Samaria Gorge
- Duration: All day excursion
No visit, no vacation to Crete is complete without crossing the Samaria Gorge. Come with us to explore the most majestic gorge in Europe and get ready to live a unique experience!
Our adventure starts very early in the morning since the gorge is situated on the western side of the island. Our walk starts from Omalos Plateau, from Xiloskalo, at the entrance of the gorge, where we enter this vast canyon of 18 km that is considered to be the longest in Europe, with a width that varies from 2 to 40 meters and a depth of 250-600 meters. We usually need 6-7 hours to cross the rocky gorge down to the shore.
Three kilometers prior to our exiting this majestic gorge, we reach the Iron Gates (Sideroportes), the narrowest spot of the route, just a few meters wide, but 300 meters high – an amazing contradiction that can cause nothing but awe. A bit later we arrive in the small fishing village of Agia Roumeli, where we have quite a long time to lunch and get a refreshing swim in the deep blue, crystal clear waters of the Libyan Sea, before boarding the ship that leads us back along the coast to the village of Sfakia, where we get ready for the return trip.
An excursion for those who feel adventurous and are pretty fit. A tip for the ones who join in: good hiking shoes, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, an extra pair of socks, and a swimsuit are essential
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1Sfakia (or Chora Sfakion)
Sfakia is a village on the south coast of Crete, 75 km south of Chania. Situated in a very inaccessible and rugged area, it is surrounded by the steep slopes of the White Mountains and the numerous gorges formed therein.
There are daily ferries from the port to the island of Gavdos and to the small jetty of Agia Roumeli, where Samaria Gorge ends.
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2Omalos PlateauOmalos Plateau is situated 38 km south of Chania, at an altitude of 1,100m in the White Mountains (Lefka Ori).
The plateau covers an area of 15km2 and has three entrances: one from the village Lakki (Poros), one from Sfakia (Xyloskalo, where Samaria Gorge begins), and one from the province of Selino.
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Meet & greetYour driver will be waiting to meet you no matter what happens -
ValueEnjoy a high-quality transfer experience at surprisingly low prices -
SpeedyNo queues, no delays - we’ll get you to your destination quickly -
Door-to-doorFor complete peace of mind we’ll take you directly to your hotel door