- No visit to Crete is complete without seeing Samaria Gorge
- Visit one of the world’s most unique landscapes
- Great cultural and physical aspects
We loved the actual hike but as we were back by 1pm and the boat did not leave till 5.30 it was a huge wait! I was also not happy with the speed of the bus on the return journey. Overall the hike thru the gorge was spectacular !!
The spectacular Samaria Gorge is the foremost natural attraction of Crete, a 16km long split in the White Mountains created by a small river running through. As well as a National Park, the Gorge is also a World Biosphere Reserve, and an unmissable excursion if you’re holidaying on the island. This full-day hiking adventure begins early in the morning close to Rethymnon, where you have the option to take breakfast (not included) before heading to the Omalos Plateau. Following the River Taras, you will pass caves inhabited by Cretans during wartime, until you reach the abandoned village of Santa Maria.
In this unspoiled landscape you’ll see wild goats, eye-catching rock formations, and many indigenous flora and fauna. Towards the end of the hike you will pass through the famous Gates section, only a few metres wide in places, but with walls that tower hundreds of metres into the air - simply astounding. Arriving in Agia Roumeli, a small fishing village, you’ll have the option to grab lunch and swim in the Libyan Sea before catching the boat to Sfakia, and then the bus for the scenic return journey.