Those walking boots will get a good workout during this hike through the Samaria Gorge. This 16km long ravine is the longest in Europe. So it’s a serious but spectacular five to six-hour trek that’s not for the unfit or faint-hearted.

You’ll start by driving through the White Mountains to your starting point the Xyloskalo staircase, which zigzags some 200 metres down into the gorge. You’ll pass tiny chapels, walk between the high ravine walls and maybe spot some of Crete’s wild ‘kri-kri’ goats. The highlight though, is the ‘Iron Gates’ – the narrowest section of the gorge where the 300-metre-high walls stand just 3 metres apart.

At the end, you’ll reach the seaside village of Agia Roumeli, where if you’ve made good time, you can take a swim or relax in a taverna. Then, when everyone’s ready, you’ll catch a boat along the coast to where your coach awaits. Great for outdoor types.

• Just so you know, Crete is a large island with many resorts and hotels dotted along the coast. Because of this, the transfer time on this tour could be up to 4 hours each way, depending on your hotel’s location and traffic conditions on the day – making the total duration of the tour between 14–17 hours
• Guests must sign a participation form before entering Samaria Gorge
• Bring suitable footwear
• Bring a hat
• Subject to weather conditions
• Not suitable for guests with heart problems, knee or joint problems, asthma or vertigo
• Not suitable for expectant mothers or children under 12 years
• Not suitable for guests with poor health
• Not suitable for guests with cardiac or respiratory problems
• Not suitable for guests with reduced mobility