Samaria Gorge
Φαράγγι Σαμαριάς
One of Europe's longest gorges: a classic one-day hike that descends 16 kilometers from the 1,230-meter White Mountains plateau to a seaside village on the Libyan Sea, passing through the 3-meter-wide “Iron Gates.”
Samaria Gorge lies within the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) National Park south of Chania. It is 16 kilometers long (plus 2–3 kilometers from the exit to the sea), making it one of Europe's longest gorges. It became a national park in 1962 and is the habitat of the Cretan wild goat (kri-kri). The hike is one-way only: from the Xyloskalo entrance (1,230 meters above sea level), a zigzagging wooden boardwalk drops 600 meters into the riverbed and pine forest. Midway, you pass the abandoned village of Samaria, evacuated in 1965 (with water and toilets, roughly halfway along the route), before reaching the narrowest point of the gorge, the “Iron Gates” (Sideroportes), 3 meters wide with walls 300 meters high. The exit leads to the village of Agia Roumeli, which has no road access. You can only leave by ferry to Sougia or Chora Sfakion (about 15 euros, last departure around 17:30), then take a bus back to Chania. The whole hike takes 5 to 7 hours. It is mostly downhill, but the stony path is hard on the knees, so bring hiking boots, 2 litres of water (there are springs along the way), a hat and sunscreen. Entry costs 5 euros (including protected area management). The ticket issued at the entrance must be handed in at the exit, as it is used to count people. The gorge typically opens from 1 May to around 15 October, with entry permitted daily from 06:00 to 15:00. After that, only the 2-kilometer introductory section is accessible. It closes during heavy rain or when temperatures exceed 40°C. Getting there: KTEL runs a direct bus to Omalos from Chania daily at 7:45 a.m. (about 1 hour 15 minutes). The most hassle-free option is a one-day tour departing from Chania, including round-trip bus and ferry tickets (about 35–45 euros, not including a guide who walks with you). If you lack stamina, you can walk back from the lower end at Agia Roumeli to the Iron Gates and return (about 2 hours), with the same entry ticket.
Opening hours
May 1–Oct 15, entry 06:00–15:00 (after 15:00, access limited to within 2 km of the entrance)
Nearby sights
- Loutro
- Botanical Park & Gardens of Crete
- Imbros Gorge
- Municipal Market of Chania
- Firkas Fortress & Maritime Museum of Crete
- Chania Old Venetian Harbour
- Lighthouse of Chania
- Archaeological Museum of Chania