This website uses cookies for functionality and usage reporting. Learn more
I agree

Samaria Gorge: Beginner's Route (Chania)

Experience the traditional side of Crete and see the National Park of Samaria in a tour for the whole family!

More
  • Pick up/drop off from a designated spot in Chania with an air-conditioned luxury bus
  • English speaking hiking escort
  • All taxes, VAT inclusive

Not included:

  • Admission to Samaria (10 € per adult, 5 € per child 5-12 years old) [Free entrance for EU citizens]
  • Round trip boat ticket (20 € per adult, 10 € per child 5-12 years old)
  • Personal expenses, extra beverages or meals
  • Customary tips to your driver and escort

There is no better way to experience the real side of Crete, than to set foot on the island's unspoiled soil, swim in its crystal waters and stroll down its traditional villages. This family friendly tour of the Samaria Gorge and surrounding villages will give you the opportunity to do all three.

A National Park and World's Biosphere Reserve, the Samaria Gorge is a scar on the spine of Crete, but one so uniquely beautiful that you wish it never goes away. Extending 13 km long (8 miles), the ravine is home to several endemic species, with the most prominent being the goat Kri-kri, which can't be found anywhere else in the world.

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 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.

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.

Imbros Gorge Hiking (Chania)

Enjoy a casual hike through the Imbros Gorge, which is ideal for beginners. Visit Sfakia and experience a side of Crete steeped in tradition.

More
  • Pick up/drop off from a designated spot in Chania with an air-conditioned luxury bus
  • English speaking hiking escort
  • All taxes, VAT inclusive

Not included:

  • Admission to Imbros (2.5 € per person, free of charge for children under 14)
  • Personal expenses, extra beverages or meals
  • Customary tips to your driver and escort
The Imbros Gorge is located in the province of Sfakia and is the second largest gorge in Crete after Samaria. The picturesque scenery and its wilderness, in combination with the low difficulty of traversing it, make the descent of Imbros ideal for families wanting to expose children to the beauty of nature.
 
The place has a great historical significance as the gorge witnessed an evacuation of several thousands of British soldiers during World War II before heading to Egypt. Back then, the Imbros Gorge mule trail was the only connection between Chania and Sfakia, before the road was built. Remains of this trail can be still seen today.
 
In the morning, a luxurious air-conditioned bus will pick you up from select locations around Chania and transport you to the gorge's entry point. There you will have some free time to take pictures or have some breakfast before you begin your hike. In a leisurely pace, the gorge can be traversed in about 2.5 hours. Almost half-way through, you will reach the narrowest point of the gorge at 1.6 meters (5.2 feet). Behind your group, there will always be a hiking escort to ensure everyone's safety and provide assistance if needed.
 
The gorge ends at Komitades village, from where you will depart for Sfakia, one of the most traditional Cretan villages. There you will have around 3 hours to divide between swimming in the warm Mediterranean waters and enjoying a Cretan meal in one of the local taverns.
 
Early in the evening you will board the bus back to your original pick up points.

Private Samaria Gorge Hiking (Chania)

Take your friends and family to a private hiking tour of the Samaria Gorge!

More
  • Pick up/drop off from your hotel in an air-condition deluxe mini-bus
  • English speaking hiking escort
  • All taxes, VAT inclusive

Not included:

  • Admission to Samaria (5 € per adult, children free of charge)
  • Boat ticket (11 € per adult, 5.50 € per child 5-12 years old)
  • Personal expenses, extra beverages or meals
  • Customary tips to your driver and escort

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 private hiking tour of the Samaria Gorge will give you the opportunity to do all 3 and in your own pace.

A National Park and World's Biosphere Reserve, the Samaria Gorge is a scar on the spine of Crete, but one so uniquely beautiful that you wish it never goes away. Extending 13 km long (8 miles), the ravine is home to several endemic species, with the most prominent being the goat Kri-kri, which can't be found anywhere else in the world.

Early in the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel in Chania via a luxurious mini-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 short stop for pictures, you will begin descending the 600 wooden steps that will take you inside the Samaria gorge. 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. Alongside your group, there will always be a hiking escort to ensure everyone's safety and provide assistance if needed. 

During your hike, you are sure to come across the church of St. Nicolas, built on the ruins of an ancient temple. Just a bit down the road are the Iron Gates, the narrowest pass of the gorge, at only 4 meters (13 feet) width. The hike will conclude at Agia Roumeli, a beach at the end of the gorge, flowing to the Libyan Sea. Make sure you have some time left when you reach it, in order to take a swim in its warm Mediterranean waters.

At around 17:00 you will board a boat to the picturesque village of Sougia, where you will start your trip back to your hotel.