Samaria Gorge Hiking from Chania

89 Reviews

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Chania Town, Greece

From $42.88

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Select Date and Travelers

Number of travelers

Free cancellation

Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more

Safety measures

14 hours (approx.)

Pickup from select hotels

Offered in: English

Overview

Combine hiking, sightseeing, and more during this excursion into Samaria Gorge from Chania. Get picked up at your hotel and travel by bus to the starting point for the hike. Set out on an outdoor adventure into Samaria Gorge National Park for a hike at your own pace. Go swimming, explore traditional villages, and hike in the shadow of the White Mountains during this full-day tour.

Go off-the-beaten-path in Crete with a hiking tour
Set out on an outdoor adventure of hiking and swimming
Explore Samaria Gorge National Park at your own pace
Round-trip transportation from your hotel is included

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From $42.88

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What's Included

All Fees and Taxes

Hiking Escort

Air-Conditioned Luxury Bus

Full Liability Insurance

Admission to Samaria (5 € per adult, children free of charge)

Boat ticket (11€ per adult, 5.50 € per child 5-12 years old)

Personal expenses, extra beverages or meals

Departure & Return

Departure Point

Possible departure locations

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Departure Time

6:00 AM

Please NotePick up from Halepa Area, Chania Town, Ag. Apostoli, Kalamaki, Stalos, Ag.Marina, Platanias, Gerani, Maleme, Tavronitis, Kolympari. Important notice: Upon reservation kindly send us the name of your hotel in order to advise the exact pick up time and point.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
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
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
OPERATED BY Fantasy Travel

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Learn more about cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Samaria Gorge Hiking from Chania?

A:The policy on face masks and attendee health is:

Face masks required for guides in public areas

See all safety measures taken by Samaria Gorge Hiking from Chania.

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

"Don’t forget to pack a towel, swimsuit (there’s a place to change), and flip flops." See review

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Showing 1-10 of 89 reviews

Fabulous trek

Louise_D

, Jul 2022

Fabulous trek! Was quite challenging at the end of July in 35 degree heat, but worth it. Remember to take lots of snacks with you to eat along the way. Was amazing to get to swim in the sea at the end…..just what we needed.

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1 traveler found this review helpful

Samaria Gorge 2022

David_F

, Jul 2022

Amazing experience. Very well organized. Did not expect it to be this physically demanding. Couple of tips: don’t rush and slow down to enjoy the natural beauty around you, (don’t worry if others pass you, it’s not a race), correct hiking shoes are a must, wear lots of sunscreen. Absolutely pack some swimwear and jump into the sea at the end of the hike, the water is just amazing (the beach to the west side of the village is better). The only part I really didn’t like was the boat trip. It’s long and hot and they could have easily done in half the time. Enjoy and stay safe!

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Stunningly beautiful but challenging hike

Amanda_D

, Jul 2022

The Samaria Gorge is grand and unique. One of Earth’s masterpieces. The hiking itself isn’t TOO difficult, although you have to leave at 6am and the walk down is hard on your knees. You get to see the sunrise and enjoy the cool morning air. What was difficult was the length of the hike (13.3km) plus the hike to the beach (~2km) (almost 10 miles total, 5-7 hrs) in the heat. Our legs and feet really hurt by the end and we were nauseous and dehydrated. You should be sure to take breaks, stretch regularly, bring your best walking shoes, hiking sticks, your own food (no food options along the way till the end), a refillable water bottle (lots of cold fresh water sources along the way), sunscreen, and a bathing suit and towel for the beach at the end, although my group didn’t have much time for that. The water is beautiful but the rocks are scorching hot so bring special closed toe water shoes. We finished hiking by 3 but didn’t realize that you don’t actually leave till 5:30, the ferry takes until 6:30, then the bus picks you up again and drives you to Chania and you arrive there around 8:30 or 9. It’s an all day affair, so don’t set your rental car return time at 8pm like we did lol. Overall I would recommend this hike because of its beauty but you have to be okay with the challenge. We were 18-24 y/o in okay shape and felt it was a challenging day.

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Difficulty is moderate....

Winnie_L

, Jul 2022

Difficulty is moderate. Guide is only there to take you to and from hotel, issue ferry ticket, rent walking/hiking sticks and make sure you're not left behind. There's minimal commentary. He provides essential information for the hike. €11 ticket for ferry ride back, and €5 adult ticket into gorge. 500mL bottle of water adequate as there is spring water the whole way. Walk at your own pace. Guide gives you rough idea of average time it takes to reach each rest stop, to give you an idea of your time. The first 4km is all down hill and very rocky, after that it is much flatter and easier. Highly recommend walking/hiking stick to alleviate burden to knees. I hired 1 stick from the Guide €3. Bring your own food as there is no food during the 16km walk in the gorge. They stop at a Cafe before the gorge where you can buy muesli bars and bread, but I thought it wasn't tasty. This is a 15 minute pit stop to go to the toilet and buy food and coffee. I don't think it's enough time to drink a hot cup of coffee by the time you queue up and go toilet. It was a full day, 6am pick up and dropped off 8:30pm. There are toilets along the gorge, squat type toilet. At the end of the trail there is the beach and a few cafes. Board the ferry at 5:10pm for a 5:30pm departure.

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One of the best experiences I’ve had in Europe

emriley04

, Jul 2022

I was a little skeptical once I saw the start and length of the tour (6am- 14 hours) but it could have lasted three more hours and I would have enjoyed every second! Transport was reliable, our guide Wendy was an absolute gem!, food options in the morning were adequate, and the hike was absolutely wonderful. About 9.5 miles from start to finish, mostly down hill, and shady for about 3/4 of the walk. The river water is not only potable but it is maybe the freshest water I’ve ever drank. The icing on the cake was the incredible rock beach you get to relax in after the long walk. Bring your bathing suit and do not skip the swim! To finish up the day we had to take a boat back to the bus and it was absolutely breathtaking riding along the Cretan coast. It’s a long but full day, highly recommend.

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1 traveler found this review helpful

I made it!

Leslie_C

, Jul 2022

The scenery is stunning and the accomplishment I felt at staying upright (I’m 62 years old and in decent shape) over 90% rocky terrain was priceless. Also must call out hike coordinator Kristos and driver Marcos for a job well done.

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Summit to sea

Bryan_M

, Jul 2022

Beautiful mountain views, a tough but rewarding hike followed by a wonderful swim in the sea. The gorge is full of beauty and life. We saw goats and even a snake. Many beautiful flowers and fruit filled fig trees.

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Samaria Hike

Veronica_K

, Jul 2022

Amazing Hike that lasted us 7 hours. Our calves hurt like hell the rest of the week though. Stunning views. If you like hikes and have stamina I encourage you to do this hike. Wear broken in waterproof hiking boots as we wore sneakers and I got blisters and my feet got wet crossing rivers. Beautiful wildflowers and there are bathroom stops.

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Spectacular Samaria

Andrew_T

, Jul 2022

This is an amazing experience, but don't underestimate the hike! It can be done in running shoes, but you will feel it in the calves the next day (or more!). I hiked with my ten-year old son who had previous hiking experience and likes nature. We did well using frequent breaks and snacks to finish the walk in approx. 6 hours total time. We took one hiking stick each which helped my son crossing the rivers and me on my not-so-great knees. It's a long day (approx. 14 hours total from Chania) but well worth it. Special mention to our guide Orestis who gave great info and tips, checked in on people's enjoyment, and for collecting everyone's boat money on the way there and then buying all our tickets so we didn't have to wait in line. Extra-special mention (but sorry I never got your name!) to the customer service rep at Fantasy Travel. She was amazing giving details the day before the walk, and then helped us out with a partial refund because my wife and other son couldn't come due to illness night before so inside of 24 hours cancellation policy. This was an overall wonderful memory of the natural beauty of Crete and the warm hospitality of the locals.

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We enjoyed the hike and...

Wiliam_f

, Jul 2022

We enjoyed the hike and the beautiful scenery. I think the boat from Agia Rumeli should leave around 3:30 instead of 5:30. Leaving that late makes for a very long day.

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1 traveler found this review helpful

Gorgeous hike!

Maura_L

, Jul 2022

The gorge is absolutely stunning and a must if you’re visiting Crete! The tour made it easy to just show up and leave the details and transportation to someone else. They picked us up from a central meeting spot near our hotel in Chania at 6am, drove an hour or so and stopped for us to grab a quick breakfast at a local cafe (I preferred my own breakfast as it was limited in options). Then arrived to the trailhead shortly after. The tour guide gave some great insight and history on the way but won’t hike with you (that was fine with us) and met us at the need of the day. The gorge is just beautiful and awe-inspiring from the get-go. We took our time and everyone spread out so it felt like it was just the two of us on the hike for most of the day. Not too crowded. Wear hiking shoes or sneakers with good tread. You’ll be walking over smooth stones a lot and they’re really slick! Bring your own lunch & lots of water. Wear a hat and sunscreen- there is quite a bit of sun exposure toward the second half of the hike. After the end of the hike, you still have 2km to hike to the small little town at the waters edge with restaurants and cafes and corner stores. You can also take a bus for 2 euros if you don’t want to walk anymore. You’ll have time to grab food there before getting on the ferry (which Id recommend cause you won’t get home til late!) Bring water shoes and a bathing suit if you want to swim after (that felt glorious!). The beach is a pebble beach- not sand. If you want an umbrella/chairs to lounge in after, they’re 7 euros. We met up with the tour guide at 4:30pm who gave us our ferry tickets, and the ferry departed at 5:30pm, which takes you to another bus to get home. All in all- it was a great day with beautiful views. We were grateful to have someone handle the logistics for our first time in the country but looking back, we would have preferred doing it ourselves and finding our own transportation. At the end of the very long day, all we wanted was to get home and the bus is slow moving through the mountains, and made several stops on the way back so we didn’t get back to our dropoff point until 9pm.

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Essential Gorge tour (Inc some tips)

Dominic_S

, Jun 2022

The gorge is absolutely incredible, and well worth the cost. It's a must do really, given the start and finish are in different you also couldn't replicate this with a hire car or bus. It's a long way mind you, on rocky terrain, so you will hurt afterwards. I'd still rather this than the 'easy way' mind you, which would be uphill and you'd double back on yourself. However - wording on 'what to expect' on this listing are confusing as they mix the easy/ normal way I think. The normal route itinereray is - Early pick up at 6 Hour drive to a cafe if you want a snack for breakfast (take cash) Resume to start point on the bus. You have to pay 5€ entry per person (card is OK). We started hiking at 7.40 Hike to the bottom. There are plenty of water points and toilets but nothing else so take a snack or 2 to keep you going. We arrived at the bottom at about 13.30 I wouldn't rush too much as you have plenty of time (it may change based on boat schedules, but we started the return journey home at 17.30) So well worth stopping at the snack bar at the bottom of the gorge to have a drink or 2. From here, it's 2km to the village & beach. There will be bus that can take you for 2€ if you like. In the village, there are a bunch of tavernas but the beach is gravel/pebbles so great if you need to cool down, but don't expect golden sands. So we just ate and drank at in of the tavernas, which are cheap and cheerful. Note that your meeting time with the guide is 16.30 to get a boat ticket but you won't depart for another hour, so don't give up your table just yet! The boat is €10 per person, cash required. The boat takes you round the coast to another port where the coach can resume - we then got back to Chania about 20.00 One other thing to note, it's not really a guided tour, more accompanied to take care of the logistics and for your safety when walking. So you'll walk solo with your group. We liked this but so you know. As I say, We think this tour and visit is essential if you are in the area, and the tour is good value and the driver and guide are nice guys - the itinerary could just be a little clearer on this site and on the day. Enjoy!

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3 travelers found this review helpful

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