Samaria Gorge Tours and Activities

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.

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.

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.

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.

Explore the most majestic gorge in Europe and get ready to live a unique experience. Follow the route of the ancient river Taras and discover the longest and hottest trek on Crete the SAMARIA GORGE

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.

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!

The 18 km hike starts in Xyloskalo. You will discover a wide variety of fauna and flora, much of which is unique and found exclusively on this island, and you see the Kri-Kri, the wild Cretan goat. The ever-changing view and the wonderful scent of pinewood and Cretan Herbs make this walk, which is rocky at some points, a wonderful experience and make all the effort worthwhile. The isolated, deserted village of Samaria makes the ideal place for a rest before you continue to the 'Iron Gates', the point where the canyon walls are so close that they almost touch each other. Enjoy the fantastic rock formations and take advantage of this unique chance to taste the fresh , cold spring water. The walk ends at the small fishing village of Ayia Roumeli, with plenty of tavernas for you to enjoy a tasty meal and that well-earned drink. Relax on the beach and cool off in the turquoise waters of the Libyan Sea.

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.

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.

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.

Discover the Cretan landscape in style aboard this private jeep safari from Chania. Learn about the culture of Crete from your dedicated tour guide as you traverse the ‘White Mountains’ in your air-conditioned vehicle. Sample local delicacies such as olive oil, tea, and wine at a local winery, take in the views from the Samaria Gorge, and enjoy a delicious Cretan lunch over the course of the day.

We will pick you up early in the morning. After a small stop to Xyloskalo we start hiking. You can walk with your pace, our guide will follow the last one of the group. At the end of the gorge we will have time to swim in the Lybian sea. Later we will take a boat to Sougia, where our airconditioned bus will drive you at the pick up point.

05:15-6:30 Departure from Chania 7:40 Arrival to Omalos plateau (optional breakfast) 8:15 Arrival to Xyloskalo (entrance of the gorge) 9:00 arrival at Sougia (taking the boat to Sougia) 9:45-10:00 arrival at Agia Roumeli. Hike from the bottom of the gorge as long as you wish. 17:30 departure from Agia Roumeli 18:15 arrival at Sougia. Depart to Chania 20:00-20:30 arrival to Chania *the program may be changed. Αlways check with the guide!

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.

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.

If you like to be on the move, and are interested in seeing as much as possible of Crete, but have only a limited amount of time, we offer the following program which includes a car with full insurance and hotel bookings. You will be able to enjoy the beauties of Crete, visit picturesque beaches, villages and cities. Your car will await your arrival in Heraklion airport and from this point you immediately begin your journey. The overnight stops have been carefully selected to take in a wide variety of areas around Crete. All the hotels are standard C class and have en suite facilities, situated in generally quiet but central positions with breakfast included.

Our daily sailing trip in the crystal clear waters of southern Crete is far from the crowds and noise, you will be wondering why we are totally alone wherever we go.

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.

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!

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.

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.