Samaria Gorge More Than Just a Hike: An Untouched Crete Experience
4.5
259 Ratings
Omalos
Experience the untouched beauty of Crete on a hiking tour of the Samaria Gorge. Traverse unspoiled terrain, swim in crystal waters, and explore traditional villages at your own pace.
Duration: 14 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 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.

  • Samaria Gorge National Park - No holiday in Crete is complete without a trip through the 2nd longest gorge in Europe, the Gorge of Samaria. It is the longest and most imposing ravine in the Mediterranean. It is 16.5 kilometers in length from the position of Xyloskalo and terminates at Agia Roumeli in the Libyan Sea.
    We will arrive around 7 o’clock in the morning and after a short break you will start walking. Descending the 600 wooden steps you will be intrigued by the beauty and serenity of this massive gorge which is shadowed by the white Mountains.
    You will come across the church of St. Nicolas, built on the ruins of an ancient temple. Afterwards you will reach \

What's Included
  • Air-Conditioned Luxury Bus
  • All Fees and Taxes Included
  • Full Liability Insurance
  • Guided Hiking Escort
What's Not Included
  • Admission to Samaria (5 € per adult, children free of charge on the spot in cash)
  • Boat ticket (13€ per adult, 5.50 € per child 5-12 years old on the spot in cash)
  • Personal expenses, extra beverages or meals
Additional Information

Immerse yourself in the authentic heart of Crete as you explore its pristine landscapes, bathe in its clear waters, and wander through its quaint villages.

Our Samaria Gorge hiking tour lets you experience all these at your own preferred speed.

You’ll begin your adventure bright and early, with pick-ups arranged from specific locations around Chania in a comfortable bus, getting you to the Omalos Plateau, the departure point of the tour, by around 7 in the morning.

Benefiting from the shade cast by the nearby White Mountains and abundant natural springs for hydration, this leisurely hike promises lasting memories for each participant. A dedicated hiking guide trails behind your group for your safety and to offer help when needed. Your return journey back to the pick-up spot gets underway around 5 in the evening.

  • Pick up/Drop off is conducted only is select spots in Chania. Depending on your location, you will be advised on the time and place after booking.
  • 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.)
  • Υou can swim at Agia Roumeli beach just after you exit the gorge so make you have a swimsuit and beach towel with you
  • Τhe entrance fee to Samaria as well as the boat fee are paid with cash on the spot
  • Half way down the gorge lies the old village of Samaria, which has a telephone for communication with the police, a pharmacy, and two mules to transport injured persons.
  • In the village of Samaria, take a quiet walk around and you may catch a glimpse of the endangered kri‐kri. They are usually very friendly towards people!
  • Upon reservation please advise the exact name of your hotel in order to send you the exact pick up time and place
  • Τhe trip is not recommended for any person with a history of knee problems, high blood pressure, cardiac and pulmonary problems, pregnant women and for anybody who suffers from vertigo/fear of heights
Location
Omalos
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(259 Ratings)
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Julia_l
May 22, 2024
Great experience - Great tour, well organised, professional service by friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. Enjoyable.
Review provided by Viator
Lorna_m
May 17, 2024
Great day out! - A fab day! Able to walk at your own pace and enjoy the town and beach at the end of the hike in your own time. The company was very professional great and the day went smoothly
Review provided by Viator
David_t
May 11, 2024
Was a very well organized... - Was a very well organized day with a great guide Ingrid who was extremely informative. The views within the gorge were breathtaking and unparalleled. The hike itself took us a bit less than six hours and was very intense. I’m in pretty good shape and found it quite difficult and gruelling. Must be ready for that but if you are…amazing, unique experience.
Review provided by Viator
925lorenak
May 10, 2024
Excellent! - The view was great! It rained a little at the beginning, but it wasn't bad because the temperature was still 20 degrees! The guide was very helpful and catered to all needs!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Neelam_r
Nov 1, 2023
Samaria on 31 Oct 23 - On time. Great driver. Informative guide. And the hike - well what can you say? - spectacular! It took me 4.5 hours at a leisurely pace.
Review provided by Viator
Raymond
Oct 31, 2023
A great hike - very well organised from pick up to drop off. Our guide Ingrid was excellent, very knowledgeable and amusing. Enjoyed the swim at the end
Review provided by Tripadvisor
206mgwanderer
Oct 21, 2023
A challenge but worth it - This was a challenging but not to be missed experience ! The road to Samaria Gorge is quite twisty. The hike down the Gorge is rocky and while my ASICS tennis shoes held their own a thicker sole would have been welcomed. The Gorge was amazingly breathtaking and totally worth the effort. But it is challenging, Rocky terrain that crosses the River several times. Recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tonishew
May 4, 2024
Tough but good! - This is not a trip for the faint-hearted! The ground is very rough and uneven, and you need to be very careful where you are placing your feet. The constant downhill incline becomes very tiring on the thighs. All that said, Fantasy Tours provided excellent service. Comfortable coach transport from and back to Chania, and a very friendly and efficient guide (Dimitrios). I would heartily recommend them.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ecivda
Oct 22, 2023
Samaria Gorge hike. Very pretty. Looong day - The Gorge is spectacular but the options to get here aren’t great. We are pretty fit in our late 50s. Both having had meniscus knee surgeries. A tough but doable steep descent into the gorge. I think you start somewhere around 4,000, descending to sea level really occurs within the first 2,000 ft so it’s pretty steep but the footing is generally good during the major descent. No flip flops or open toed sandals, bring a good pair of sneakers or hiking boots optimally. The views once your are in the gorge are very nice. We thoroughly enjoyed the hike and would recommend it. However be for-warned this is a looong day. There’s a ton of wasted time on the tour bus, in total about four hours if u count stopping at every hotel to pick up and drop of ppl. It would be more efficient if they had one centralized pick up and drop off point. The boat ride is nice but hanging around for everyone to finish (we waited about 90 minutes after lunch) is tedious. We started at by getting up at 5:30 am to catch what was suppose to be a GoTours pickup in downtown Chania at 6am but actually arrived at 6:25am. Then a bus ride to a breakfast spot which was mediocre at best. Then the hike time of 6 hrs then the hanging out for everyone to finish and the boat ride back from the little port of Samaria (nice) then the loooooong meandering ride back in the bus stopping at 15 hotels dropping this one and that. Finally reaching our drop point at around 9pm. No food or drink allowed whilst traveling on the bus. No history of the gorge or area provided by our GoTour guide. No bathrooms on board.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
106frederikm
May 3, 2024
Try another operator - Fantastisk nature, but missing informasjon in front of tour, and during the tour................................
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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