery, and watch for mountain goats and other wildlife. Plus, benefit from a guide who will point out the highlights and ensure you get the most from one of Europe’s most scenic hiking routes.

There is no better way to experience the real side of Crete, than to traverse the island's unspoiled soil, swim in its crystal waters and stroll down its traditional villages. This hiking tour of the Samaria Gorge will give you the opportunity to do all 3 and at your own pace. 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 7 am. Shadowed by the adjacent White Mountains and with plenty of drinking water to be found along the way in many natural springs, this self-paced hike will create unique memories for every traveler. Behind your group, there will always be a hiking escort to ensure everyone's safety and provide assistance if needed. At around 17:00 you will start your trip back to the place where you were picked up from.

The local drivers - escorts will pick you up from your hotel/villa and will drive you through rough roads to the authentic part of Crete. Just a few minutes from Chania city you will begin to get a sense of the Cretan landscape and to enjoy yourselves close to olive, lemon, orange and avocado grooves. Feel the warmth and the friendly environment of the most popular mountain refuge in White Mountains, named " Kallergis Refuge". Let your look, sail South from Samaria gorge to the Libyan Sea and North to the Aegean Sea. Take photos at Samaria National Park entrance, enjoy Cretan snacks accompanied with a cup of local mountain tea with honey, or a cup of coffee. Your delicious lunch will consist of a traditional Cretan flavor with Season salad, wine and dessert. At Anoskeli's winery you will taste local olive oil and 5 different wine.

Explore 3 amazing locations in a single day! A hidden herb garden, a major natural attraction for a photo-opp moment or a traditional Cretan village and kafe neo, explore a famous winery, which includes lunch, wine pairing and wine tasting.

Grab your proper shoes and get ready for the 16km hike! Get ready for a lifetime experience and be ready to have your breath taken away by the astonishing view. The descent of the gorge will start early in the morning and it will last about 5-6 hours (depending on the visitor). Along the length of the gorge you will cross a wonderful landscape with little lakes, huge rocks discovered by the bed of the torrent. All together we will get on the boat with destination the city of Sfakia the CHECKINCRETA’s bus will waiting for us to take us back to the hotel. It’s necessary to have with you a hat, sunscreen, a bottle of water and some fruits. All along the way of the Gorge, you could find water spot as well as toilets. The guide of our agency CHECKINCRETA, will follow you all along the day and will stay with the last persons of the group. Pregnant women as well as persons with health problems are not allowed to do this excursion.

A true miracle that any nature lover must experience. Samaria Gorge is the longest gorge in Europe, measuring 16 km, giving you the opportunity to meet rare structures and species of the Cretan flora and fauna like the unique goat species named Kri-Kri that one can only find in Crete. Through a beautiful route among small traditional mountainous villages you reach Xyloskalo in the plateau of Omalos, the northern entrance of the gorge at an altitude of 1,250 m. As you keep walking you will pass from the “Sideroportes” (Iron doors) the narrowest point of Samaria, ending at the shores of the Libyan Sea in Agia Roumeli where you can definitely rest, eat and swim. It is exactly what you need! Apart from this, during your hike there are a lot of interesting historical points like the temple of Apollo, giving you a great combination of nature and Greek History.

Samaria gorge is a National Park with unique flora and fauna, in the heart of the Lefka Ori mountains. It is by far the best hike in Crete, and probably one of the best in Europe. It is listed as a protected UNESCO Biosphere reserve. Samaria gorge is a 16km downhill hike between mountains and a forest, with a river flowing and organized resting places! For an average hiker it takes 6 hours to cross it and there is no food or any other shop available inside. The tour starts early in the morning to take advantage of the shadow in the gorge until noon, but by which time most visitors have already reached the sea! At the end of the hike we rest at Agia Roumeli, a village with few restaurants and beach, before returning by boat to Sougia, and then by bus and car to Chania. It's necessary to wear at least good sports shoes, take a hat and sunscreen. There is plenty of drinkable water inside. The hike is breathtaking, ideal for nature lovers and wildlife watchers.

There is no better way to experience the real side of Crete, than to traverse the island's unspoiled soil, swim in its crystal waters and stroll down its traditional villages. This hiking tour of the Samaria Gorge will give you the opportunity to do all 3 and in your own pace. Samaria Gorge is one of the most scenic national parks in Europe, this gorge stretches more than 10 miles to the south coastal region and offers many hiking trails. If you search for unique hiking experience in Crete the Samaria is the place!

If you are tired of walking but want photos for you Insta-followers, If you do not I feel like walking today but want to admire the terrific natural environment. If you want to live a superior experience without getting tired, then this excursion is made for you! We will arrive around 7 o’clock in the morning and after breakfast, you will have the chance to photo-shoot the entrance of the gorge and admire the creation of nature. The hiking guide will give you all the necessary instructions and then he will enter the gorge with the rest of the group (you will meet again at Agia Roumeli). The driver will take you to the small village of Sougia where you embark on the boat to reach the village of Agia Roumeli which is the exit of the gorge of Samaria. You can walk until the exit of the gorge, to the “Iron Gates” or swim and have a lunch there until you meet with the rest of the group.

Spend a day hiking the Samaria Gorge with a professional guide. Choose a longer hike (6.5–7 hours) or the slightly easier way (4.5–5 hours). Either route provides great views of the gorge, which is one of the longest in Europe. After the hike, enjoy a swim in the Libyan Sea and lunch at a local taverna.

Our Private Tour to Samaria gorge offers you a comfortable way to enjoy this memorable trip, accompanied by our professioanl drivers! Don't miss this chance to explore the magnificent and diverse sceneries of Samaria Gorge and the beautiful shore of the Libyan sea!

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 kilometers in length. The state park of Samaria was added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (MAB: Man & Biosphere) 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 venture a visit there and believe us when we say that its beauty will not let you down… The gorge’s trail starts at Ksyloskalo (Omalos plateau, 1.227 meters altitude) and after following the river bed, it ends up at the littoral village of Agia Roumeli. It is a very pleasant hike, not a strenuous one, with many landscape alternations and a versatile environment.

The amazingly wild and unspoiled scenery, as well as the vegetation that we come in view of during hiking, is unequalled in relation to those in other places on Crete. 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. Highlights of Samaria Gorge hiking Extraordinary rock formations, Indigenous rare plants, flower and bird species, Rough downward ground, Impressive and primitive view, Exquisite landscape that has been under no human intervention, Unique sensation of awe and infinite wonder for the untouched grandeur will always be engraved on our memory.

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 gorge’s trail starts at Ksyloskalo (Omalos plateau, 1.227 meters altitude) and after following the river bed, it ends up at the littoral village of Agia Roumeli.

Explore Samaria Gorge on this full-day sightseeing adventure tour if you search for a unique hiking experience with a local tour guide. Hiking the 16km-long Samaria Gorge, one of Europe's longest canyons, is high on the list of must-dos for many visitors to Crete. There’s an undeniable raw beauty to the canyon, with its soaring cliffs and needlenose passageways.

Pick up from your hotel or a place nearby. After approximately 1.5-hour drive through a beautiful landscape, we reach the picturesque village of Sfakia. From there we continue our journey by the boat following the coastline to the village of Agia Roumeli! During your stay in the village, you have plenty of time to cross Samaria gorge from its exit to the Iron Gates. The distance you can walk is 3 km from the village to the entrance of the gorge and 1.5 km further up to the Iron Gates, one of the most interesting points of the gorge. Late in the afternoon we take the same boat to get back to the port of Chora Sfakion where our coach is waiting for you in order to drive us back to Chania! The equipment you must have with you: • Proper footwear and socks. • A hat. • Sunscreen. • A bottle of water. • A swimsuit and a beach towel. • Masks

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 gorge’s trail starts at Ksyloskalo (Omalos plateau, 1.227 meters altitude) and after following the river bed, it ends up at the littoral village of Agia Roumeli.

An exclusive chauffeur-driven private tour to hike the spectacular Samaria Gorge in Chania. You will enjoy a personal pick-up and drop-off by your private local insider guide, with a premium vehicle on full-day disposal by experiencing maximum comfort and privacy like a true VIP. Crossing the Samaria Gorge takes you through some of the most iconic sceneries in Europe, as well as ancient villages and other adventurous highlights, and allows you to engage with the rich wildlife of Crete’s White Mountains National Park. Furthermore, you will be able to customize your private day trip further by following uncharted itineraries and visiting off-the-beaten-path eateries to taste traditional local delicacies and get the best recommendations for an authentic Cretan lunch!

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. Highlights of Samaria Gorge hiking Extraordinary rock formations, Indigenous rare plants, flower and bird species, Rough downward ground, Impressive and primitive view, Exquisite landscape that has been under no human intervention, Unique sensation of awe and infinite wonder for the untouched grandeur will always be engraved on our memory.