Samaria Gorge Walk: Embark on Europe's Longest Gorge Hike in West Crete
4.4
15 Ratings
Embark on Europe's longest gorge hike in West Crete. Join an escorted tour to Samaria Gorge and experience its unique morphology on your way to Agia Roumeli.
Duration: 15 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Summit of Gingilos - The plateau of Omalos is an area of 15km, found 38 Km on the south of Chania, in the center of the Cretan mountains named Lefka Ori (White Mountains). The highest mountain of this mountain range, is Pachnes at an altitude of 2452m.

  • Samaria Gorge National Park - Samaria gorge at an altitude of 1230m is 16 Km long but an extra 2 Km walk is needed until we reach Agia Roumeli. The width of the gorge is 150m at its widest point and 3m at its narrowest and up to 700 meters deep. The first 4 kilometers of the walk, are the most difficult ones due to the steep descend. Halfway through our walk, is the actual village of Samaria, an old village whose inhabitants were relocated in 1962, when the gorge was declared a national park. A little further down is the church of Osia Maria, from which the name Samaria comes from. At the rest point of Christos, a shaded clearing, you will find the last spring in the gorge. A few minutes later we will reach the “Gates”, the narrowest and highest part of the gorge. After 2 km further, we will reach the guard post, marking our initials out of the National Park by entering the old village of Agia Roumeli. Soon will see the sea ahead, minutes later will enter the new village of Agia Roumeli and the cooling sea.

  • Agia Roumeli - The tour is completed by our return sailing trip from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia, followed by the bus tour heading to our way back.

What's Included
  • Air-conditioned coach or minivan transportation
  • Hotel and designated meeting points pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide services
What's Not Included
  • Boat ticket Agia Roumeli - Sfakia 13.00 Euros per adult . Children 4-12 years 6.5 euro
  • Entrance ticket to Samaria 5.00 Euro per person.
  • Food & Drinks
Additional Information

Embark on a guided excursion, with a morning bus ride towards the western part of Crete, accompanied by a halt at Omalos plateau. Initiate your trek into Samaria gorge along with the team and appreciate its distinct geological formation during your journey through the lengthiest gorge in Europe. Arrive at Agia Roumeli southern coast, where your boat trip will take you to Sfakia.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(15 Ratings)
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Meghann_m
May 19, 2022
Must-do in Crete - Unfortunately, Samaria was closed the day of our trip due to a recent landslide. The company quickly pivoted and took us to a smaller, but very close nearby, gorge and we got to have our hiking experience just the same. What I would add for anyone booking this trip (and I recommend you do) is to know that this trip is very comparable to many of the other Samaria excursions on TripAdvisor, despite there not being very many details in the listing. There are two stops for coffee/food, one on the way out to the gorge and one on the way in, so you don't have to be worry about opportunities to eat. We also visited a beach after our hike. Also, it is a very long day. We were picked up at our resort in Hersonissos at 5:25 am, so be mentally prepared for that.
Review provided by Viator
Daniel_l
Oct 8, 2021
A must do for hikers visiting Crete! - Helen was an excellent knowledgeable and friendly guide who made us feel welcomed on our trip to Samaria Gorge. The experience itself was breathtaking with beautiful views all around the gorge. We would highly recommend it for anyone visiting Crete but be warned the walk is not easy and a good pair of walking shoes are essential. We were very happy with the price compared to other providers and would not hesitate to book with Altino Travel again.
Review provided by Viator
Angela_w
Sep 14, 2021
Experience of a lifetime! - Michael the tour guide was awesome. It wasn’t an ordinary trail hike it had many different aspects. Brutal but worth it!
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Ivan
Sep 12, 2021
One of the best experiences of my life - It was mind-blowing and unbelievable. The views in the Gorge were breathtaking, the cliffs on a boat trip from Agia Roumeli were gorgeous. The whole trip was unforgettable. Don't forget to prepare accordingly! Wear comfortable sports shoes, grab a hat and a sunscreen, take an empty bottle to fill it along the way, bring some snacks (protein bars or trailmix) and favourite music. And even if you are a physically conditioned person, your legs are gonna give you hell next two or three days.
Review provided by Viator
Davidhi701dh
Jul 31, 2019
One of the most beautiful places on earth - The early start out off the rest of the family but I do wanted to do the trip to the Samaria Gorge I undertook this outing solo. The coach arrived bang on time at 5:15am and along with everyone else I managed to sleep until our first comfort stop. The guide Sargeo was informative pointing out lots of landmarks and interesting information along the way - and ensured we were fully briefed on what to expect in the Gorge. The gorge was everything that was described and more - it was so beautiful but very very hot. The route is very steep at the start and takes the river bed which is big boulders and rocks, after lunch. You do have to be reasonably fit and steady on your feet to enjoy the trip. After the gorge there was time for a dip in the sea to refresh before the ferry crossing to connect with the coach and the return journey. My only complaint was that the coach driver was constantly holding and using his phone for making calls and texting whilst driving!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chrystell
Sep 11, 2023
Visit canceled twice... - Very disapointed. We wanted to visit the Samaria gorges but Altino travel canceled twice less than 24 hours before the service. the first time the gorges were closed (Ok we understand), the second time no explanation. As this excursion is only offered on Mondays, we were unable to rebook...
Review provided by Tripadvisor