Samaria Gorge Hiking from Chania with Professional Hiking Guide
Badge of Excellence
Chania, Greece
+10
- 14 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Combine hiking, sightseeing, and more during this excursion into Samaria Gorge from Chania. Get picked up at your hotel and travel by bus to the starting point for the hike. Set out on an outdoor adventure into Samaria Gorge National Park for a hike at your own pace. Go swimming, explore traditional villages, and hike in the shadow of the White Mountains during this full-day tour.
- Go off-the-beaten-path in Crete with a hiking tour
- Set out on an outdoor adventure of hiking and swimming
- Explore Samaria Gorge National Park at your own pace
- Round-trip transportation from your hotel is included
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Hiking Escort
- Air-Conditioned Luxury Bus
- Full Liability Insurance
- Personal expenses, extra beverages or meals
- • Boat Fare: 15 euros //Up to 12,99 yrs : 7,50 €
- Entrance fee: EU CITIZENS: 0-17FREE/ 18-64(10,00 €)/ 65+ (FREE)
- Entrance Fee: OTHER NATIONALITIES: 0-4FREE/ 5-64(10,00 €)No discount for 65+ (10,00 €)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
A day before the tour operator will send you the exact pick up point and time with a map link. Pick up will be from your hotel or close by
Start time.6:00 am
Itinerary
Get whisked away in a luxurious bus from your Chania hotel and arrive at Omalos Plateau where panoramic views await. Snap some envy-inducing photos and refuel with a delicious breakfast before continuing your journey.
Next, hop on a boat in the traditional village of Sougia and sail along the picturesque coast of Crete until you reach Agia Roumeli. Take a moment to soak in the beauty of the Libyan Sea, then enter Samaria Gorge, on of the longest ravines in the Mediterranean. As you descend the 600 wooden steps, be captivated by the serene surroundings and towering White Mountains.
Along your journey, stumble upon St. Nicolas church, standing tall among ancient ruins, and pass through the ""Iron Gates,"" the narrowest point of the gorge. Finally, your hike concludes at Agia Roumeli.
Next, hop on a boat in the traditional village of Sougia and sail along the picturesque coast of Crete until you reach Agia Roumeli. Take a moment to soak in the beauty of the Libyan Sea, then enter Samaria Gorge, on of the longest ravines in the Mediterranean. As you descend the 600 wooden steps, be captivated by the serene surroundings and towering White Mountains.
Along your journey, stumble upon St. Nicolas church, standing tall among ancient ruins, and pass through the ""Iron Gates,"" the narrowest point of the gorge. Finally, your hike concludes at Agia Roumeli.
1
Omalos
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Samaria Gorge National Park
6 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Agia Roumeli
4 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
- Pick up/Drop off is conducted only is select spots in Chania. Depending on your location, you will be advised on the time and place after booking.
- Be sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes for the trek through the gorge
- It is advisable to bring the following items with you: sunscreen, sunglasses and hat
- It is important to stay hydrated, so bring a bottle of water (you can refill it in the gorge's springs) and a light snack (fruits etc.)
- Υou can swim at Agia Roumeli beach just after you exit the gorge so make you have a swimsuit and beach towel with you
- Τhe entrance fee to Samaria as well as the boat fee are paid with cash on the spot
- Half way down the gorge lies the old village of Samaria, which has a telephone for communication with the police, a pharmacy, and two mules to transport injured persons.
- In the village of Samaria, take a quiet walk around and you may catch a glimpse of the endangered kri‐kri. They are usually very friendly towards people!
- Upon reservation please advise the exact name of your hotel in order to send you the exact pick up time and place
- Τhe trip is not recommended for any person with a history of knee problems, high blood pressure, cardiac and pulmonary problems, pregnant women and for anybody who suffers from vertigo/fear of heights
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
This hike was a bucket list check for us. It exceeded our expectations in the exquisite beauty. The hike is for sure challenging. I rented hiking poles from our guide and was grateful for them.
Ingrid our guide was very organized, informative, and helpful! I would highly recommend this tour. They took all of the logistics and guesswork out of the experience.
Reviews
4.5
based on 404 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
The operator cancelled our original booking, then "rebooked" us on another day. When the bus arrived, they refused to pick us up because our name was not on the list. We then could not contact anyone via the numbers given. Very disappointing.
My husband and I were a bit apprehensive to book after hearing how crowded and long this hike would be, but we are SO glad we booked this tour. It's very rocky/slick for a portion of the hike, so wear some shoes with grip. We both wore sneakers because we didn't want to pack our hiking boots, but they definitely would've been more helpful. Absolutely recommend renting at least one hiking pole from the guide when offered to help navigate the steeper sections. Despite being sore for a couple of days after, we were so happy with our experience. The views are worth the long day!
Amazing trip, highly recommend to anyone interested in hiking the Samaria Gorge! The views were fantastic and you get to hike the trail on your own pace. After all the hiking you get to relax on the beach and eat at the local restaurants. Our guide Nikos was great and very helpful too.
Medium difficulty, very ro ky, wear good sturdy shoes, stunning views, well organised, be prepared, spring water available regularly.
This was a highlight of my Chania trip! The hike, views, and our amazing guide Dafani was the absolute best! It was truly such a good day and by the end of the long hike you get to rest and swim in a very clear gorgeous beach!
Definitely recommend for solo traveling too💖
Really great!! Bring good shoes/boots, bathing suit, a water bottle, proper clothes, a hat, and a very little snack. There is food to be purchased at the beginning and end of the hike. I would not recommend the trip for kids under 10.
The experience is exactly like other reviewers described it. It’s a long 10.5 mi hike start to finish but gorgeous and fun. The transportation and guide was well organized and helpful. We were sore for days but highly recommend it!
Challenging walk but wonderful experience!
Nikos was a great leader.
Bus driver was excellent.
Highly recommend.
The best thing I did on my solo trip! It was nice to know there was guide getting me to and from the gorge and the bus and everything was organized! I blasted ahead and spent almost all of the walk alone and then had many hours at the beach . It was the best day! Such a beautiful hike and really clear directions too
It was a long and demanding day but worth it if you’re able to trek 9 miles at various altitudes and terrains. Diving into the Mediterranean Sea after a 6 hour hike was remarkable. You really get to see a lot of Crete on this trip.
As previous reviews stated, it's just a bus ride. The experienced guide just told us the itinerary in the morning and farewell in the evening. The biggest group of attendees in Chania was picked up as last after 40 minutes waiting and was brought last back to Chania with no possibility to drink on the bus at the end of the hike for 3 hours. But thebGorge was worth visiting although that could have been done privately with less time wastage.
A great day! Amazing views, demanding in the hot weather but a very enjoyable trip, the sore legs for days after were worth it!
Awesome experience, it was a long day and your legs will most likely be sore for days after. The Samaria Taverna at the end was fantastic, great food and great people.
Beautiful walk, but don't underestimate. The walk is roughly 10 miles long. Largely downhill for the first 1/3, then gradually becomes more undulating as you lose altitude.
Top tips:
1. Footwear. Please wear good shoes or boots for hiking. 10 miles is a fair distance if you're not used to it, and you may end up with sore feet if ill prepared.
2. Food/Drink: Once you're on the trail, there's no food or drink to buy. Natural springs are dotted along the walk, but I'd recommend you take any food or drinks before.
3. Pace yourself and remember to look up. The gorge is beautiful. We completed the walk in plenty of time to have food and a few drinks down at the beach. Your feet will appreciate a dip in sea.
Please remember this is a nature trial, not a tourist attraction per se, so don't expect this to be a walk in the park.
Finally, you have a guide, but hopefully, you won't see him. The boat leaves at a predetermined time, so the guide leaves after everyone else. That way he can help anyone struggling. Downside is no info on route, but to be fair, we loved it and you don't want to be walking to someone else's pace. It'll either be too fast or slow for your liking.
The walk is long but beautiful. The town after is charming and we enjoyed relaxing by the beach. It’s a long day though.. 15 hours after all the drop offs.
The gorge is beautiful and the lovely beach is a fantastic reward at the end. The hike is challenging but very doable for people in decent shape. The first 2km are the steepest descent of the day and there are plenty of water springs to refill your water bottle. You will need to bring food as there is nothing on the journey. Luckily your descent begins at a shop with coffee, water, and some basic food items for purchase. Our guide was very energetic and knowledgeable.
Definitely worth experiencing this hike just bare in mind the next day your leg muscles will be sore so have a chilled day planned ahead.
Best thing to do in Crete if you like walking/hiking its a super day !2nd time with fantasy travel & again a great trip organised !
This hike was amazing. We ended up going with a very large group, however, went at our own pace.
Highly recommend Hiking shoes. Bring snacks. Water fills along the way. Multiple checkpoints and if you finish early enough, time for a meal and swim at the end before boarding the ferry. Our calves are sore today. Its just about all downhill, so can be tough on the knees. It was beautiful and SO glad we did it. Recommend doing it towards the end of your stay in Crete due to muscle soreness and just being tired. Its a 10 mile/15 km hike with little flat.
Enjoy!
Incredible experience but hard. The scenery and terrain is spectacular it don’t underestimate the length and the focus it takes. Wear good hiking shoes and it will be a worthwhile experience.
Great guide, great nature, a bit crowded due to rain closures for several days before. Sylvia with Kyriakakis was a great guide, who did a great job of explaining the long journey from mountain to sea. I wish I would have know they rent hiking poles - what a knee saver!
Recommendations: rent hiking poles, eat breakfast at the taverna on the way (but move fast), bring swim suit for the hours between finish of hike and ferry, and bring some Euros of beers at Agios Roumeli. Also, schedule a massage for the day after your hike. Have fun!
For context we are 70&68 year old hikers with 50yrs of hiking experience. This is what we observed. Hiker ability: we saw all levels from what appeared to be seasoned to weekend & occasional hikers. Equipment: well equipped with daypacks (smart) to simple carry on style bags, sandals (only 2), light trail boots (good idea), trail running shoes, and common everyday street/running shoes. Poles only a few came with them lots rented on the advice of the guide (smart). TRAIL: The trail is all downhill so don’t think it will be easy. This adds a whole different dimension to hiking if you’re not use to it. The first section is a bit steep, and covered in flat rocks that make it more challenging as it’s easy to slip, add the 50 plus people who are excited and thinking they have to get to the front because they’re going to miss something and you have a frustrating start. The trail overall has plenty of boulders (small & big), uneven loose rock & gravel, and lengthy step downs that can test your balance and lower leg strength (nothing overly difficult, but the repetitive nature of the movements adds up after 6 hrs), add in a few timely flat sections to relax . What to see: being a gorge you always look up, rather than out or down. There are plenty of interesting details worth viewing. Various geological formations, & vegetation, historic sites, unusual creek beds, and of course the canyon walls. Last Thoughts: As a hike it’s unique for sure, seldom do you get a lengthy gorge hike and it’s worth considering. We’re are not particularly fond of an all downhill hike. It’s nice to have variety in your hike. The large number of people (900) and some with no etiquette, made it feel like walking in a busy tourist street at times. So we came away less awestruck than what others have said. Our guide was Ingrid, and we loved her attitude, & organization skills. She’s experienced and well prepared to deal with any situation. (5/5). The trail 4/5. The number of hikers 2.5/5. Limit hikers!
Amazing experience! Our tour guide Ingrid was very informative, friendly and safe conscious. Would highly recommend! Note: If you have any questions, CALL Viator or Tour directly.
Not sure if it’s really fair to give a 1 Star review as I’m just upset we did not get to do the hike but just a warning to others out there. Be sure to contact the tour company directly to get your pickup location. I messaged with the company through Viator and never got a response on where pickup location or time would be. The company called me at pick up time asking where I was but by then it was too late. My frustration is if they had my number to call me 3 minutes before the bus was going to leave the pickup location I had no idea about, why couldn’t they have left me a message telling me where the pickup time was the day before? I also have had no issues contacting other tours through the Viator app during this trip. Only this company. We ended up having to cancel because our options were to get a taxi and take us to a location where the bus would be waiting for 15 minutes which at 6am would likely be impossible, reschedule (we couldn’t), or cancel.
It was hard but good - left me feeling very satisfied . I hiked 16 kms and it was an eye opener. I loved this hike and hated it all at the same time!!!! Crazy - if you need a reality check this trip is for you
The bus ride home was terrible! We both got car sick, the driver was taking turn uncomfortably fast. The hike was EPIC!! Glad we did it
Amazing and challenging hike. As advertised. Amazing views and stunning scenery. The whole thing was well-organized. Prompt bus pickup at my hotel at 6am, and safe transportation to the start and from the ferry drop off. Amazing guide. You are at the whim
Of the ferry schedule to start the return so it is a full day (back to my hotel at 9:00pm). Not for the feint of heart. The first 4km is a steep downward hike - stone stairs, uneven and rocky footing. The descent was less steep for the rest. But you need to maintain focus for footing.
Very well organized and professional staff. Great communication. This is me and I think I am in pretty good shape for my late 70’s. I had trained before hand but was not prepared for the difficult of the decent into the gorge. The views are spectacular but the rocks are slippery. A decision was made not to continue after reaching the stream. I can’t say enough good things about the tour company and the support staff and crew of the Samaria Gorge park. I felt safe and protected and secure at all times. I tried. My legs just wouldn’t cooperate this year. But Go for it.
Long day but perfect excursion experience! Started with pick up at 6 am and returned at 9pm. Everything about meet point, stops, and the day was clearly laid out an announced on the bus ride to the national park. The hike was beautiful a lot of decent and rocky so recommend decent hiking shoes. After the exit of the hiking portion there is a road that brings you to a small town and beach area. The water is very clear and perfect after a long hike. Definitely recommended packing bathing suit, towel, any change of clothes/shoes you can carry for that to be able to enjoy it comfortably. Food available at restaurants at the end of hike to purchase but you may want to pack a few snacks. 1-2 water bottles worth of water is plenty, there are a few spring stations to fill up throughout. If you are up for the long day, 100% recommend the experience!!! Great bus driver and guide as well.
We had a wonderful time. The guide provided very accurate and thorough information to make sure no one was attempting an activity they should not be. It is strenuous, even though downhill because of the heat. But it is worth it! Scenery unlike any we’ve experienced elsewhere. Multi places along the way for restrooms and water. Restroom facilities are about what one would expect in the middle of the wilderness, but at least they exist. Swim and restaurants at the finish of the hike were welcomed and refreshing!
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