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Samaria Gorge - West Crete

  • West Crete
  • West Crete
  • West Crete
Organised One-Day-Hiking Tour Samaria Gorge
We recommend purchase your tickets from us before you go for holidays. Information for purchasing tickes for this excursion: info@kreta.com . You will be picked up from your hotel ( if your Hotel is situated in the West Coast of Crete!!!) very early in the morning and will be brought back in the evening. This One-Day-Hiking-Tour is recommended only for visitors in the northwest of Crete.
The Samaria Gorge, with its 18 km length, is the longest Gorge in Europe. This gorge is part of the Crete White Mountain National Park in western Crete. Like the other Cretan gorges, the Samaria Gorge is also a riverbed and in the wintertime, it is full of water. This spectacular gorge is open from the beginning of May till the end of October and sometimes from the beginning of April, provided there has been no heavy rain in the previous months.

As the Samaria Gorge is the most famous gorge, you may rest assured that there will be crowds of walkers, but it is, however, a "must". The rule for this gorge is the same: you must wear the right clothes and shoes for walking and hiking. The Samaria Gorge is the home of the Cretan ibex (antelope) the "Kri-Kri". The gorge is situated in western Crete. The starting point is Xyloskalo, which is situated in the Omalos Plateau. In the gorge you will find the most famous Cretan herb the "DIKTAMNUS". In earlier times, a young man who wished to make his feelings of love known to a young woman would present her with a stalk of Crete Diktamus.

this herb is used to make tea; Diktamus tea has a bitter taste, you have to add Cretan honey, not sugar! You can use this tea if you have stomachache or a headache. The path is mainly downhill. You have to bear in mind that the beginning of the walk starts from an altitude of about 800m so even in the summertime it will be cold at the beginning. Impressive rocks and springs will follow you the entire length. Before you arrive in the village of Agia Roumeli, the famous "Sideroportes" (Iron Gate) is at the southern exit of the gorge where the rock wall rises 300 metres on either side of the passage, only 3 metres wide. At the end of your tour you arrive in the south coast village of Agia Roumeli where you can buy tickets for the ferryboat to Sfakia. From Sfakia village you can take the bus back to Chania.You have to imagine that this gorge is like a one way street; it is impossible to walk the Samaria Gorge downhill (18 km) and then back uphill (18 km) as the gorge is open only during the day. Information for purchasing Tickets (pick up points only in the Northwest of Crete): info@kreta.com

More information for booking the best Hotels, Apartments and Villas in West Crete: info@kreta.com, The Crete-Experts have the best ideas for Crete!

Hiking Samaria Gorge

Organised One-Day-Hiking Tour Samaria Gorge
We recommend purchase your tickets from us before you go for holidays. Information for purchasing tickes for this excursion: info@kreta.com . You will be picked up from your hotel ( if your Hotel is situated in the West Coast of Crete!!!) very early in the morning and will be brought back in the evening. This One-Day-Hiking-Tour is recommended only for visitors in the northwest of Crete.
The Samaria Gorge, with its 18 km length, is the longest Gorge in Europe. This gorge is part of the Crete White Mountain National Park in western Crete. Like the other Cretan gorges, the Samaria Gorge is also a riverbed and in the wintertime, it is full of water. This spectacular gorge is open from the beginning of May till the end of October and sometimes from the beginning of April, provided there has been no heavy rain in the previous months.

As the Samaria Gorge is the most famous gorge, you may rest assured that there will be crowds of walkers, but it is, however, a "must". The rule for this gorge is the same: you must wear the right clothes and shoes for walking and hiking. The Samaria Gorge is the home of the Cretan ibex (antelope) the "Kri-Kri". The gorge is situated in western Crete. The starting point is Xyloskalo, which is situated in the Omalos Plateau. In the gorge you will find the most famous Cretan herb the "DIKTAMNUS". In earlier times, a young man who wished to make his feelings of love known to a young woman would present her with a stalk of Crete Diktamus.

this herb is used to make tea; Diktamus tea has a bitter taste, you have to add Cretan honey, not sugar! You can use this tea if you have stomachache or a headache. The path is mainly downhill. You have to bear in mind that the beginning of the walk starts from an altitude of about 800m so even in the summertime it will be cold at the beginning. Impressive rocks and springs will follow you the entire length. Before you arrive in the village of Agia Roumeli, the famous "Sideroportes" (Iron Gate) is at the southern exit of the gorge where the rock wall rises 300 metres on either side of the passage, only 3 metres wide. At the end of your tour you arrive in the south coast village of Agia Roumeli where you can buy tickets for the ferryboat to Sfakia. From Sfakia village you can take the bus back to Chania.You have to imagine that this gorge is like a one way street; it is impossible to walk the Samaria Gorge downhill (18 km) and then back uphill (18 km) as the gorge is open only during the day. Information for purchasing Tickets (pick up points only in the Northwest of Crete): info@kreta.com

More information for booking the best Hotels, Apartments and Villas in West Crete: info@kreta.com, The Crete-Experts have the best ideas for Crete!

kreta.com excursion to Samaria Gorge

Book in advance HIKING THROUGH THE NATIONAL PARK OF CRETE SAMARIA GORGE:
Full day experience
Things to know before you go most of our tours provide round-trip transport from your accommodation in western Crete.
This tour is carried out by the company Haidemenakis.

Helping you explore Crete, with the whole family in tow this offered excursion in western Crete will be a real adventure. We offer this tour only with pick up points from the northwest coast, as the transfer from the eastcoast is too long. When you have a hotel at the east coast and you want to pass the Agia Irini Gorge we recommend to book an overnight in Chania-City. We can arrange this for you, we can offer a package 1 night in Chania plus the transfer to the Gorge: info@kreta.com

Departure Time 05:50 AM, Returns to original departure point / pick up point.
This hiking tour will lead you through sceneries of uncommon beauty and of exceptional wilderness.
Ride in an air-conditioned bus comfortably through the white mountains and enjoy the stunnig views. Your guide tells you about the area’s history about flora & fauna.
The tour will take place in almost every weather condition - the organizer will take the final decision in case of very bad weather conditions. In this case you´ll be informed from us and the tour will be moved to another day or cancelled. In case of cancellation on our part you´ll get your money back.

Not suited for the elderly and for people with cardiovascular disorders.

The National Park Samaria Gorge is the largest and oldest nature reserve in Crete.

With a length of 17 km Samaria Gorge is the longest canyon in Europe. This tour is a classic day hike, one of the highlights in western Crete, and a must to see for everyone interested in nature.
You need to be in good health and have no heart or circulatory problems. Good shoes, headgear and a bottle of water should be your equipment, then you can start. There are water sources in the gorge where you can refill your bottle.

We have various pick-up points on the west coast, which are located on the coastal road. You will find the time of pick-up and the meeting point later in the booking process. First you have to tick off your date, then pick up point and number of guests to book will follow.
The starting time depends on the pick up point. Usualy the time is from around 05:30 - 06:00 a.m. (earliest pick-up point). Return to the pick-up point around 8:00 p.m.
Most hotels provide guests with a breakfast package (if meals have been booked), please ask for a day before your tour to arrange this.

This guided tour takes you to the table land Omalos to the entry of the Samaria Gorge. The entry is reknown Xyloskalo (entrance to the Samaria Gorge 1250 meters above sea level), the tour guide collects the entrance fees. Per person = 5 euros. Then you get started.

At the end of the trip, the tour guide is waiting for you in a tavern at the coastal village Agia Roumeli ( End of Samaria Gorge) and he will handing out the boat ticket. Extra Cost for this ticket per person € 10. from Agia Roumeli you ´ll go by ferry-boat to the next coastal Village Sfakia or Sougia( it depence on date), as the village Agia Roumeli at the end of the Samaria Gorge is a carfree zone. Coming from the ferry boat the bus will be waiting there, which will take you back to the pick-up point /Hotel.

This tour is exhausting, but can also be carried out with well-trained children from the age of 9.
Kreta.com - We work with professional managers, to ensure higher quality and reliability. This tour is carried out from the company Haidemenakis S.A.
Kreta.com- We are the stuff of special memories and authentic emotions contact us: info@kreta.com Please bear in mind that this excursion is non-refundable. If you must cancel this tour you won´t get money back. You can book this tour till 48 hours before arrival ( subject to availability), payment with credit-card. After booking you´ll get an email-voucher from us with all information needed.
West Crete, Samaria Gorge
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