Hiking The Samaria Gorge

Introduction to Hiking The Samaria Gorge

Hikers walking through the rocky, narrow Samaria Gorge in Crete, surrounded by towering cliffs with rugged, green vegetation.

Hiking the Samaria Gorge in Crete is arguably Europe's biggest and most challenging organised hike, and the best of the Crete gorges.

Samaria Gorge is also known as Samaria Canyon and is the longest in Europe, staggering down 16 kilometres from the Omolos Plateau to the Libyan Sea at Agia Roumeli.

Thirteen of these kilometres pick their way through steep stone steps, over rocks and boulders, through cold clear streams, past freshwater springs, and into mountain forests. The last 3K is a gentle walk on a paved path to the coast.

Don't be in any doubt, walking the Samaria Gorge is quite an achievement.

A scenic view of the Samaria Gorge in Crete, Greece, showcasing a rocky, dry riverbed surrounded by lush green trees, rugged cliffs, and hikers crossing a small wooden bridge in the distance.

Hikers walking through the rugged Samaria Gorge in Crete, Greece, surrounded by towering, steep rock walls and scattered greenery along a rocky, dry riverbed.

Ancient stone ruins surrounded by lush greenery and olive trees within the Samaria Gorge in Crete, Greece, with rocky cliffs in the background.

Planning Your Samaria Gorge Adventure:
Tours, Costs, and Logistics

Embarking on the Samaria Gorge hike is a memorable experience, and planning ahead can make your journey seamless. While independent travel is possible, many find that joining an organized tour simplifies logistics, especially concerning transportation and timing.

Organized Tours

Numerous agencies across Crete offer comprehensive packages that include transportation to the trailhead at Omalos Plateau and return from the coastal village of Agia Roumeli. Prices for these tours vary based on departure location and included services. For instance, tours departing from Chania are priced around €36 per person.

Additional Costs

Beyond the tour fee, hikers should anticipate the following expenses:

Entrance Fee to Samaria Gorge: €5 per adult. Children up to 18 years old enjoy free entry.
Ferry from Agia Roumeli: After completing the hike, a ferry transports visitors from Agia Roumeli to Sougia or Chora Sfakion. The ferry ticket costs €13 for adults and €6.50 for children aged 5–12.

Independent Travel Considerations

For those opting to hike independently, coordinating transportation can be more complex. Public buses are available to Omalos, and ferries operate from Agia Roumeli to various coastal towns. However, aligning bus and ferry schedules requires careful planning. Driving to the trailhead is feasible, but remember that the hike concludes at a different location, necessitating a return to Omalos to retrieve your vehicle—a challenging endeavor given the 16-kilometer uphill trek.

What to Expect Hiking the Samaria Gorge

On arrival at the head of the Samaria Gorge, you will disembark for a coffee, snack and toilet visit at one of the restaurants there. Your guide will go and get the tickets and then you're off!

The start of the hike is a steep stepped section with slippery stones and loose pebbles, and it's easy to slip. This is not the place to stare around you. Keep an eye on where you are putting your feet.

Hikes are sometimes cancelled if the weather is bad, because this first section is treacherous when wet.

It will also be quite crowded here and as the pathway is narrow and there will be a lot of people with you. There are not many places to pass, so patience and care is needed for the first couple of kilometres, then things will get less hectic with space for passing and room to stop for pictures and a breather.

All along the way there are resting places, and your guide will give you the info on this, including his/her recommendations on when you should be arriving at each major rest place. One such place is the small church of Agios Nikolaos.

There are basic toilets at the stops and spring water taps and seating areas.

We thought we were allowed too little time to get to the first major resting place, and too much time to get to the second one. This was perhaps a bit of psychology to get people moving through the Gorge at a reasonable pace, especially at first.

The Samaria Gorge hike in Crete typically takes between 4 to 6 hours to complete, depending on your pace, fitness level, and the number of breaks you take. The gorge is about 16 kilometers (10 miles) long, starting from the Xyloskalo trailhead near the Omalos Plateau and descending to the coastal village of Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea.

Experienced hikers or those walking at a brisk pace may complete it in around 4 hours.
Casual hikers, stopping to enjoy the scenery and rest, often take closer to 5 to 6 hours.

Keep in mind that the trail is mostly downhill with some uneven, rocky sections, which can be tough on the knees. The last few kilometers after exiting the gorge are relatively flat but often feel challenging due to the heat, especially in summer.

Hikers walking through the rocky landscape of the Samaria Gorge in Crete, surrounded by towering cliffs and sparse greenery under an overcast sky.

Narrow section of Samaria Gorge in Crete, Greece, showcasing towering, rugged limestone cliffs with distinct striations, a rocky path below, and patches of greenery clinging to the steep rock faces.

Large, ancient tree with a thick trunk and sprawling branches, situated on a rocky outcrop with a bench nearby, surrounded by lush greenery.

Hikers walking through a dramatic narrow passage of the Samaria Gorge in Crete, Greece, flanked by towering vertical cliffs with rugged rock formations and patches of greenery.

Best Tips for Hiking the Samaria Gorge

You will be warned that this hike is hard on the knees, and this is certainly true. It's a downhill trek for the most part and this can jar the bones a little.

Here are some tips:

Don't burden yourself with loads of water, you can refill your bottle in the Gorge
Watch your step all the way! If you want to look at the view, take a picture, or search for Kri Kri - STOP FIRST, or you'll fall!
Apply some Vaseline to your feet before putting on your good hiking socks and boots or quality training shoes - this will help avoid blisters.
Don't leave the main path. It's mostly obvious where the path goes, but if ever you are not sure, stop and wait for someone to follow and show the way.
Don't rest too long, or your legs may seize up! Plus, you don't want to be late finishing

This is a long long walk over some difficult terrain. If you are not used to walking or are unfit then don't attempt this hike. In particular, it's not recommended for children under 8 and people with knee problems or other health issues.

Essential Things to Take With You

Don't take too much stuff with you – it's a long hike and hard work walking the Samaria Gorge and you don't want a heavy load on your back. Things to take:

A little water to get you to the first spring water fountain
Fruit, nut and/or chocolate snacks to keep you going
Lunch
Sun cream
Hat
Camera
Money for entrance fee, ferry ticket, and dinner at the end

We started our day at 5.30am which was the time we were picked up in Kalyves, near Chania.

This early start meant that we were one of the first groups down the steep steps at the start of the Gorge of Samaria. This is a good thing, because the pathway can get very busy with up to 2,500 hikers a day vying for a foothold during the height of the summer season.

This early start also means that it's cool, which is good in the summer.

In May it's COLD! But don't worry – you'll soon warm up!

What time you start will depend on where you are picked up. Tours are organised from all over the Island. The earlier the better to beat the crowds.

The Cretan Goat or Kri Kri

Kri-Kri wild goats, also known as Cretan wild goats, with distinctive curved horns, interacting in a rocky, enclosed area in Crete.

Samaria is a large Greek National Park and the flora and fauna are protected. Picking flowers or hunting is prohibited.

This is home to the endemic Cretan Goat or Kri Kri (Capra aegagrus creticus). This is a small brown stocky animal with very distinctive curled horns. In the summer, you might find this goat coming down into the valley and it has been known to feed from hikers. At other times, you might not see them unless you stop and look upwards amongst the ledges and crevices on the gorge wall.

If you miss the Kri Kri, then there's a small colony in captivity in Chania that we know of. These are housed in the town park where you will also find some peacocks and other foul. Go up Tsanakaki Steet opposite the indoor market and the park is about 500m on your left. The café there is great too, with some handy and very clean toilets.

We hope you enjoyed our Hiking the Samaria Guide, and it's whetted your appetite to give it a go!

Useful Contact Information Before Hiking The Samaria Gorge

For the most current information regarding the status of the Samaria Gorge, including opening hours, entrance fees, and any potential closures, you can contact the Management Unit of Samaria National Park and the Protected Areas of Western Crete. Here's the website for detailed visitor information and electronic ticket purchases:

Samaria (Lefka Ori) National Park