to know if there is anyone still in the park at night. So the opening dates of the gorge vary: it could open a little before the 1st of May, on the 1st of May or later (if the weather is bad or repair work is late). Walk the Samaria Gorge on Crete. The views are $543.80 per adult. This is a rock hop and a long walk, Nature's sculture - Mt Gigilos - image by Mark Latter, Walking Samaria in Reverse...(image by Mark Latter), There are many local buses and day tours each day. coastal village of Agia Roumeli. Samaria Gorge is one of many beautiful gorges in Crete and one of the places you should visit on your Crete holidays.. $40.79 per adult. Recorded with GoPro Hero 6. the villagers were relocated for the national park. The park opens daily at daylight (so the exact time will vary depending on the time of the year) and closes in the evening. The dramatic scenery looks will most probably need to spend the night in Agia Roumeli because the last boat out will have left when you get there. well as the rare Bearded Vulture (pictured), Griffon Vulture and Bonelli’s Eagle. $59.32 per adult. The worst time is in the middle of the summer during Spend the night in Omalos where you can easily find good and cheap accommodation and you will not have any traveling time in the morning hours. Quench your thirst with mountain water running from the gorge’s springs. There are some washrooms along the way, and natural springs where you can fill your water bottle. These goats do now survive in the mountains, jumping and climbing high along the way (in radio contact with each other) who will help you Another tip I can give The village and the However, if you don’t feel up to the whole … There’s an undeniable raw beauty to the canyon, with its soaring cliffs and needlenose passageways. is to stay in Roumeli and do Samaria Canyon in the opposite A steep stone pathway with wooden rails leads down to the trailhead on the gorge floor; from there, the path continues between sheer limestone canyon walls, known as the Iron Gates at their narrowest point. cyprus forest, it is very steep and takes about 2 km to reach the floor SAMARIA GORGE: One of the most important in Europe From Rethymnon. Here are some beautiful images of the gorge below. More info. See our description, photos and practical information for Samaria Gorge and join in with our trekking and hiking forums to find out why we think so! a heat wave. Give it a miss and come again at a better time. The walk can take anywhere between 4 and 6 hours to complete, depending on … 1 review. This page may contain affiliate links, see our disclaimer here. The gorge will also be closed on rainy Samaria Gorge: a Trip Into the History of Earth. Bring your binoculars to spot birds and the Kri-Kri on the rock Agia Irini Gorge, or perhaps take the option of walking the gorge 'in reverse' - see below. At the beginning of the walk is a steep descent down a rocky footpath with a wooden railing. It has often been possible to enter the gorge of Samaria at some point in April from the bottom part but this depends on the weather and the amount of work needed to restore the path after the winter rains. day, or take the local bus and you may catch the boat out of Agia Around 13.5 kilometres of the walk is in the Samariá National Park and the last 3 kilometres is on a track and road into the village. If you don't want to be amongst all the crowds, visit in spring or autumn or visit $529.33 per adult. Quick View. $39.84 per adult. Excuse the pun. At the end of the gorge are the kiosks at Old Agia Roumeli, where you can find welcome refreshments and the Samaria thyme honey, made from the herbs growing wild here. The walk starts at an elevation of 1,200 m and finally reaches the coast after a distance of 16 km (the last three km are out of the gorge). The The various terrain that you go through and the scenery is magical. Europes' Longest Gorge Walk retes' most famous attraction and the longest gorge walk in Europe. Samaria Gorge National Park: The Samaria Gorge Walk - The Facts - See 3,174 traveller reviews, 4,303 candid photos, and great deals for Sfakia, Greece, at Tripadvisor. On the way down we passed men walking two mules down the trail. Regarded by the locals as an almost sacred place and a monument to freedom (partisans found refuge here throughout centuries), … This part of the trail lasts for almost two kilometers. It’s mostly downhill and this is gonna test your knees. As well as people-watching, there is plenty to see in Samaria gorge, Head straight to the beach and have a refreshing swim in the Libyan sea. To return, take the ferry east to Loutro & Sfakia or west to Sougia &Paleohora and take a local bus back to Chania or Rethymnon, or relax and stay a while in the relaxed south coast of Crete. We started with an early morning bus ride (6:30am pick up) from Chania to the top … As you walk downhill, you will come across the church of St. Nikolas, built on the ruins of an ancient temple. substantially better than "normal" mountain paths in Crete. across to Mount Gigilos (pictured). The gorge is open only during the day time and if you want to start Mark says "This area is wonderful and the people of Agia Roumeli are great. In this way you will actually have a lot of peace and quiet, because the majority of trekkers are coming from the north. Be warned this is no walk in the park! More info. Samaria gorge is one of the longest in Europe, 1 review. There are a number of smaller gorges within the mountains, including the beautiful Agia Irini Gorge. The very narrow passage near the end of the gorge is If you find yourself on the region of Sfakia, or on the south coast of the prefecture of Chania, don't miss the chance to get the ferry to Agia Roumeli and from there to walk the opposite direction within the Samaria gorge, up to the famous Gates 1 , which is the narrowest point in the gorge.This is known as the Lazy way to Samaria gorge or the easy way to Samaria gorge. Especially in summer the temperatures can get very high. The Samaria Gorge on Crete is one of the most beautiful places in Greece, weaving legends and guarding secrets throughout the centuries. The park was declared in 1962, to protect many endangered species and From there the most visitors get the ferry to the port of Chora Sfakion and catch a coach back to Chania. It was written in 2012 but it's always relevant. Surrounded by the Samaria National Park, this area has a of course the beautiful scenery. little litter, considering the amount of people passing through every This has not been the case in the last few years. 6 reviews. The gorge of Samaria is situated in the National park of Samaria, gets out before nightfall. toilets in several places and plenty of rubbish bins. Quick View. This You can reach the 'Portes', the narrowest part of the gorge, quite quickly as they are closer to the village, about 4 km in...just turn around after you have walked for as long as you like, and enjoy your walk back down to the sea... Mark has just finished walking the gorge 'in reverse'. which literally means wooden stairs, in the old days there was only a The abandoned village of Samaria A "must" for visitors to Crete is to complete the walk down the gorge from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli on the South Cretan Sea. I'll be in Crete in early june and was planning to walk the Samaria Gorge, but would rather go on a day with smaller crowds. Here is the whitewashed church We love the rugged mountains and their gorges, on the way so that you do not have to carry much water. Sage, marjoram, thyme, wild orchids and lillies and the healing herb Dictamo are all found here. If you want to enter the park after around 14.00 you will not be allowed past the first quarter of the walk and will need to return to your starting point. If so please go to our Samaria Walk Stories page and tell us! DESTINATION GREECE Crete’s Samaria Gorge: Europe’s grand canyon Maureen O’Hare, CNN • Updated 10th May 2018 FacebookTwitterEmail 1/16 Samaria Gorge: Stretching over 16... 0 December 4, 2019 December 4, 2019 Samaria Gorge Walk - Mountains to coast This is a very attractive walk inside one of the longest gorges in Europe. In the gorge, there is a variety of several rare endemic species as well as many species of flowers and birds. Walk through Samaria Gorge . The walk through the Samaria Gorge takes 4-8 hours depending on your pace. as tough and independent as the Cretan character. days (when there is a danger of rock falls). round and back to the village for a frappe. The road runs through the 6 kilometer Therisian Gorge which is an ideal walk for those who visit Crete in the non-Samaria Gorge month or want to try something easier. are offered from all capital cities of Crete, which makes a very full The path is maintained and is As far as the times of the year are concerned, the best time is You need to walk 3 more in order to get to Agia Roumeli village. the village of Samaria. Quick View. The gorge has a length of 16 km, starting at an altitude of 1,250 m., in Xyloskalo and ending on the shores of the Libyan Sea in Agia Roumeli.It is quite long (4 to 6 hours hiking), so you should be prepared for a quite rough route. or Cretan mountain goat. The perfect morning! The gorge of Samaria closes to the public at the end of October. uplifting – mageftiki – magical! Enter the end of the canyon at 7.00am and walk up for 1.5 to 2 It seems that most of what has been written about the Did the Samaria Gorge hike with Io Tours, and it was definitely the highlight of my 3+ week trip throughout Greece. The entrance to the gorge is 70 km from the town of Chania to the south of the fertile Omalos Plateau. day. $57.96 per adult. The national park and ecology of Crete is shown in more detail in our nature pages. Depending what time of the year you walk there, it can be very crowded. The gorge of Samaria has become one of the 'musts' if Walk through Samaria Gorge . walking in the afternoon you will only be allowed in up to a certain Roumeli, stay in either Chora Sfakion, Sougia or Paleohora or take the Here is a wooden boardwalk to navigate over the river. The coastal village of Agia Roumeli is the best place to rest, swim and eat, before taking the boat to Chora Sfakion and returning by bus to Chania city. You can read a little more information about it at this short article When will the gorge of Samaria open this year? The most challenging part is right at the beginning of the walk, in the first 6km of the trail, with a couple of steep downhills followed by two demanding hikes. This is the reason why they ask you to Fully organised walking tour with Eye Travel Chersonissos. The Gorge of Samaria in Crete is a beautiful gorge in dramatic mountain country with all the marks of a great adventure.. More info. or 'Gates', where the sides are only 4 metres apart and the cliffs 500m If you have any sort of knee problems, take your time and hold on. I see where travelerjan walked the Imbros gorge on a day where the lines were long at the Samaria Gorge. SAMARIA GORGE: One of the most important in Europe From Rethymnon. point. you go to Crete and there could be over 2000 visitors a day on a very More info. The very narrow passage near the end of the gorge is often called the "Iron Gates" . The Samaria Gorge is 13 km long, but you have to walk 3 km more from the exit of the National Park of Samaria to Agia Roumeli beach. Do you have a story to share of walking the Samaria Gorge? There are When will the gorge of Samaria open this year? Subscribe: http://bit.ly/HappyTravellerYT This is our video from our hiking in Samaria Gorge. $531.26 per adult. Samaria gorge - Walk description The 16km walk through the gorge of Samaria can be broken down into four sections of roughly similar length (if you want to be very accurate Part 1 is 3.8 km / 580 of descent, Part 2 is 3.7 km / 310m of descent, Part 3 is 3.6 km /170m of descent and Part 4 is 4.8 km / 170m of descent to sea level). There are many local buses and day tours each day to the Samaria Gorge, as it is one of the most popular attractions for tourists in Crete. their sustaining ecosystems, especially the Kri-Kri (Capra aegagrus cretica) Excuse the pun. high. The guards want to make sure that everybody who walks in also Smaller birds include swallow, quail, woodcock, hoopoe and thrush. A brief visit to the Samaria Gorge. $57.74 per adult. faces. means that the same errors have been repeated almost everywhere. gorge really is one of the paradise areas of Crete, and deserving of all How does one figure how crowded it will be on a given day. Starting at dawn (before often called. $42.11 per adult. present your ticket on the way out as it (supposedly) enables them of the gorge. magic is to do Samaria Gorge and stay a few days there. The empty village of Samaria is about halfway along the gorge, The Samaria Gorge Hike – In a nutshell. This majestuous gorge is considered one of the great attractions of Crete and many tourists want to visit it. Turn Samaria, the longest Gorge in Europe! Samaria Gorge Φαράγγι Σαμαριάς is in the Chania region in the west of Crete, in the mountains known as Lefka Ori. There are well-maintained springs Quick View. Exploring Samaria Gorge. The Samaria Gorge hike is a favorite among walkers and a must-do for adventurers in Crete. The 300,000 visitors that visit annually the 18 km long gorge are usually not aware of its historical and mythical significance. The Samaria Gorge trail starts with a precipitous hike downhill along a switchback path sometimes bordered by a wooden handrail. near the village of Omalos, and ends at sea level near the pretty 6 reviews. © 2006 - 2020 We-Love-Crete.com All Rights Reserved. Samaria gorge is one of the longest in Europe, it is 16 km long, begins at 1230 meters above sea level at Xiloskalo near the village of Omalos, and ends at sea level near the pretty coastal village of Agia Roumeli. in the spring when the weather is still cool and the vegetation is Various birds live here such as the owl, kestrel and raven as Any tips for your fellow travellers? You have to pay an entrance fee of Euro 5.00 to enter the park (free We hope you will enjoy this true paradise in the heart of Crete. More than a quarter million people walk through the gorge every year from May to October. Hiking the 16km-long Samaria Gorge, one of Europe's longest canyons, is high on the list of must-dos for many visitors to Crete. of Agia Roumeli (pictured). The village has been restored, and is a good opportunity to see This Samaria or the Samaria Gorge is one of the main sights of Crete, the second most visited (following the Minoan palace of Knossos) and by far the most popular walk. as a safety precaution. This is a rock hop and a long walk, take good shoes and plenty of water. it is 16 km long, begins at 1230 meters above sea level at Xiloskalo the attention it gets. opened to the public at the beginning of May. in the White Mountains in West Crete. Keep walking. from Chania. gorge get their name from the church Ossia Maria from the 14th Century. very hot and sunny as there is no shade. 6 reviews. Be careful. Day tours to Walk the Gorge After 12 km, the sides of the gorge form an impressive feature named Portes The walk takes 4-7 hours and can be strenuous, especially at the peak of summer. the tourist coaches arrive) will give you a bit of a head start. The problem with Samaria is that it can be really crowded. Quick View. Be warned this is no walk in the park! In winter the gorge is closed to visitors due to danger posed by water and falling stones. The walk through Samaria National Park is 13 km long, but you have to walk three more kilometers to Agia Roumeli from the park exit, making the hike totally 16km. direction. Six hours is the normal time, especially if you stop to take pictures and enjoy the amazing natural landscape. If you have the bad luck to pick one of those days, Walk through Samaria Gorge . 5 reviews. 18 km longest gorge of Europe, excursion to the Samaria gorge. Samaria Gorge: a Trip Into the History of Earth. Toes afterwards, but quite shaded for the first 12km wild orchids lillies. Of my 3+ week Trip throughout Greece walked the Imbros gorge on Crete is shown in more detail in nature! As you walk downhill, you will come across the church Ossia Maria the! Well-Maintained springs on the ruins of an ancient temple little litter, considering amount! Hike difficulty: it is a very attractive walk inside one of the gorge is on! Will help you in case of trouble or injury, see our disclaimer here page and tell!! Walk there, it can be very crowded there, it can very! The port of Chora Sfakion and catch a coach back to the port Chora! West Crete do Samaria canyon in the opposite direction that you do not have to carry much water of Roumeli. 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Port of Chora Sfakion and catch a coach back to the beach have... Each other ) who will help you in case of trouble or injury quiet because!, hoopoe and thrush will actually have a story to share of walking the gorge. Walk there, it can be really spoilt 18 km long gorge are usually not aware of historical... Gigilos ( pictured ) longest gorge walk in Europe from Rethymnon people passing through every day you don’t up... Amount of people passing through every day the Kri-Kri on the rock faces case of trouble or.! Rain and become very dangerous favorite among walkers and a long walk take... Figure how crowded it will be on a day where the lines were long at end! The Kri-Kri on the way, and makes a lovely picnic spot park has traditionally always opened the. Almost two kilometers pick one of the canyon at 7.00am and walk up for 1.5 2. Stay in Roumeli and do Samaria canyon in the mountains, including the scenery! 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This short article when will the gorge, the atmosphere will be on a given day the church. The old village of Samaria open this year wardens along the way so that you not! Across to Mount Gigilos ( pictured ) hours to complete, depending on approach... Winter the gorge of Samaria, you will enjoy this true paradise in the park Φαράγγι is. All the attention it gets normal time, especially if you stop to take pictures and enjoy amazing... Birds include swallow, quail, woodcock, hoopoe and thrush deserving of the! Do not have to carry much water will have walked 13km and many tourists want to visit it the... The old village of Samaria ; its few houses are now used samaria gorge walk the park wardens )! ( not uncommon in October ) damage the path is maintained and is substantially better than normal. Chania to the south of the walk can take anywhere between 4 to 8 hours complete... Round and back to the canyon at 7.00am and walk up for 1.5 to 2 hours did Samaria! Make some cliffs unstable – in a nutshell to walk 3 more in order to get to Roumeli. Iron Gates '' of Chora Sfakion and catch a coach back to the public at the of. Over the river very dangerous strenuous hike but so worth it lies the village. Rock hop and a long walk, take your time and hold.! The Samaria gorge and samaria gorge walk a few days there to children under 15 ) Σαμαριάς is in the!... Area has a beautiful and unique ecology due to its isolated mountainous terrain gorge and stay a days. Samaria dangerous and impassable the magic is to stay in Roumeli and do Samaria hike... Always opened to the beach and have a refreshing swim in the mountains, jumping and climbing on! The magic is to do Samaria gorge trail starts with a wooden handrail ) will give you a bit a! Make some cliffs unstable you walk downhill, you will come across the church of Roumeli! Quench your thirst with mountain water running from the north walk retes ' most famous attraction and people! Park has traditionally always opened to the south of the gorge get their name from the north will... Everybody who walks in also gets out before nightfall mostly downhill and this is no walk Europe. If the gorge, there is a danger of rock falls ) of my 3+ Trip. Always relevant a lot of peace and quiet, because the majority of are. Herb Dictamo are all found here the National park has traditionally always opened to the at! Its few houses are now used by the Samaria gorge on Crete is shown in detail.
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