Hiking Samaria Gorge Crete [Updated for 2024]

Last Updated: 29/05/2024 | 29th May, 2024

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Samaria Gorge is an incredible 16km hike through some of the best scenery Greece has to offer! If you’re able-bodied and looking for a challenge, I couldn’t recommend this more.

I’ve been lucky enough to do some incredible hikes around the world, including The Great Wall of China, and Volcano Acatenango in Guatemala. Still, Samaria Gorge is definitely one of my favourites. It’s a great addition to any holiday in Crete.

So, here is everything you need to know before hiking Samaria Gorge, Crete.

Table of Contents

What is Samaria Gorge?

Samaria Gorge is a renowned natural wonder located on the island of Crete in Greece. It is situated in the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) in western Crete. It is part of the Samaria National Park – the largest national park in Greece.

How Hard Is The Samaria Gorge Hike?

The Samaria Gorge hike is wonderfully beautiful but definitely should not be underestimated. It is a 16km walk, with a descent of 1230m, most of which is covered in the first 4km.

Getting to Samaria Gorge Crete

There are two main options when travelling from Chania to Samaria Gorge: a day tour or a public bus.

Option One: Day Tour

We opted for the ease of the tour and were picked up at 5.50 am sharp! We were staying in Platanias, which is around twenty minutes west of Chania town – of course, the pick-up time will vary slightly depending on where you are staying.

There is a small cafe around ten minutes from the starting point where you can use the bathroom, grab breakfast and stock up on snacks and water.

This Get Your Guide Tour is an excellent option. Please note, however, that the tours do not include entrance to the Gorge (€5) and the ferry back to the bus (€13).

Option Two: Public Bus

The public bus system in Crete has surprisingly good reviews. Although I didn’t personally use it to get to Samaria Gorge, I did use it to get to other areas on the island, and it was efficient and inexpensive.

There is a direct bus that departs from the main station in Chania, which has plenty of signage in English. Also, you can conviniently purchase your return bus tickets and ferry tickets together.

If possible, I recommend heading to the bus station to purchase your tickets the day before to avoid rushing around the morning of your hike.

What to Expect From The Samaria Gorge Hike

As mentioned, this is a 16km hike with a descent of 1230 meters. However, most of this descent is covered in the first 4km. This first section can be extremely challenging on the knees and hips.

I was initially nervous about booking this trip. I was worried that due to the popularity of this hike, we would be shuffling around the route like a herd of cattle, but this excursion was absolutely nothing like that!

Because the trek is so long, within the first kilometre, everyone starts to move at their own pace, and there are actually large stretches of the hike where we are completely alone.

After those first couple of hours, the gorge’s beauty truly envelops you—the towering rock formations on either side and the refreshing water running alongside.

Keep an eye out for the Kri-Kri goats, a unique sight found only in Crete and abundant around Samaria Gorge. The hike has so much unique fauna – so take your time and capture plenty of photos. There’s no rush to complete the hike in three hours, as you’ll miss out on the breathtaking sights.

Journey Back From Samaria Gorge

Completing Samaria Gorge will take around four to five hours, and once you reach Agia Roumeli, you can breathe a sigh of relief and give yourself a pat on the back! If you’ve completed the hike fast enough, enjoy a dip in the Libyan Sea.

There are a few places to grab something to eat and drink before getting the final ferry back to the bus. It’s quite a long journey from Agia Roumeli back to Platanias (around one hour on the boat and a further one and a half on the bus), so be sure to grab some water and snacks for the journey.

What to Take With You to Samaria Gorge

💦 A Water Bottle: There are plenty of springs to refill your bottle along the way, so don’t worry about carrying numerous heavy bottles with you.

😎 High Factor Sunscreen: After around an hour, the gorge opens up, and there is absolutely no shade.

🍌Lots of Snacks: Once you’re on the trail, there’s nowhere to buy anything to eat. Take plenty of snacks, including some fresh fruit to keep you going

🩴Some Lightweight Flip-Flops: Once the hike is finished, you will (hopefully) have a couple of hours to relax on the beautiful beach. No better feeling than getting those hiking boots and taking a dip in the sea