Samaria gorge in Crete

How to reach Samaria

In order to reach Xyloskalo, you basically have three options:

Private excursion (Group):

Many people book a tour to Samaria, so they don’t have to worry about the transport. A bus/van will pick you up at your hotel and drop you at Omalos, where you can have breakfast, and then it will take you to Xyloskalo. You will be told the boat you must take after the walk, and another bus/van will be waiting for you at Chora Sfakion harbor.

The excursion price usually is around 45€/peron, and it doesn’t include the ferry (12€/person) or the gorge entrance fee (5€/person). Even though it is a group excursion, you can walk the gorge down at your rhythm and meet again with the guide at the end of the hike in Agia Roumeli. (45€ + 12€ + 5€).

Public bus:

Buses from Chania and Chora Sfakion also take you to the beginning of the Hike (~15€). You should find the schedules on the website of KTEL. Once in Agia Roumeli, you will have to take a ferry to Chora Sfakion (12€) or Sougia (13€) (schedules here) and another bus in case you go to Chania. (15€+12€+5€).

Own transport:

If you have your car, you can go directly to the gorge in the morning. However, you can also spend the previous night in Omalos (30-40€/2ppl breakfast included), so you can start the hike early the following day before the tourist buses arrive (around 8:30) and before the sun gets too strong.

Next to the gorge entrance, there is a free parking lot (here, Xyloskalo); in this one (here) you have to pay 3€. From Agia Roumeli, you will have to take a ferry to Sougia (13€, 50 minutes) (schedules here), and then a bus (4.8€, 1h) will be waiting for the ferry and will take you back to the start of the hike in Xyloskalo. (Fuel€ + 13 + 4.8€ + 5€).

The boat and the bus tickets from Sougia to the trailhead can be bought at the cafe in Xyloskalo (here) right before the beginning of the walk. Make sure the ferry company is Annendyk. You can also buy them online or directly at the port.

The Hike

Although the hike is not particularly challenging, it is worth noting that it is relatively long and the terrain consists of rough and rocky soil, so consider your physical abilities before doing the excursion. The only ways in and out of the national park are located in Xyloskalo and Agia Roumeli. Guards with donkeys are stationed along the trail to assist anyone unable to finish the hike on time. Resting areas are also spread along the path (every 2 km), where you can refill your water bottle and use the bathrooms (squat toilets, which get dirty quickly).

The walk can be divided into a series of sections:

First section:

The first section (4 km) is the most challenging, as you will walk down a steep trail through a pine forest. Your knees and ankles might suffer, and some sections can be slippery. This is offset by the impressive views of the white mountains and the gorge.

Bottom of the gorge:

Once you reach the bottom of the gorge, the path becomes less steep and easier. You will follow a beautiful stream of water in the shade of giant trees until reaching the abandoned Samaria village at the 7th km. This is the main resting point along the route with shade and benches, as well as restrooms and a water fountain.

Open area:

After the village, the path becomes almost flat, without trees and completely exposed to the sun. Remember to apply sunscreen as you will have already walked for at least 2-3 hours by this point, and the sun can be intense.

Popular spot: The Iron Gates

At the 11th km, you will cross the most famous spot of Samaria Gorge: the “Iron Gates”. It's the narrowest section of the gorge with a width of only 3 meters. Try reaching it when the sun is high to catch a beautiful contrast between the turquoise water and the 300 m-high rock walls.

You will not have to walk in water; bridges are correctly set up along the way. The landscape is out of this world, the layered and impressive vertical walls of the gorge or the color of the water in some sections will catch your eye.

If you are lucky, you can spot some Kri Kris (Capra aegagrus cretica), a protected wild goat only found in Crete. You will also see rare endemic flowers and plants such as the dragon arum, some perennial herbs, and Chasmophytes, plants that survive in extreme conditions, with no soil, in tiny rock cracks. Along the hike, you will see several informative panels providing more information about the gorge’s history.

Others

Although astonishing, the gorge sometimes gets crowded in the high season. Some sections could have long lines, and the pace can be slow, which is a bit frustrating. That’s why we recommend starting the hike early in the morning.

At the beginning and the end of the hike there are a couple of bars. Keep your Samara’s entry ticket with you as they will ask for it back when exiting the gorge. Remember that it is a national park, and you are not allowed to swim, leave the path, or smoke outside the dedicated areas. If you plan to start the walk early, bring a warm sweater, as it can be pretty cold at this altitude.

You can pay everything by card, but take some cash just in case. As said before, it’s better if you book the bus and the ferry in advance.