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Crete Hiking

Our most recommended Crete Hiking

From Chania: Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion

1. From Chania: Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion

Embark on a full-day guided trip to the Samaria Gorge from Chania. Arrive in Omalos in the heart of the White Mountains, and enjoy breakfast before trekking along the longest gorge in Europe — 4,000 feet above sea level.  After breakfast, enter the Samaria Gorge. Walk at your own pace with your English speaking guide at the end of the group to help out if you need them. Hike over rocks and stones, through a forest of thousand-year-old trees and along a river, passing by fresh-water springs along the way. Enjoy views of Crete’s most beautiful mountain range and see mountain goats roaming in the wild. Feel the exhilaration of challenging yourself with a long hike. At the end of the trek, visit the village of Agia Roumeli, where you’ll find a number of taverns, bars, and shops. Enjoy some free time to take a swim or have some lunch. A meeting point will be arranged so you can collect your ferry tickets from your guide. Late in the afternoon you’ll board a boat that will take you from Agia Roumeli to Sougia, where the bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the starting point about 730 PM.

From Rethymno: Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek with Pickup

2. From Rethymno: Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek with Pickup

Take a day trip from Rethymno to set out on an outdoor adventure into Samaria Gorge National Park. Hike at your own pace with a guide over rocks and stones, through a forest of thousand-year-old trees, along a river, and by fresh-water springs. Keep an eye out for mountain goats roaming in the wild. Begin your full-day excursion to Samaria Gorge with pickup and a drive to Omalos, in the heart of the White Mountains, where you can enjoy breakfast before you start the hike. Challenge yourself with 17 kilometers of walking over rocky terrain. Be accompanied by a mountain escort who speaks English, German and French. Get briefed about your hike and get your tickets for the entrance and ferry boat from your escort. These fees have to be paid to the guide upon arrival. After breakfast, enter the Samaria Gorge. Walk at your own pace as your guide will be at the end of the group to help out if you need them. At the end of the trek, visit the village of Agia Roumeli, where you’ll find a number of taverns, bars, and shops. Enjoy some free time to take a swim or have some lunch. A meeting point will be arranged so you can collect your ferry tickets from your guide. Late in the afternoon, board a boat to go from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia, where the bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the pickup point.

From Chania or Rethymno: Samariá Gorge Guided Hike

3. From Chania or Rethymno: Samariá Gorge Guided Hike

Embark on a guided hike in the Samariá Gorge on a day trip from Rethymno or Chania. Get your daily dose of exercise, enjoy the panoramic views and take a swim.  Discover the longest gorge in Europe, an area of stunning natural beauty. See its many flowers and herbs and the crystal-clear spring waters that flow from the mountains. Following an early morning pickup from the nearest point to your accommodation in Rethymno or Chania, travel through the mountains passing the plateau of Omalos. Arrive at some wooden stairs at the start of Samariá Gorge. You can opt to start the walk straight away or get some breakfast at the taverna before you begin. Hike for approximately 6-7 hours and experience the magnificent landscape on a 16-kilometer walk. Once you have finished the hike, there will be ample time for a swim and lunch at a taverna in Agia Roumeli.

From Rethymno/Chania: Imbros Gorge Hike

4. From Rethymno/Chania: Imbros Gorge Hike

Discover Imbros Gorge, which runs parallel to the more famous Samaria Gorge. Although the Imbros Gorge is smaller, many people prefer to cross here because it offers a very different hiking experience than the Samaria Gorge. After your tour, enjoy a refreshing swim in the sea and lunch at a village taverna. Enjoy hotel pickup and arrive at Imbros around 10 AM. Have breakfast and then hike about 2.5 hours to discover the beauty of this narrow natural passage. Learn about the rock formations and the legend of the 2 brothers that Imbros is named after. For many years, the Imbros Gorge served as part of the trail that connected Chania to Hora Sfakion. Stroll through a piece of World War II history, as you walk where thousands of British soldiers passed through after the Battle of Crete to get to Egypt.  End your hike in Komitades Village and then depart for Sfakia. Take a swim in the refreshing Libyan Sea and eat lunch with the locals in the taverns before returning to your hotel.

From Georgioupoli: Easy Hiking Day-Trip to Imbros Gorge

5. From Georgioupoli: Easy Hiking Day-Trip to Imbros Gorge

Our driver will lead you south through the Askifou Mountains to the village of Imbros. But first there will be a short stop for refreshment in a charming tavern. The walk will last about two hours since the gorge is 8 km long. The end of the gorge is close to Komitades Village. The bus will be waiting for you there and will take you to a beautiful beach. There will be time to swim and have lunch prior to returning. This gentle hike is suitable for all those who are steady on their feet. It is also appropriate for families with children as well as fit elderly people.

Rethymno: Trekking Tour in the Kourtaliotiko Gorge

6. Rethymno: Trekking Tour in the Kourtaliotiko Gorge

Preparation and gear briefing Arriving in the entrance of Kourtaliotiko gorge, we are immediately amazed by the majestic walls that stand hundreds of meters high. We take the stone steps that lead us to the source of the river that formed this scenery through the ages. There, we can visit the little church of S. Nicolas Kourtaliotis, the local saint that lived here as a hermit, and learn about the old myths of the gorge. We take some time to put on our neoprene suits and our personal gear, distributed by the team leaders. Then, the instructors will give a safety briefing so that we can understand the use of our gear and learn to trust it. Now we are ready to get the fun started! Canyoning games in the river The source of Kourtaliotiko river becomes a natural playground for us! You are welcome to rappel down the steep canyon wall next to the waterfall and try adrenaline jumps in the water as many times as you wish. We swim around, we take pictures, and we play like kids. Our specialized instructors and guides will be next to you at all times to ensure your safety and guide you through the different activities. Short river trek Our adventure continues further down the river. Hiking towards the south, we soon discover a small cave called “the fairy cave” – if you are lucky enough, you may see one hiding behind the stalactites and stalagmites.

Crete: Off-Road Quad Safari Tour with Hotel Transfers

7. Crete: Off-Road Quad Safari Tour with Hotel Transfers

Just before we start for this unforgettable guided quad tour experience, the experts of our quad safari will teach you everything about the atv vehicles, including lessons for beginners so that everyone is ready to discover Crete safely, with lots of fun and excitement! To begin we go uphill onto an off-road terrain between olive groves to reach our first stop, where we will enjoy the panoramic views at the chapel of the prophet Elias. Then let’s… Off-road again! Descending through this verdant place full of colours, we will safari on an impressive off-road route between the vineyards and the olive forest to explore the Cretan nature which will amaze you! Then we will take a tour of the local olive oil factory where we will learn how to extract olive oil. A small taste test will follow! We continue through dirt roads to the historical cave of Milatos. Impressive mountains and wildlife nature with rich flora and fauna and unique views. Opportunity to collect some local herbs and be one with nature! Take stunning photos and then let’s carry on exploring one of the most historical caves of Crete after hiking from the ancient path to the Milatos Cave. Next, swim in the crystal clear waters of Milatos beach! This is before our seaside safari tour through the narrow streets of the two most representative fishing villages of the area, the traditional villages of Milatos and Sissi. Then we will have fun on an amazing dynamic off-road route around the archaeological site of the Minoan palace of Malia! After that we will enjoy our lunch having had a day full of adventure. Having experienced an incredible quad self-drive safari trip in Crete, we are sure you will come back full of amazing memories that will last a lifetime!

Heraklion: Samaria Gorge Guided Hiking Day Tour

8. Heraklion: Samaria Gorge Guided Hiking Day Tour

Join us on an ultimate hiking experience of the Samaria Gorge. This is one of the longest gorge and the most beautiful in Europe. Our activity starts at 05:30 in the morning from Heraklion areas with a pick up point close to your hotel or your hotel. The gorge is located at the south of Chania Prefecture in southwest Crete. It was created by a small river flowing off the White Mountains (Lefka Ori). The gorge is 13 km long, starting at an altitude of 1,250m at the northern entrance (Omalos), and ending at the shores of the South Cretan Sea in Agia Roumeli. One of the most impressive mountain regions of Crete. After 2 two hours drive we arrive at the entrance on the plateau Omalos of the White Mountains. The entrance of the longest gorge in Europe (11 miles) lies at 4000 ft. You have the option to enjoy your breakfast on the top of the mountain close to nature and the fresh air before you start your activity. The hiking starts from Xiloskalo, we step over rocks and stones down the gorge, through a fantastic forest among thousands of years old trees, along a little river and fresh-water springs. The walk is partially difficult. It lasts approximately 5-6 hours and you need absolutely good shoes- mountain boots or, at least, strong trainers. The path follows the route of Taras, a river with gurgling, lucid water. It gave its name to the ancient town which was located at the end of the gorge. On the way, we can get a glimpse of the caves that formed a natural shelter for the Cretans. In war times and now they are the natural habitat of the well-known wild goats, or kri-kri, as they are also called. Halfway we come across the village of Santa Maria, which was abandoned by its last inhabitants in 1962. Three kilometres prior to our exiting this majestic gorge, we reach the Iron Gates (Sideroportes), the narrowest spot of the route, just a few meters wide, but 300 meters high – an amazing contradiction that can cause nothing but awe. At the end of the gorge, we reach the Lybian sea and the village of Agia Roumeli, where you can relax and enjoy swimming and after a meal at the local taverns, before you join the group to take ferry to Chora Sfakion, where our bus waiting to take you back to your original pick up point, arriving approximately at 21:30 at night after unforgettable day experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.

From Rethymno: Imbros Gorge & Libyan Guided Sea Tour

9. From Rethymno: Imbros Gorge & Libyan Guided Sea Tour

After pickup from your hotel in the Rethymno area at approximately 7:30 AM, journey by bus to the Imbros Gorge in the eastern part of the White Mountains of Crete. Upon arrival, enjoy an easy 3-hour hike through the narrow passages and marvel at the stunning rock formations. The Imbros Gorge is the second most popular gorge for walkers in Crete after the gorge of Samaria. This picturesque gorge is smaller (8km long) than the Samaria but is just as beautiful. During your descent you will visit various famous locations such as the Stenada (the gorge's narrowest passage), Mesofarango (a wider passage) and Xepitira Arch (a natural stone arch). You'll then arrive at Komitades Village where buses will be waiting to bring you to Chora Sfakion for some relaxing free time at one of the taverns or cafés overlooking the sea. Continue by bus to the south coast and visit a beautiful beach for a refreshing swim in the Libyan Sea. Relax and enjoy a traditional lunch before the bus trip back to Rethymno area at approximately 5:30 PM.

Samaria Gorge: Day Trip from Agia Pelagia, Heraklion & Malia

10. Samaria Gorge: Day Trip from Agia Pelagia, Heraklion & Malia

Your full-day excursion to Samaria Gorge begins with pickup in Heraklion and a drive to Omalos, in the heart of the White Mountains. Enjoy breakfast before setting out on your challenging 10-mile (17 kilometer) hike. The trek will take you over rocks and stones, through a forest of thousand-year-old trees and along a river by fresh-water springs. Along the way, you’ll have spectacular views of Crete’s most beautiful mountain range, and you are also likely to see mountain goats roaming in the wild. You will be accompanied by a professional mountain escort who speaks English, German and Greek. Your escort will be there to explain all the necessary information about your hike and provide you with the tickets for the entrance and ferry. After your breakfast you will enter the Samaria Gorge, where you can walk at your own pace as your guide waits at the end of the group to help you out if you need them. At the end of the trek you’ll visit the village of Agia Roumeli, where you’ll find a number of taverns, bars, and shops. You can enjoy some free time to take a swim or have some lunch. Late in the afternoon you’ll board a boat that will take you from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia, where your bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the starting point.

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What people are saying about Crete

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 921 reviews

Wow this trek will forever stay in our memories! This is a very challenging hike (saying this as 27/30 year old couple who regularly go to the gym) with a very early wake up call (4:30am), quite a long bus journey there and back to the hotel, then 70% of the hike is just going down rather than on a flat surface so you'll feel your knees and ankles will be swollen. You need lots of snacks, sandwiches and water (though there are water fountains on the way). I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with little fitness or little children, also the heat gets to you (in September 31 degrees). You need to keep up with the pace, the guide tells everyone what time they should reach each station (don't expect any cafes etc) as you also want to dip in the water (a must!!) before getting on a ferry back. The guide was very nice and made sure everyone was okay though you loose track of him if you don't keep up with the pace. I wouldn't do it again but it's a great lifetime experience!

great and thorough guide, incredible scenery, you feel like you've really accomplished something at the end, but isn't for the faint hearted, it is a tough but rewarding day, make sure the rest up the day after!

Went in october, temp perfect for walking, be prepared for a long day, our guide Kostos was brilliant, lovely taverna at the end of the walk, transfers and pickups were spot on.

Maritsa was just an amazing guide, thank you so much!! The whole experience was amazing, Samaria Gorge just just gorge-ous (pun intended)!!

Make sure you are up for this!!! needs fitness..it'll hurt the next day..