Catch the earliest bus from Hania to Xyloskalo to beat the heat and midday crowds. There are a number of other gorges in the White Mountains. Because of popularity it is a very busy trail (at least when I hiked mid-August). The entrance fee price for adults is 5 euros per person and for children under 15 years old is free of charge. Initially we descend from Xyloskalo to the riverbed of Samaria Gorge The gorge is locarted at the south of Chania Prefecture in the larger uninhabited area of Europe, where no roads even exist. -From Chania we will drive to Omalos, the entrance of Samaria gorge (1 hr). Hi . There are tours organised in most big cities and resorts of Crete. Samariá Gorge is a National Park and a World Biosphere Reserve, as well as a major tourist attraction on the island of Crete. I bought a cute pair of blue and white Hellas flip flops as a souvenir and threw my shoes into a plastic sack. Chania is the closest city to the Samaria Gorge trailhead which means your drive before and after the hike will be the shortest, as opposed to starting from Rethimno or Iraklion. Duration 2h 11m Estimated price 80€ - 100€ Taxi Limo Chania Phone +30 697 797 9061 Website taxilimochania.gr Radio Taxi Hermes Phone +30 698 673 1880 Website chaniataxi.gr Crete Taxi Transfers Phone +30 693 724 9486 Website cretetaxitransfers.gr. From the top, we saw sheer mountain slopes still covered with patches of snow. There are a number of open-air restaurants along the beach that provide sea views and cold beers, the perfect end to a perfect day of hiking one of the most beautiful hikes in the world. The 138 meter deep gorge is ideal not only for sightseeing or hiking but for bunjee jumping as well. With your expert guide, you will escape the crow Approximately at 13:30 they will end the hike at the village of Agia Roumeli. Description of Samaria Gorge from Chania, Crete. There are some washrooms along the way, and natural springs where you can fill your water bottle. Samaria Gorge has been inhabited since the beginning of time. More info. Share. If you’ve got enough time before the ferry leaves, switch out your hiking shoes for flip flops and head to the crystal clear blue waters of the Libyan Sea. Highlights of Samaria Gorge from Chania, Crete. The walking tour from one end of Samaria gorge to the other is a challenging 18 kilometers. Other operators. It also means you’ll get there earlier than hikers coming from other cities and will therefore have a less crowded hiking trail and more time to hike. You’ll reach the end of the gorge at Agia Roumeli, and stop for a break and a bite to eat (the price of the food is not included). The average walking time through the Samaria gorge is 4-6 hours & is on a foot path with rocks & along the river bed. Although 500-1,000 visitors hike here a day, you can forge ahead and hike virtually alone. Hiking Samaria Gorge is a must-do experience if you are fit and can walk 16+ km. Its length is 18km. The entrance is open May 1 through October 30. Your hike begins in Omalos, as you follow the path of an ancient river through rugged mountain landscapes. The most common way to "do" the gorge is to book an organized tour. by Katherine and Romeo Belarmino When have you ever done an activity that wasn’t formal exercise that worked your core? You may choose among tree different ways to get to Samaria Gorge National Park: 1) The most common way to reach there is to book an guided Samaria Gorge tour. This can be done from most places on the north coast (some come from as far as Agios Nikolaos or Ierapetra, which I wouldn't recommend because it entails an almost 24 hour round trip!). You can still find traces of previous life here as some of the old houses have been restored to house modern facilities such as the doctors office and guard point. More info. Chania is the closest city to the Samaria Gorge trailhead which means your drive before and after the hike will be the shortest, as opposed to starting from Rethimno or Iraklion. Some of the flowers that can be seen growing on the plateaus are peonies, dragon arum, marjoram, anemones, white asphodels, yellow phlomis, and irises. Abandoned Village of Samaria There are some washrooms along the way, and natural springs where you can fill your water bottle. Catch the earliest bus from Hania to Xyloskalo to beat the heat and midday crowds. The terrain in the gorge is rough, rocky, and uneven and the hike is not suitable for anyone who has heart problems or is unfit, or for pregnant women. Free late cancellation (till 24 hours from the experience) are accepted anyway. Best Samaria gorge hike tour from Rethymno: very similarly to Chania, book your tour in advance to avoid disappointments. After taking a lunch break at the Samaria settlement, we continued on to where our surroundings really began to look like a gorge. Samaria Exterior. Review: What It’s Like to Cruise with Viking River Cruises, What to Drink in Greece: 5 Greek Alcoholic Beverages, Georgian Cuisine: 30 Traditional Foods to Try in Georgia, Photographing Ghost Towns of the Salton Sea, The Cinque Terre on the Beautiful Italian Riviera, Exploring the Scottish Highlands on a Barge Cruise, Must See Attractions for a California Highway 395 Road Trip, The Ultimate 3-Day Death Valley Road Trip Itinerary. Want to know more about travelling … I can count on one hand the number of times we had to walk uphill, and I’m using the term uphill liberally. If you have any sort of knee problems, take your time and hold on. After a long hike there is nothing better than being able to take off your hiking shoes. Visitors from all over the world attempt trekking at this gorge. The Samaria Gorge has been declared a national park because of the extremely rare flora and fauna. We started with an early morning bus ride (6:30am pick up) from Chania to the top of the … One of the many reasons people come to Chania and Western Crete is to hike down the Samaria Gorge, an 18 kilometer crack that cuts through the white mountains and ends at the Libyan Sea. $46.86 per adult. When you’re hiking Samaria gorge, you cross the river 20-30 times, mostly via stepping stones, as you descend. It was created by a small river running between the White Mountains and Mt. Rome wore shorts and a t-shirt and I wore shorts and a tank top and we were comfortable the entire hike. Reward yourself with an icey cold beer, frape and a later than usual lunch at the tavernas while waiting for the ferry to Sougia to connect with your bus. A 12 hours full day excursion from Chania; Visit the famous around the world Samaria Gorge; Get to see the famous Cretan Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus creticus) or Kri Kri. ).-We will reach Ag. You’ll catch the public bus from Chania to Omalos (check the KTEL. Initially we descend from Xyloskalo to the riverbed of Samaria Gorge The gorge is locarted at the South of Chania Prefecture in the larger uninhabited area of Europe, where no roads even exist. With your expert guide, you will escape the crow If you like the feel of being transported to another world, you'll feel right at home on this hiking tour of the rocky landscapes of Crete. If you prefer company, just meander with the majority. Enjoy a trek in the gorge on a 12-hour excursion that begins with a pick-up in Chania and a drive to Omalos, in the White Mountains. The gorge has a length of 16 km, starting at an altitude of 1,250 m., in Xyloskalo and ending on the shores of the Libyan Sea in Agia Roumeli.It is quite long (4 to 6 hours hiking), so you should be prepared for a quite rough route. Until 1962, families lived in the tiny village of Samaria in the shade of the soaring walls of the gorge. Travel the World is our place to share our travel adventures and help others plan their world travels. It’s a no-worries experiences. The Samaria Gorge has taken its name from the village of Samaria (abandoned today). The length of the gorge, which belongs to the European E4 path, reaches 18km and takes almost 4-7 hours to hike from Omalos to Agia Roumeli, depending on trekking speed. The gorge is in southwest Crete in the regional unit of Chania. Book a full-day Samaria gorge hiking tour or the 'Samaria lazy way'; either way, this private hiking tour in Chania will be one of the best things to do on your holidays in Crete. Many hikers kept on walking without a second glance. Initially we descend from Xyloskalo to the riverbed of Samaria Gorge The gorge is locarted at the south of Chania Prefecture in the larger uninhabited area of Europe, where no roads even exist. What makes Samaria Gorge epic? Beautiful hike with a well-managed tour. The hike through the gorge is 16km, 13km for the hike in the gorge itself and a further 3km from the exit of the park to Agia Roumeli on the southern coast of Crete. If you like the feel of being transported to another world, you'll feel right at home on this hiking tour of the rocky landscapes of Crete. We work full-time but use our vacation time to travel the world. Enjoy a trek in the gorge on a 12-hour excursion that begins with a pick-up in Chania and a drive to Omalos, in the White Mountains. It will be cool and shady and you will have the gorge more or less to yourself for the first few hours. 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