Samaria Gorge

Introducing Samaria Gorge

Despite the crowds who tramp through the Samaria Gorge (28210 67179; admission €5; 6am-3pm May–mid-Oct), a trek through this stupendous gorge is still an experience to remember.

At 16km, the Samaria (sah-mah-rih-ah) Gorge is supposedly the longest in Europe. It begins just below the Omalos Plateau, carved out by the river that flows between the peaks of Avlimanakou (1857m) and Volakias (2116m). Its width varies from 150m to 3m and its vertical walls reach 500m at their highest points. The gorge has an incredible number of wild flowers, which are at their best in April and May.

It is also home to a large number of endangered species, including the Cretan wild goat, the kri-kri, which survives in the wild only here and on the islet of Kri-Kri, off the coast of Agios Nikolaos. The gorge was made a national park in 1962 to save the kri-kri from extinction. You are unlikely to see too many of these shy animals, which show a marked aversion to trekkers.

An early start (before 8am) helps to avoid the worst of the crowds, but even the early bus from Hania to the top of the gorge can be packed. There’s no spending the night in the gorge so you must complete the hike in the time allocated.

The trek from Xyloskalo, the name of the steep stone pathway with wooden rails that gives access to the gorge, to Agia Roumeli takes from between 4½ hours for the sprinters to six hours for the strollers. Early in the season it’s sometimes necessary to wade through the stream. Later, as the flow drops, it’s possible to use rocks as stepping stones.

The gorge is wide and open for the first 6km, until you reach the abandoned settlement of Samaria. The inhabitants were relocated when the gorge became a national park. Just south of the village is a small church dedicated to Saint Maria of Egypt, after whom the gorge is named.

The gorge then narrows and becomes more dramatic until, at the 11km mark, the walls are only 3.5m apart – the famous Iron Gates (Sidiroportes). Here a rickety wooden pathway leads trekkers the 20m or so over the water and through to the other side.

The gorge ends at the 12.5km mark just north of the almost abandoned village of Old Agia Roumeli. From here it’s a further uninteresting 2km hike to the welcoming seaside resort of Agia Roumeli, where most hikers end up taking a refreshing dip in the sea.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009