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Full-Day Beginner's Hiking Route Tour to Samaria Gorge
3.0
6 Ratings
Omalos
Embark on a full-day beginner's hiking route tour to Samaria Gorge and experience the breathtaking natural environment without getting tired. Capture stunning photos and enjoy a superior adventure!
Duration:
15 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Omalos - Early in the morning, you will be picked up from designated spots around Chania via a luxurious bus and reach the starting point of your tour in Omalos Plateau around 7am. The panoramic view of the gorge from the plateau is a photophile’s delight, so after a short stop for pictures and/or breakfast, you will hop on the bus and depart for the traditional village of Sougia. It is there that you will hop on a boat and sail along the coast of Crete till you reach Agia Roumeli.
- Agia Roumeli - With ample time on your hands, you can start a short hike inside the gorge up until the Iron Gates, the narrowest part of the canyon, at only 4 meters (13 feet) width. Alternatively, at the beach at the end of the gorge, you can take a swim in the warm Libyan Sea and even enjoy a traditional Cretan lunch!
At around 16:30 you will meet again with the rest of your group as well as your hiking escort returning from the hike of the gorge and board the boat back to the village of Sougia, where you will start your trip back to the place where you were picked up from.
- Samaria Gorge National Park - The gorge of Samaria is the biggest, most imposing and beautiful gorge in Greece and 2nd in Europe, and that is why it is internationally renown and mostly visited, since more than 300.000 people cross it each year. It has a wonderful landscape with rare geo-morphological formations. It is a unique biotope with particular richness in fauna and flora. It has a rich mythology as well, that goes back to prehistorical years and a tumultuous history during the difficult years of Crete. Samaria Gorge was proclaimed National Park of the White Mountains of Crete in 1962 when a couple of local families were still living in the village of Samaria, in the middle of the gorge and who were mainly busy with cattle-breeding and woodcutting. The surface covered at the time was 48.500 sqm., whereas the expansion of the Park today at 250.000 sqm. includes a remarkable part of the White Mountains.
What's Included
- Pick up and drop off at a designated spot in Chania with a luxury bus
- All taxes and VAT included
- English-speaking hiking escort
What's Not Included
- Admission to Samaria (5 € per adult, children free of charge) (optional)
- Round trip boat ticket (18 € per adult, 11 € per child 5-12 years old)
- Personal expenses, extra beverages or meals
- Customary tips to your driver and escort
Additional Information
If you’re weary of trekking but still yearn to capture breathtaking snapshots for your Instagram audience, this tour is for you. Replete with remarkable natural surroundings, this journey provides a superior adventure with minimum exertion.
We’ll reach our destination by 7 a.m. Following breakfast, you’ll have an opportunity to photograph the gorge entrance, while appreciating nature’s masterpiece. Our hiking guide will then give comprehensive instructions and head into the gorge with the remaining group members. You’ll reconvene with them at Agia Roumeli.
Our driver will then transport you to the quaint village of Sougia. From here, you’ll board a boat to Agia Roumeli, the Samaria gorge exit.
Here, you can choose to walk to the gorge’s exit, ‘The Iron Gates’, or enjoy a leisurely swim and lunch until the rest of the group catches up.
- Be sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes for the trek through the gorge
- It is advisable to bring the following items with you: sunscreen, sunglasses and hat
- It is important to stay hydrated, so bring a bottle of water (you can refill it in the gorge’s springs) and a light snack (fruits etc.)
- You can swim at Agia Roumeli beach just after you exit the gorge so make you have a swimsuit and beach towel with you
Location
Omalos
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
3.0
(6 Ratings)
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Zainab_a
Sep 28, 2021
Samaria Gorge "the easy way" - Perfect for those like me that cannot hike 5/6 hours - I was initially scheduled to do the Imbros Gorge hike. I chose Imbros Gorge because I didn't think my knee would be able to cope with the 5/6 hour Samaria Gorge hike. However, due to bad weather my hike to Imbros was cancelled. I received a call from Ria at the tour company who offered me the alternative hike to Samaria but the easier route. I have to say I am truly grateful for the call from Ria as I booked the hike and had the most amazing day.
So for the detail, I was picked up at 6am to join the main tour group. I separated from the group after the morning stop for breakfast. I was driven to Sougia where I took a ferry to Agia Roumelli (18 Euro return) where I walked to the entrance at the bottom of Samaria gorge. There is an entrance here for those that want to hike up the gorge rather than down.
This worked out better for me as this was a more manageable route and I could walk as far into the gorge as I wished. It was so beautiful, the scenery was stunning. I hiked for 2 hours into the gorge over rivers through amazing walkways and then hiked 2 hours back. This was great as I got to see the gorge from both directions which you get to see things you didn't see on the way in. As majority of people start the gorge from the top I had the gorge all to myself for the first hour or so which was amazing. The entrance fee to the gorge is 5 Euros.
After 4.5 hours walking I was very much looking forward to getting into the sea. I had enough time to spend an hour on the beach, then take a look around the village and have an hour for a meal one of the tavernas (there are a fair few to choose from). I returned back to Chania at 9pm.
Overall this was a truly amazing day. I was so happy to have been able to take this option to see the gorge. I travelled on my own, I would recommend this to people of all ages. You still need to wear trainers or walking shoes as you need to keep an eye on where you are place your feet. In my opinion this tour is worth every penny for such a wonderful experience.
Finally thank you to Ria who was extremely helpful to me.
Review provided by Viator
Carolinacorreo
Feb 9, 2021
Really good! - I am so glad that i visited this place! Amazing route and so glad to arrange the tours with Fantasy travel
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deedeesantaana
Sep 21, 2022
6 hour round trip on the "EASY" Samaria Gorge - The "easy" walk in from the finish point of the gorge was good, mostly a stone path with many old ruins along the way. We never were able to find out what they were. The guide did not offer any information about the area on the way up or back, other than what to expect on the gorge walk.
The description online said there was a photo opp at the trail head but there was not. Also, the beach area at the trail's end is a nice village with numerous restaurants and beach rentals.
Be advised that this trip involves a 2 hour bus ride and a 1 hour boat EACH WAY, if you're doing the easy way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Konstantia_m
Aug 17, 2022
There is no such thing as... - There is no such thing as a beginners' hiking tour to samaria gorge. I was actually driven to sougia port to get the boat on my own to go to the entrance of the gorge. I had to walk about 3-4km through an abandoned village to find my way to the entrance of the gorge I was really scared that if something happened to me there were none around. And I was more scared when I entered the gorge so although I walked about 10km I saw very little of the gorge. Shame on viator that sells such misleading products. An advice use public transport they charge 14-15€ a return trip to sougia the boat costs 20€you pay it anyway.
Review provided by Viator
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