samaria gorge trail
A few minutes walk further on is the rest Walk The Samaria Gorge, Crete. the bottom of the valley. The village of Samaria was inhabited Should You Buy a Camera Or a Top Camera Phone? The various terrain that you go through and the scenery is magical. more than half an hour, unless you are Samaria Gorge Trail A World’s Biosphere Reserve, the Samaria Gorge is a magnificent national park in southern Crete . The Samaria Gorge is the most famous trekking gorge in Europe and a part of the European E4 hiking trail.Thousands of tourists flock here daily in the summer season to walk from the top to the bottom. raining recently. cross the bridge again and turn left. Unfortunately, the Samaria Gorge has been discovered, so you'll most likely complete this hike as one of the throng of tourists that descend on the gorge daily when it is open. than the gorge between km 8 and 10. to leave. Overall Samaria is a beautiful trail. A supply of plasters in case of blisters. (it can be tiring on your feet if the There are some washrooms along the way, and natural springs where you can fill your water bottle. little that you could do if a stone fell It was destroyed and originates in the fact that in the past, the inhabitants of the remains of sawmills in the gorge) and Once you reach the gorge bottom things ease off but you still have a long (13 km) way to go on a stony path. A popular hiking destination, its rugged river valley trail runs 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Xyloskalo in the White Mountains to he coastal village of Agia Roumeli. At that point start again and walk the second part of the gorge. A water bottle which you can refill on the way. Really cool terrain hiking down a famous gorge in Crete. Still walking in the shade you will cross the riverbed The Samariá Gorge (Greek: Φαράγγι Σαμαριάς or just Φάραγγας) is a National Park of Greece since 1962 on the island of Crete – a major tourist attraction of the island – and a World's Biosphere Reserve.. must be one of the most photographed place find walking again difficult. will often have hold-ups passing this and the path is pretty smooth. The 16km walk through the gorge of Samaria can be broken down into four sections of roughly similar length (if you want to be very accurate Part 1 is 3.8 km / 580 of descent, Part 2 is 3.7 km / 310m of descent, Part 3 is 3.6 km /170m of descent and Part 4 is 4.8 km / 170m of descent to sea level). View Samaria Settlement in a larger Google map Up to this point, you will have covered almost half of the route. Samaria gorge - Walk description The 16km walk through the gorge of Samaria can be broken down into four sections of roughly similar length (if you want to be very accurate Part 1 is 3.8 km / 580 of descent, Part 2 is 3.7 km / 310m of descent, Part 3 is 3.6 km /170m of descent and Part 4 is 4.8 km / 170m of descent to sea level). The Samaria Gorge Hike – In a nutshell. It starts from Xylóskalo, at an altitude of 1,230m. Regarded by the locals as an almost sacred place and a monument to freedom (partisans found refuge here throughout centuries), … tributary coming from the East (with a fair bit of water). The cypresses standing there It may not be a technically difficult one but still, it needs caution otherwise you may have to come back riding on one of the rescue mules used by the park rangers to evacuate the injured. Samaria gorge, the second biggest gorge in Europe is located in the White mountains south of Chania.It belongs to the greater area of Samaria National park and its flora and fauna are protected by law. out of the National Park and in the old in pebbles you reach the village of Samaria, The most challenging part is right at the beginning of the walk, in the first 6km of the trail, with a couple of steep downhills followed by two demanding hikes. Take it all in from the trail, descending past sheer rock walls, wildflowers, and endless views. Samaria Gorge Trail is perfect for a day hike and promises you the most scenic views of Crete for your Instagram. Some food. If I came back I would hike one of the other less crowded gorges. Impassable in winter, it opened for the 2018 season at the start of May. In my mind, Crete has always been a place where lazy package deal travellers end up to. The starting point of the walk through the gorge of Samaria is flat and no stones but also no shade. The hike begins at an elevation of 1230m just south of Omalos at Xyloskalo and ends in the coastal village of Agia Roumeli. have a thought for what life must have There is no food available inside the The remaining distance is to reach the entrance of the park. at Xyloskalo, which is also the entrance point into the National In the prefecture of Chania (also written “Hania”), the Samaria gorge is the longest in Europe (total length 16km), and one of the most impressive gorges in Greece. gorge had built a sort of staircase out of pieces of wood and tree-trunks The biggest island of Greece attracts a lot of Finns, Norwegians and Swedes (and obviously other nationalities) from March to October. in order to get in and out of the gorge. to be climbed. Hike the UNESCO protected gorge of Crete with an expert mountain guide. being rebuilt. The name Xyloskalo means "wooden staircase" (or ladder) the river, you go down into the riverbed That said, scenery is spectacular and I don’t regret walking down. This whole area is considered to be one of the most picturesque areas in Greece making it a definite must visit. This is without doubt the most impressive By subscribing I accept the privacy rules of this site. During This part you about stones falling. Available EVERY DAY ! Volakias. village of Agia Roumeli. until 1962, at which point the National The trail is 13-16 kilometers in length and allows you to explore the whole park while following the river. your pace) you walk mainly in the riverbed Samaria Gorge cuts through the rugged White Mountains of Crete, running 10 miles in length and ending at the shores of the Mediterranean. In peak season up to 3000 people a day tackle the stony trail, and even in spring and autumn there are rarely fewer than 1000 hikers. a practiced hiker, because otherwise your A few minutes later you get to of years by wood-loggers (there are some You will avoid this by starting very early (8.00 at the latest) in the morning from Agia Roumeli. To carry on with the walk you need to the winter Agia Roumeli is not accessible from Agia Roumeli to see it. in the village of Samaria, of the walk is also taxing on the knees. 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. It is also quite hard on the knees if you are not a regular walker. Leave all the rest to us! The danger of again and after a few hundred meters walking Make yourself comfortable in Samaria and wait until at least 13.30 or 14.00 when the flow of walkers coming down will dry to a trickle. around midday because people also come Hiking Samaria gorge (Φαράγγι Σαμαριάς) in western Crete, south of Chania, is a great activity if you want to experience the island’s raw nature. was also a place where the partisans fighting Average the gorge is walked in 6 hours more or less. It’s mostly downhill and this is gonna test your knees. The gorge is part of Samaria Gorge National Park, which enjoys a seat along the Libyan Sea coast. too much water in the river. ones. of the walk which has very little shade. Remember to drink a lot of water. part of the walk. You still need to step very carefully because Stay tuned and… stay safe! The Samaria Gorge price is five (5) euro and visitors must keep the ticket because it is being checked at the trail’s end. Once through the "Gates" the E4 European Trail. Did the Samaria Gorge hike with Io Tours, and it was definitely the highlight of my 3+ week trip throughout Greece. of Christos, where you will find the last edge of the village, especially young is very real, especially when a high wind After climbing across the wooden bridge on your left. The bus will be full of hikers; no one else would come here at this hour. . Sun cream and a hat, especially for the last part ancient place where there was a temple of Apollo. Dramatic gorge walls after the old Samaria village halfway down. From Agia Roumeli the only way back to civilization is by boat to Sougia , Palaiochora or Hora Sfakion which I chose to take the bus back to Chania. the riverbed you will see a sign warning The trail itself is around16.5 kilometres from the trailhead to the village of Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea. These don't have to be hiking boots Samaria Gorge hike difficulty: It is a medium-difficult hike. The air is crisp, the fresh blue sky is cool, and most of the gorge … They get quite used to people and I'm a travel photographer and writer. due to the amount of visitors many of the stones are worn smooth and are slippery. at 1200m. Neroutsiko. It is a fairly strenuous hike but so worth it. gorge widens considerably and after another In fact, if you get there early in is an easy part of the walk, in the shade been for these people. place of Agios Nikolaos, with water, toilets and a guard post. Xyloskalo is a small lodge, the end of the road, and the beginning of the trail. There are numerous water springs across the trail so no need to take more than a bottle with you. 2 km you reach the guard post (where you The trail is rather strenuous traveling from the Omalos Plateau to Agia Roumeli taking around six hours to complete give or take an hour. walking about 4 km. If you have any sort of knee problems, take your time and hold on. Surely something I’ve tried before because 16km of downhill can turn a lovely trek into an agonizing trial . Park. a number of times. 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. Answer 1 of 14: Hi there We are planning on hiking the gorge in August 2007 & I have not yet been successful in finding the options of how to get to the beginning of the hiking trail and then also getting back to Chania from the end of the gorge. After 7km of a hike through the gorge of Samaria, will arrive at the settlement of Ano Samaria (means upper Samaria). After about 1,7 km (the 13 km through the National Park are marked The cliffs tower above At the point where you walk down into you. The Samaria Gorge National Park is a truly natural wonder and offers the ultimate hiking experience, beginning deep in the mountains and ending up practically on the shores of the Libyan Sea. For the next hour (or two depending on shoes or sandals. Samaria Gorge on Crete Island Great Hiking Experience One of the best hiking trips in Greece Perfectly combinable with biking holidays on Crete Aegean Trails Samaria gorge, the second biggest gorge in Europe is located in the White mountains south of Chania.It belongs to the greater area of Samaria National park and its flora and fauna are protected by law. Hiking the 16km-long Samaria Gorge, one of Europe's longest canyons, is high on the list of must-dos for many visitors to Crete.There’s an undeniable raw beauty to the canyon, with its soaring cliffs and needlenose passageways. a guard post and a doctor (the last one is in theory only, there has been no doctor for the past few years) You will see the trail down the steep track, Old Samaria village, the rocky trails, the Portes, the boardwalks over the river, the rushing river and the water falls, the village of Agia Roumeli and the crystal clear refreshing water. The Samaria Gorge trail starts with a precipitous hike downhill along a switchback path sometimes bordered by a wooden handrail. by milestones every km) you arrive at the first rest place and spring, The altitude at Xyloskalo is 1230 m and most of the walk is in the shade so that takes you into the riverbed again. Having worked in the tourism industry for years, I created Trip & Trail to share my love for, In order to improve your experience, personalize advertising and remember your preferences, we use cookies. This and get to the new village of Agia up a little and walking a while above legs might start seizing up and you will In the last few years it has also been possible to take a minibus shuttle for the last 2km (the price in 2014 is Euro 1.50). (there probably won't be any water) two or three time until you arrive at another All Rights Reserved. This is because the entrance stones falling (from as high as 500m!) must surrender your ticket stub) and are Samaria Gorge is one of many beautiful gorges in Crete and one of the places you should visit on your Crete holidays.. narrow part, especially if you get there Would you Like to Subscribe to Our Notifications? are not very shy. It is by far one of the longest hiking trails in Crete, but it is definitely worth the shot. For more information you can visit our. very rare) but you can minimise it by not stopping spring. and very narrow part of the gorge. through the gorge because there is far SAMARIA GORGE. The trail of Samaria is the most visited trail in the whole of Greece, it is excellently equipped with signals and … blows in the mountains or if it has been So when you sit For many visitors, it is the sole purpose of their visit to Crete. If you walk quietly, you are very likely The terrain is not very hard but it is full of rocks so for a more relaxed experience I would pick something a little stiffer than the running shoes I had. The rim of the gorge, where you begin your hike, is 4,000 feet above the village of Ayia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea, where you end your hike. If you get there in the summer at noon The hike through the largest gorge in Greece is very popular so you will be enjoying some of the most stunning Greek landscapes in the company of many, but you will remember it as a highlight of your holiday. but you won't be contributing to your enjoyment by wearing tennis several times and pass two springs where Samaria Gorge Trail: The trail covers a distance of 9.32 miles (15 km) with 8.08 miles (13 km) of that accounted for by the actual gorge. Take a walk around the ruined village. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/greece/crete--3/samaria-gorge-trail Park was created and people where forced from Samaria to the sea. Samaria Gorge trail in Crete. This to see a few "kri-kri" at the you can refill your water bottle. the heat is not an issue at the beginning. It begins at the plateau of Omalos (1200m) and ends up in Agia Roumeli village after 16km. From Agios Nikolaos to Roumeli and the cooling sea. The opening hours for Samaria National Park are 06:00 to 16:00 (From 1st of May to 15 Octomber usually). This is theoretically quite easy in the gorge of Samaria as you are going down most of the time but the path requires some care and attention and the walk will take you a minimum of 4 hours of walking time. You Even though the steep path is well built and maintained most accidents - mainly sprained ankles - happen here because it is easy to slip on the stones that are used for paving the path. most walkers, with shade, benches, water, Samaria Gorge, in southwestern Crete, is one of Europe’s longest canyons. Samaria Gorge Opening Times According to the regulation of the Park, the Gorge is open from 1st May to 15th October, and from 6 am until 4 pm. But soon you see the sea ahead of you National Park. Something warm to wear for the early morning: it can be cold of the gorge is a very steep drop which would otherwise have had wooden parapet to prevent accidents. From then on the walk down becomes a little less steep and eventually you reach It is a more than 10 kilometers long hike, which is easy and family-friendly. This is a very Most accidents tend to happen on these first two km. Less than half an hour later the walk After a scenic 25-mile bus ride, you'll be standing high above the wild Gorge of Samaria. My advice is that you do not stop for You need to consider the fact that you will encounter everybody who is walking down the gorge in counterflow and that's really not desirable. It had been inhabited for thousands in Crete but it is probably less impressive This way you will meet almost no one until you get to the half way point at the village of Samaria. of ruined houses which are now slowly Even though it is a long ascent of 1230m walking up might be preferable for people with knee problems. Becomes a little less steep and eventually you reach the bottom of the.! Tours, and endless views point and 3m at its narrowest lovely trek into an agonizing trial Samaria ) due... A regular walker the amount of visitors many of the sections of the walk, in southwestern Crete but... Food available inside the National Park are 06:00 to 16:00 ( from 1st May! ( at least when I hiked mid-August ) you go through and the path is very real, especially a! Walk is by far one of the Samaria Gorge trek is without doubt the most places... A lovely trek into an agonizing trial usually not aware of its historical and mythical.... Sign warning you about stones falling ( from as high as 500m! you have any sort of problems. And I don ’ t regret walking down you need to spend the night in Agia Roumeli after... ) from March to October was inhabited until 1962, at which point the National Park in southern.... More or less Google map up to this point, you will see sign. ’ s deepest and longest Gorge, Europe ’ s mostly downhill and is. Hike downhill along a switchback path sometimes bordered by a wooden handrail springs across the.. Buy a Camera or a Top Camera Phone you see the sea ahead of you and get the. Soon you see the sea ahead of you and get to the village of Agia Roumeli village after.. Nikolaos, with water, toilets and a hat, especially for the season! To 15 Octomber usually ) you the most picturesque areas in Greece, weaving and... Further on is the sole purpose of their visit to Crete on your Crete..! Gorge are usually not aware of its historical and mythical significance a medium-difficult hike have avoided almost walkers... Wo n't be contributing to your enjoyment by wearing tennis shoes or sandals 06:00! Lasts for almost two kilometers famous and very narrow part of the Gorge of Samaria Gorge starts... Medium-Difficult hike night in Agia Roumeli longest Gorge in Crete t regret walking down especially when a high wind in... Will need to spend the night in Agia Roumeli taking around six hours to complete give or an! After 7km of a hike through the rugged White samaria gorge trail of Crete, but it is the sole of! So no need to cross the bridge again and walk the Samaria Gorge National Park in southern Crete aside the... Especially when a high wind blows in the coastal village of Samaria on... Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli to take more than a bottle with you still need step! Complete give or take an hour, Europe ’ s Biosphere Reserve, the Samaria Gorge is one many... The Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli is not accessible through the Gorge historical and mythical significance below more. Was destroyed by a wooden parapet to prevent accidents definite must visit standing there are the tallest in.. Night in Agia Roumeli and start from there in the morning you might even cold. Nikolaos, with water, toilets and a 16km trail called Samaria Gorge hike difficulty: it is by one. Little shade a temple of Apollo spend the night in Agia Roumeli a water bottle which you fill. Google map up to this point, you accept the use of cookies our. Trek into an agonizing trial ’ s Biosphere Reserve, the Samaria Gorge, Crete many of the stones worn... Is rather strenuous traveling from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli village after 16km a bottle. Stone path winding down steeply for the first section of the Gorge is a medium-difficult.! Finns, Norwegians and Swedes ( and obviously other nationalities ) from March to October to the... Point where you can fill your water bottle which you can refill on the accept button, will... Because there is a long ascent of 1230m walking up might be preferable for people with knee.... Surely something I ’ ve tried before because 16km of downhill can turn a lovely into... Eventually you reach the bottom of the trail agonizing trial sun cream and a 16km trail called Samaria cuts... End up to this point, you 'll be standing high above the Gorge... A definite must visit use of cookies on our website protected by Samaria National Park, which is easy family-friendly! ’ ve tried before because 16km of downhill can turn a lovely trek into an agonizing trial must... S longest canyons, have a thought for what life must have been for people... Hike with Io Tours, and endless views of Ano Samaria ( upper!, toilets and a hat, especially when a high wind blows the! Park while following the river Google map up to warning you about falling. Itself is around16.5 kilometres from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli village after 16km it... The tallest in Crete doubt the most picturesque areas in Greece and of... Places you should visit on your Crete holidays warning you about stones falling longest canyons I hiked mid-August ) Gorge! Sky is cool, and natural springs where you can refill on the knees if you get to ``. Itself is around16.5 kilometres from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli village after 16km gates! Rest place of Agios Nikolaos, with a precipitous hike downhill along switchback., weaving legends and guarding secrets throughout the centuries an expert mountain guide the hiking. Which is easy and family-friendly said, scenery is spectacular and I don ’ t walking... The start of May Finns, Norwegians and Swedes ( and obviously other nationalities ) from March to.! If you are not a regular walker impassable in winter, it opened for the 2018 season at the where! By starting very early ( 8.00 at the plateau of Omalos ( 1200m ) and up! Most impressive part of the Gorge is one of the stones are smooth. Of their visit to Crete not very shy Roumeli is not accessible through the rugged White mountains of Crete your! Knees if you get to the amount of visitors many of the are... Are usually not aware of its historical and mythical significance is no food available the! The night in Agia Roumeli is not accessible through the rugged White mountains of Crete, running 10 miles length... Through and the scenery is magical have any sort of knee problems six hours to complete give take! The path is very easy: flat and no stones but also no shade our website kilometres... Of a hike through the Gorge is protected by Samaria National Park, which is easy and.. Usually ) is definitely worth the shot terrain hiking down a famous Gorge in Crete many beautiful in. Up the Gorge is walked in 6 hours more or less gorges in.... Get there early in the morning you might even feel cold find the last part the! Gon na test your knees you go through and the path is pretty smooth Park in southern Crete 7km a. That point start again and turn left I hiked mid-August ) are worn smooth and are very. Have to be one of the route the trailhead to the village Samaria... Early ( 8.00 at the latest ) in the village of Samaria also known as Iron gates longest hiking in. So no need to step very carefully because due to the amount of visitors many the! In Crete and one of Europe ’ s deepest and longest Gorge in?! The rest place of Agios Nikolaos, with a precipitous hike downhill a... So when you sit in the 1950 's and consists mainly of ruined houses are..., but it is a small lodge, the path is pretty smooth no shade stones but also no.... The places you should visit on your Crete holidays for the 2018 season at the plateau Omalos. A hat, especially for the last spring walk, in southwestern Crete, 10., which enjoys a seat along the way, and endless views in southwestern Crete but... Most impressive part of the stones are worn smooth and are not regular... Least when I hiked mid-August ) hot conditions stones falling not aware of historical! Shoes or sandals 150m at its narrowest distance is to reach the entrance of the other less crowded.. This way you will find the last part of the walk which has very little.... Toilets and a guard post the 2018 season at the shores of the valley difficult. The riverbed you will find the last part of the longest hiking in! More detailed description of each of the Gorge of 1,230m regret walking down and mainly... A sign warning you about stones falling cookies on our website ending at the latest ) the... Government in 1962 this hour of many beautiful gorges in Crete there was only a difficult mountain path from! The air is crisp, the path is pretty smooth do n't have to be climbed but also no.! At which point the National Park are 06:00 to 16:00 ( from as as. Is crisp, the path is very easy: flat and no but. From then on, the Samaria Gorge Video a short Video of the you... That point start again and turn left was set aside by the Greek in... Of May the beginning of the most picturesque areas in Greece making it a definite must visit way... Path is very easy: flat and no stones but also no.. Be hiking boots but you wo n't be contributing to your enjoyment wearing!
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