Bathing suit and towel if you want to swim in the ocean after the sweaty hike (odds are you will).The ferry collected us at 530. Samaria Gorge National Park: Wonderful scenery, long and difficult hike, unique experience - See 3,240 traveller reviews, 4,501 candid photos, and great deals for Sfakia, Greece, at Tripadvisor. Unless you're in killer shape, plan to hike from north to south so that your entire route is downhill. Didn't walk down, The view from the top is enough. There are some washrooms along the way, and natural springs where you can fill your water bottle. There are DOZENS of Gorges in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? After 1.7km (40 min. Crete features hikes in a number of spectacular gorges that plunge from high up in the mountains down to the sea. Samaria Gorge National Park: Samaria gorge - See 3,240 traveller reviews, 4,501 candid photos, and great deals for Sfakia, Greece, at Tripadvisor. Samariá Gorge Trail is a 9.9 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Palaiá Agía Rouméli, Crete, Greece that features a river and is rated as difficult. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-25191954', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Samaria Gorge, and guide books saying such things about crowds. In fact, I'd suggest a couple of nights there if you have the chance. However, there are other, equally beautiful alternatives. Even around the ruined old village (Samaria) half way into the walk there is no way it's crowded. Besides that, its worth to see how far is your holiday resort from the gorge, if you are staying in Elounda, than put it completely out of your head. You have to be physically fit to hike Samaria Gorge. The hike is beautiful and very enjoyable. The walking tour from one end of Samaria gorge to the other is a challenging 18 kilometers. The various terrain that you go through and the scenery is magical. THE SAMARIA GORGE is the best hike I have done in Europe. The locals call it the “Farangas” or “Great Gorge”, both in admiration at its beauty and to differentiate it from the many other, smaller gorges of Crete. Most of the Samaria Gorge Trail is manageable but get prepared for a long hike! The locals call it the “Farangas” or “Great Gorge”, both in admiration at its beauty and to differentiate it from the many other, smaller gorges of Crete. half way down the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-25090773', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Crete, at least, with probably more than 10 which people hike regularly. During the hike I was overwhelmed by the natural world: mountains, cliffs, trees, the river, springs, flora and fauna and wildlife surrounded me. Looking for a great trail in Samariá Gorge National Park, Crete? 16 reviews. Leave your car in the parking lot (5 euros). Chuck, we did not GO to the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? One, as suggested above is to start really early. It seemed like this is something we could do.We were wrong. People start to get sick and after you could feel it in your eyes. How hard is it to do the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We were unlucky and missed the first bus due to capacity, it took another 35 minutes before the next one came. They tell you that the only boat is the one they sell tickets for. Popular: Booked by 271 travellers! I am not super fit, but I am far from unfit. Keep an eye on where you are putting your feet. Even if you start with the crowds it's not that bad.. You need five to six hours to walk the 16 km. This is the most difficult route into Samaria Gorge, as it is downhill enough. There are rest stops, places to refill your water, and restrooms (squat toilets) located along the trail, but bring plenty of snacks! People clearly in pain, people with injuries – usually ankle injuries.A saving grace was a most welcome sign after the exit to the gorge – at the 13km mark – advertising a bus at €2 per person, cutting off the final 3km of the hike.Our guide gave us indications of checkpoints and times we should achieve those throughout the hike. 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. Do not bring flip flops. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Another extraordinary hiking trail … A couple of other alternatives are the Kotsifou and Koutoliotiko gorges, both in southern central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Some parts of the trail are not well kept, particularly from the beach parking lot, with fences leaning over the trail, but overall the trail is clear. The 16km canyon runs from a plateau in the shadow of Crete’s White Mountains all the way to the Libyan Sea. Bring snacks and sunscreen as well as the top is cool and covered but the lower section you're very exposed to the sun. Take some sea sick pills as you are already exhausted you might find yourself more susceptible to feeling ill. We were very excited to go to gorge, and the nauture did not disappoint us, but people and new ferry service from Agia Roumeli to Sougia. Samaria Gorge National Park: Hike Made Difficult Due to Footwork - See 3,230 traveller reviews, 4,438 candid photos, and great deals for Sfakia, Greece, at Tripadvisor. I just took an hours nap at the big rest stop about halfway down. This is a fantastic hike through the majestic Samaria Gorge in the White Mountains. The first section of the walk is by far the most difficult one because it descends steeply. Samaria Gorge National Park: Hike Made Difficult Due to Footwork - See 3,230 traveller reviews, 4,438 candid photos, and great deals for Sfakia, Greece, at Tripadvisor. If you do not buy from them you have no ticket and no boat. Things to do near Samaria Gorge National Park, Full Day Samaria Gorge 10-Mile Walking Tour from Chania, Samaria Gorge Tour from Chania - The Longest Gorge in Europe. The locals call it the “Farangas” or “Great Gorge,” in admiration of its beauty and to differentiate it from the other smaller […] ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-25185601', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Crete in early june and was planning to walk the Samaria Gorge, but would rather go on a day with smaller crowds. Gearing up for a challenge? You can choose how far in you walk and turn back when you have had enough. You can buy tickets for the ferry at the other way (Agia Roumeli- 10 euro - don't fall for the info that you can't buy tickets from the harbor - they'll sell you tickets to a crapy old diesel ferry).Expect a 5 to 7 hours hike through a mountain path packed with river rocks, extremely dusty and phisicaly demanding.The view is astonishing! Ask erikdekok about Samaria Gorge National Park, Ask Ana K about Samaria Gorge National Park, Ask Gsoy19 about Samaria Gorge National Park, Ask bgdd007 about Samaria Gorge National Park, Ask sijo469 about Samaria Gorge National Park. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. It begins at the plateau of Omalos (1200m) and ends up in Agia Roumeli village after 16km. Depending upon when you go there may be some shade at the top end but in the afternoon, in the lower section it can get very hot indeed as you walk towards Agia Roumeli. I'll be in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I see where travelerjan walked the Imbros gorge on a day where the lines were long at the Samaria Gorge. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. More than a quarter-million tourists choose hiking the Samaria gorge every year from May to October. At least this will be in the cover of the forest and the temperature will cool as you ascend. After this point, there is no going back, and no way out other than completing the hike.After about 6km, with 10km to go, you will be seriously wondering why you didn’t turn back. Best mode of transportation from Athens to Crete. While the walk back up seems daunting, I would suggest you do just that. That continues all the way through the Gorge, people are pretty well spread out. Full-Day Santorini Island Trip from Crete, VIP Zeus Cave & Knossos Palace Full-Day Chauffeured Private Tour. Inside was not better, no one could breathe. 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. The various terrain that you go through and the scenery is magical. Keep your ticket from the top, you need it to exit the park.I'd recommend closed toed shoes or practical sandals. For many visitors, it is the sole purpose of their visit to Crete. In a season it happends 4-5 times that we close the gorge because of the heat ! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The gorge is 12.8 km (8.0 mi) long, but there is another distance of 3.2 km (2.0 mi) to walk after leaving the gorge to reach Agia Roumeli. Entering the gorge, there is a steep rocky trail with a wooden fence for you to lean on. I felt as though I had suddenly walked into a Group of Seven painting, even though I … As to how tough the walk is, I would suggest you need to be either young or fit. From here the ferry will take you to Sougia. Samaria Gorge National Park: Samaria Gorge: A Must-Do, and how to avoid the crowds - See 3,240 traveler reviews, 4,501 candid photos, and great deals for Sfakia, Greece, at Tripadvisor. OK there are many smaller gorges in Crete and I have done some of those including the Imbros Gorge and the Zakros gorges. To 16-kilometrowy wąwóz w południowo-zachodniej części Krety, który powstał wskutek erozji rzeki płynącej między Białymi Górami a Górą Volakis. 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. Even though the entire route is downhill, the full trip is almost 15 km (9.5 mi) one way. http://www.summerincrete.com/en/activities/walks.htm. During the winter Agia Roumeli is not accessible through the gorge because there is far too much water in the river. I would agree with retired hippy, you don't want to miss the chance to go down the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Your home base for this loop trip is Hania, a city on Crete's north coast serviced frequently by the overnight boat from Athens. The Samaria Gorge is the most famous gorge for hiking on the island of Crete. I can't tell you how many people post on this site "I want to walk The Gorge." This bus had traffic problems and we were delayed on our way back up by another hour. As Albert says there are many other gorges & if you have any doubts as to your fitness, ability etc. The lazy way is just as hard, because you walk 12 Km in the midday up in stream of the long way walkers and in the sunshine. The gorge trail is extremely easy for experienced hikers, but nothing for people with knee problems, unless you do it the other way round and sleep at Omalos at the end of the walk. You need five to six hours to walk the 16 km. If you are losing toenails then there is something seriously wrong with what is on your feet - too loose or too tight. There are 2 ways to avoid the crowds. The hike difficulty is considered strenuous as the terrain is a little bit too rocky. If you have knee problems, the … Your home base for this loop trip is Hania, a city on Crete's north coast serviced frequently by the overnight boat from Athens. The trail of Samaria is the most visited trail in the whole of Greece, it is excellently equipped with signals and … The path is 16 kilometers long, with a scenic overlooking view of the Mediterranean Sea. This hike was incredibly difficult, to the point that I was not sure I would be able to complete it. We were late at each checkpoint. hiking) you will see the first rest point called “Neroutsiko”. How does one figure how crowded it will be on a given day. I didn't realize how many alternatives there were to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Points being totally missed here, are the approach to, and sheer monumental scale of the Samaria Gorge and the exit by ferry along the beauty of the south coast of Crete. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-25201801', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Samaria Gorge. An 11 mile walk seems extremely hard, but it appears as if so many people successfully complete it, maybe it's not that bad. It’s the longest gorge in Europe and is located in west Crete, in the White Mountains. Before taking on this challenge we did some research (mainly here), and saw many reviews saying it was not that difficult. During the hike I was overwhelmed by the natural world: mountains, cliffs, trees, the river, springs, flora and fauna and wildlife surrounded me. A great arduous hike spoilt by the experience at either end! We drove here, easy drive, spectacular roads and views. You walk on rocks and pebbles for 16 Km. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. While ridiculously congested in the height of summer, the 10-mile hike through the Gorge of Samaria can be a Cretan highlight. A good physical condition is a MUST for the Samaria. Samaria or the Samaria Gorge is one of the main sights of Crete. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. incredible view of the mountains around the Samaria Gorge How to get to Samaria Gorge Crete: There are a lot of ways to get to the Gorge. We bought ferry tickets in a caffe One stop shop before we entered the Samaria gorge. The Samaria gorge is very difficult for couch/poolside potatoes who view the trek as an amusement park excursion, and who are completely unprepared. Finally, another 2.4 km (2 mi) take you down to the gorge proper where you meet the Tarraios River for the first time. If you dont do any sport, if you sit all year behind a desk, if you go by (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Another gorge, not too far from the Samaria is the Irini gorge which a much easier prospect & only takes half a day from its start to reach Sougia. The Samaria Gorge hike difficulty is generally low. We were placed like sardines, the smoke from benzine was everywhere, you could not stay on the dock, otherwise you will get intoxicated. We have walked down & back up Imbros a couple of times. Here you'll purchase the ticket back up to Omalos. hiking) you will see the first rest point called “Neroutsiko”. 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