Samaria Gorge, Chania, Greece

The Samaria Gorge is located in the National Park of Samaria created in 1962. The Gorge starts at an altitude of 1,250m and is 16km long, one of the longest in Europe. The full walk through the Samaria Park starts at Omalos, in the northern side of the park, and ends at Agia Roumeli, by the seaside, where you can have a swim at the beach. The narrowest part of the gorge is known to locals as "the Gates", but for some reason, in recent years the designation "Iron Gates" has been picking up.
When walking through the park there's no need to carry much water, as there are well-maintained water springs along the way; there are also a few wardens that can help in case of any trouble. The terrain is mostly stones, pebbles and rocks, so good hiking shoes are advisable. The National Park is a refuge for the very rare Cretan Goat, the Kri-kri. The goats can sometimes be seen close to the ruins of the village of Samaria, which was abandoned by the remaining inhabitants in 1962 when the park was created.  

Opening hours: Opened from May to October, during sunlight; closed on rainy days due to the risk of rocks falling.
Entrance fee: €5; Ferry from Agia Roumeli €12.70.
How to go: From Chania take the early KTEL bus to Omalos. Once in Agia Roumeli take the ferry to Chora Skafion (ferry timetable) and from there take the KTEL bus back to Chania (it's the last bus and only leaves after the ferry arrives). There are also organized trips to the gorge; if you go on an excursion you do not have to walk in a group, the guide will set a meeting time in Agia Roumeli; you'll have between 5 to 6 hours to do the walk.

 Back to Chania












Local: Omalos 730 05, Grécia

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