• The Samaria Gorge hike

The longest and most impressive canyon in Crete, running downhill within the Samaria National Park from the village of Omalos, 38 km south of Chania, to the village of Ayia Roumeli on the southern coast of Crete and the Libyan Sea. The Tarraios River flows in the winter through the canyon’s 300 meters high cliffs. Throughout the trail the canyon is wide and open, but in the part called the Iron Gates, about 2 km from the trail end, it narrows down to ~4 meters, where you would cross the river to the other side. Hiking the canyon is best in the Spring when the canyon is flourishing with various wildflowers.
It’s the most popular hiking trail in Crete, 16 km and 6 hours long, and sometimes challenging, descending through dense pinewoods, and winding around large boulders. But the black sandy beach and the refreshing swimming at the end is a great compensation. The trail is a one way hike, with a ferry and bus shuttling visitors back to Chania, where you can as most people do, take an organized hiking day trip from Chania.

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Beautiful view of the samaria gorge in mountains landscape nature, near Chania, Crete island, Greece

People hiking the hiking trail at the National Park Samaria Gorge, near Chania, Island of Crete, Greece

Beautiful view of the hiking trail at the National Park Samaria Gorge, near Chania, Island of Crete, Greece