Full-Day Beginner's Hiking Route Tour to Samaria Gorge
Overview
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.
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.
Inclusions
- Pick up/drop off from a designated spot in Chania with an air-conditioned luxury bus
- English speaking hiking escort
- All taxes, VAT inclusive
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Omalos, Omalos, Chania Prefecture, Crete
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 7am. The panoramic view of the gorge from the plateau is a photophile's delight, so after a short stop for pictures and/or breakfast, you will hop on the bus and depart for the traditional village of Sougia. It is there that you will hop on a boat and sail along the coast of Crete till you reach Agia Roumeli.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Agia Roumeli, Agia Roumeli, Chania Prefecture, Crete
With ample time on your hands, you can start a short hike inside the gorge up until the Iron Gates, the narrowest part of the canyon, at only 4 meters (13 feet) width. Alternatively, at the beach at the end of the gorge, you can take a swim in the warm Libyan Sea and even enjoy a traditional Cretan lunch!
At around 16:30 you will meet again with the rest of your group as well as your hiking escort returning from the hike of the gorge and board the boat back to the village of Sougia, where you will start your trip back to the place where you were picked up from.
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Samaria Gorge National Park, Old National Road Chanion-Kissamou Lefka Ori, Sfakia, Crete 730 05 Greece
The gorge of Samaria is the biggest, most imposing and beautiful gorge in Greece and 2nd in Europe, and that is why it is internationally renown and mostly visited, since more than 300.000 people cross it each year. It has a wonderful landscape with rare geo-morphological formations. It is a unique biotope with particular richness in fauna and flora. It has a rich mythology as well, that goes back to prehistorical years and a tumultuous history during the difficult years of Crete. Samaria Gorge was proclaimed National Park of the White Mountains of Crete in 1962 when a couple of local families were still living in the village of Samaria, in the middle of the gorge and who were mainly busy with cattle-breeding and woodcutting. The surface covered at the time was 48.500 sqm., whereas the expansion of the Park today at 250.000 sqm. includes a remarkable part of the White Mountains.
Duration: 6 hours
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Omalos, Omalos, Chania Prefecture, Crete
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 7am. The panoramic view of the gorge from the plateau is a photophile's delight, so after a short stop for pictures and/or breakfast, you will hop on the bus and depart for the traditional village of Sougia. It is there that you will hop on a boat and sail along the coast of Crete till you reach Agia Roumeli.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Agia Roumeli, Agia Roumeli, Chania Prefecture, Crete
With ample time on your hands, you can start a short hike inside the gorge up until the Iron Gates, the narrowest part of the canyon, at only 4 meters (13 feet) width. Alternatively, at the beach at the end of the gorge, you can take a swim in the warm Libyan Sea and even enjoy a traditional Cretan lunch!
At around 16:30 you will meet again with the rest of your group as well as your hiking escort returning from the hike of the gorge and board the boat back to the village of Sougia, where you will start your trip back to the place where you were picked up from.
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Samaria Gorge National Park, Old National Road Chanion-Kissamou Lefka Ori, Sfakia, Crete 730 05 Greece
The gorge of Samaria is the biggest, most imposing and beautiful gorge in Greece and 2nd in Europe, and that is why it is internationally renown and mostly visited, since more than 300.000 people cross it each year. It has a wonderful landscape with rare geo-morphological formations. It is a unique biotope with particular richness in fauna and flora. It has a rich mythology as well, that goes back to prehistorical years and a tumultuous history during the difficult years of Crete. Samaria Gorge was proclaimed National Park of the White Mountains of Crete in 1962 when a couple of local families were still living in the village of Samaria, in the middle of the gorge and who were mainly busy with cattle-breeding and woodcutting. The surface covered at the time was 48.500 sqm., whereas the expansion of the Park today at 250.000 sqm. includes a remarkable part of the White Mountains.
Duration: 6 hours
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- 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.)
- You can swim at Agia Roumeli beach just after you exit the gorge so make you have a swimsuit and beach towel with you
- Most travelers can participate
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Zainab_A
September 2021
I was initially scheduled to do the Imbros Gorge hike. I chose Imbros Gorge because I didn't think my knee would be able to cope with the 5/6 hour Samaria Gorge hike. However, due to bad weather my hike to Imbros was cancelled. I received a call from Ria at the tour company who offered me the alt...
I was initially scheduled to do the Imbros Gorge hike. I chose Imbros Gorge because I didn't think my knee would be able to cope with the 5/6 hour Samaria Gorge hike. However, due to bad weather my hike to Imbros was cancelled. I received a call from Ria at the tour company who offered me the alternative hike to Samaria but the easier route. I have to say I am truly grateful for the call from Ria as I booked the hike and had the most amazing day. So for the detail, I was picked up at 6am to join the main tour group. I separated from the group after the morning stop for breakfast. I was driven to Sougia where I took a ferry to Agia Roumelli (18 Euro return) where I walked to the entrance at the bottom of Samaria gorge. There is an entrance here for those that want to hike up the gorge rather than down. This worked out better for me as this was a more manageable route and I could walk as far into the gorge as I wished. It was so beautiful, the scenery was stunning. I hiked for 2 hours into the gorge over rivers through amazing walkways and then hiked 2 hours back. This was great as I got to see the gorge from both directions which you get to see things you didn't see on the way in. As majority of people start the gorge from the top I had the gorge all to myself for the first hour or so which was amazing. The entrance fee to the gorge is 5 Euros. After 4.5 hours walking I was very much looking forward to getting into the sea. I had enough time to spend an hour on the beach, then take a look around the village and have an hour for a meal one of the tavernas (there are a fair few to choose from). I returned back to Chania at 9pm. Overall this was a truly amazing day. I was so happy to have been able to take this option to see the gorge. I travelled on my own, I would recommend this to people of all ages. You still need to wear trainers or walking shoes as you need to keep an eye on where you are place your feet. In my opinion this tour is worth every penny for such a wonderful experience. Finally thank you to Ria who was extremely helpful to me.Sylvie_M
July 2022
En fait, c’est comme si j’avais payé un taxi pour me rendre à Sougia car la guide qui était tres gentille est descendue pour faire toute la randonnée avec les autres au depart de Samaria. C’etait un car de 50 personnes dont la majorité faisait toute la descente. En aucun moment il s’agissait d’un...
En fait, c’est comme si j’avais payé un taxi pour me rendre à Sougia car la guide qui était tres gentille est descendue pour faire toute la randonnée avec les autres au depart de Samaria. C’etait un car de 50 personnes dont la majorité faisait toute la descente. En aucun moment il s’agissait d’un accompagnement pour les autres. J’suis descendue jusqu’à Sougia avec le chauffeur, mais oh combien j’aurais aimé m’arrêter en route dans cet univers pastoral . Fausse publicité pcq il n’y a rien pour les randonneurs du circuit plus court. J’aurais pu prendre le KTEL bus et cela aurait été la même chose … Arnaque en partie. On n’a aucun sercice sauf le bus jusqu’a Sougia, on est mele à la majorité sans aucune valeur ajoutée. Le bus m’aurait coûté moins cher que cette excursion qui n’en était pas une.Konstantia_M
August 2022
There is no such thing as a beginners' hiking tour to samaria gorge. I was actually driven to sougia port to get the boat on my own to go to the entrance of the gorge. I had to walk about 3-4km through an abandoned village to find my way to the entrance of the gorge I was really scared that if ...
There is no such thing as a beginners' hiking tour to samaria gorge. I was actually driven to sougia port to get the boat on my own to go to the entrance of the gorge. I had to walk about 3-4km through an abandoned village to find my way to the entrance of the gorge I was really scared that if something happened to me there were none around. And I was more scared when I entered the gorge so although I walked about 10km I saw very little of the gorge. Shame on viator that sells such misleading products. An advice use public transport they charge 14-15€ a return trip to sougia the boat costs 20€you pay it anyway.carolinacorreo
February 2021
I am so glad that i visited this place! Amazing route and so glad to arrange the tours with Fantasy travel
I am so glad that i visited this place! Amazing route and so glad to arrange the tours with Fantasy travelDeeDeeSantaAna
September 2022
The "easy" walk in from the finish point of the gorge was good, mostly a stone path with many old ruins along the way. We never were able to find out what they were. The guide did not offer any information about the area on the way up or back, other than what to expect on the gorge walk. The d...
The "easy" walk in from the finish point of the gorge was good, mostly a stone path with many old ruins along the way. We never were able to find out what they were. The guide did not offer any information about the area on the way up or back, other than what to expect on the gorge walk. The description online said there was a photo opp at the trail head but there was not. Also, the beach area at the trail's end is a nice village with numerous restaurants and beach rentals. Be advised that this trip involves a 2 hour bus ride and a 1 hour boat EACH WAY, if you're doing the easy way.