Walk through Samaria Gorge
The walk though the gorge starts in Omalos oof Chania and ends in Sougia reached by boat from Sfakia on the south coast

Crete has one of the most impressive natural gorges in Europe, the Samaria gorge, over 16 kilometres of breathtaking scenery.

The gorge begins at a point called the “wooden staircase”, a steep stepped pathway, which is an amazing place to watch the sunrise if you are there early enough. The scenery at the beginning of the gorge is really green, particularly in spring, with pine forests and wild flowers.

About halfway down the staircase is the abandoned village of Samaria which used to be inhabited by woodcutters, now there’s a picnic area and a warden’s station. There’s a small Byzantine church here too called Santa Maria which the gorge takes it’s name from.

The gorge was declared a National Park in 1962 in order to protect the wild flowers, plants and the Cretan wild goats called “kri kri” and the area was recently awarded a prize by the council of Europe as one of the most beautiful sites in Europe.

At certain parts, the sides of the gorge are just 3 or 4 metres apart and when looking up, only a slither of the blue sky is visible. Along the gorge there are first aid boxes and fire extinguishers, the walk has become so popular during the last few years that it is now more important to bear the safety aspects in mind for the walkers and the gorge.

The walk is long and tiring but, when you reach the end, where the gorge opens out to a pretty village with a few restaurants and tavernas, you will meet the most welcoming sight, a beautiful beach and a blue and clear sea. You’ve never seen such a burst of energy! Everyone just cannot wait to get into the water quick enough and have a cooling dip.

If you are fit and healthy, the trek through the gorge is an experience which you’ll remember forever and is definitely worth the effort. It normally takes 6 - 7 hours. But wear really good walking shoes or boots.

Normally a bus will take you to the starting point and you will do the walk to the end, where you will take a boat trip to Hora Sfakion, from where the bus will collect you for your journey back.

"Lazy Way"
But you can also see of the ending of the gorge the "lazy way", This is a good choice if you want to see the gorge and do not think you are up to the long and straining walk.

Take the boat  from Hora Sfakion to Agia Roumeli. From here you walk into the gorge as far as you like, and return to catch the last boat back to Hora Sfakion in the evening.

Printable Acrobat document      Download Acrobat reader