Samaria Gorge Trail

Samaria Gorge (Samaria Gorge Trail) is the classic point-to-point hike in southwest Crete: start at Xyloskalo (Omalos Plateau) and finish in Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea. The route is built around walking the gorge, with the overall track length listed at about 16 km (with the gorge itself being about 13–14 km depending on the exact endpoints).

Expect a sustained downhill day hike. The drop is on the order of ~1,200–1,250 m, and the time estimate for completing the walk is commonly given as 5–7 hours. Terrain character is mostly non-technical but steep and rocky in places, which makes the descent physically demanding.

The gorge’s best-known pinch point is the “Gates” (Portes / “Iron Gates”), where the canyon narrows to only a few meters and the rock walls rise dramatically (up to roughly 300 m). This section is the signature moment of the walk through the lower gorge.

Along the trail you pass the abandoned village of Samaria and can reach the well-known area around the old church of Osia Maria (the village namesake). The route is commonly described as passing through stretches of forested gorge terrain as well as more exposed canyon segments as you work toward the sea.

Logistics are part of the route: after you reach Agia Roumeli, you typically take a ferry onward (often to Hora Sfakion or Sougia) to connect back to buses for the return to major towns such as Chania. The practical implication is that hikers generally plan a one-way day rather than trying to loop back to the start.

Park access is seasonal and managed. The gorge is described as a national park protected since 1962 and as a UNESCO biosphere reserve; visits are allowed from May 1 to October 31, with day limits and restrictions on camping, overnight stays, fires, and swimming in the gorge streams.

More information: Official website, Wikipedia, Samaria Gorge Hike 2026 Complete Guide from Chania