When I first had my visit to Crete, I had Samaria Gorge on my list. It was a little difficult in DYI mode, so next year, when we were at the travel agency office, my friends saw a nice photo and said: we will get this one. No matter how much I tried to tell them that it’s a hike, democracy won and I had to wake up at 5 am for pick-up from Heraklion Koules.

Well, I could write pages about Samaria Gorge. It was a once in lifetime experience, that proved myself I can get out of my comfort zone and do things I never thought I would do 😊 

To give you a little bit of a context, I am a couch potato. I like the mountains, but only in the summer or autumn, when they are covered in green or in the most beautiful colour palette by mother nature. But you know, just to see them from the distance. Not hiking, not climbing. Nope 😊 

Samaria Gorge is the longest canyon in Europe, approx. 16km. It starts at Xyloskalos and ends at Agia Roumeli. It is a protected area, part of the Lefka Ori National Park. It was established as a national park in 1962, when the settlement of Samaria was abandoned (you can still see it today).

I will be honest, I am not easily impressed. But here… OMG! Mother nature at her finest. And the air is so clean, the surroundings so beautiful, that you will have to choose between watching your step or gawping at the scenery – I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Now, there are some important things you should know before booking the trip. Which, btw, is at almost all travel agencies in Crete, especially in Chania/Rethymno area. Please read them carefully and decide if it suits you or not. All details can be found on the official website, but I want to point out from my experience:

· NOT suitable for people with health issues (mobility, muscles, not fully recovered from recent traumas, respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, diabetes). Some of the guys from our bus had to spend a day in Sougia, as they didn’t know about this

· It is a medium difficulty hike

· Mules (that you will see in the canyon) are for emergencies, not for tantrums 😊

· Smoking is allowed ONLY at resting points, where you will have to extinguish your cigarette bud in a special bucket filled with water

· There is NO phone coverage in the canyon. Put your phone on Airplane mode if you want to use it for pictures

· Wear suitable shoes. Remember this is a mountain area and you will descend. Shoes and socks must protect your ankles. If you don’t have special hiking shoes, those that you wear at the gym should be fine. Make sure the soles are hard enough, as there are a lot of sharp rocks along the way. Don’t go there in flip-flops, sandals, Converse shoes or whatever.

· Best time to visit is early June or late September. 

· The canyon can be closed at any time, without prior notice. YOUR safety is the rangers’ top priority, so please don’t complain or give bad reviews because your trip was cancelled due to bad weather or heatwave

· There are NO shops inside the canyon.

· Yelling is strictly prohibited

· Follow the path and DO NOT wonder around

· The ferry leaves at its scheduled time, it will not wait for you

· The last 3kms can be done by shuttle bus, if you are in a hurry (only cash payment)

· Watch your step 😊 I know the view is breathtaking, but a broken ankle is not fun

· There are water springs in the canyon (this is the place where they extract and bottle the Samaria water you find at supermarkets). However, in late summer they can be dry, so better ask at the small restaurant at the entrance

· You are NOT allowed to use any type of chemical products in the waters (soap, disinfectant, etc) and where stated, you are NOT allowed to step into the water springs

· DO NOT take rocks or pick flowers as souvenirs. 

· Please, please, please DO NOT leave trash on your way. Use the bins!

Some other things to consider:

· It is open only in the summer months, from May to October. However, please take into consideration that it can remain closed after the 1st of May or it can close earlier than 31st of October if the weather conditions do not allow safe passage through the canyon. This applies to summer months as well – heavy rain or extreme heat, for example. Please have a look on their website for last minute announcements. 

· Open daily (unless specified otherwise) from 7 am to 1pm (whole hike) and to 3pm (for a few kms)

· You can also hike from Agia Roumeli to Xyloskalo

· Wear a hat and sunscreen, even in early summer

· The hike takes approximately 5hrs, depending on your pace

· Have snacks with you. Sandwiches, fruits (bananas are very good, as they contain potassium), chocolate and cereal bars. Anything that can give you a boost of energy. Avoid sandwiches with mayonnaise or other type of food that can spoil easily in the summer heat (salami, ham, etc)

· Have an emergency kit with you – antihistamines, patches, Calcium and Magnesium pills, ibuprofen, motion sickness pills

· Arrive as early as possible. The afternoon ferry to Sougia leaves at around 3-4 pm and if you miss it, you will have to spend a night in Agia Roumeli. Also applicable if you want to avoid the scorching heat of the summer

· The finish line is at Agia Roumeli and if you arrive early – let’s say at 7 am, you will have time for beach and swimming before the ferry leaves, so you can bring your swimsuit as well

· There are toilets at every resting point

· Inform the park rangers of anything that looks suspicious and follow their instructions

· Although it is home to many endemic species, the animals are quite shy

· I have seen children doing the hike, so if you want to bring yours, make sure you keep a close eye on them and that they are used to this type of activity. 

· There is no need to carry a lot of water bottles with you, as you will find springs along the way. They are “fountain-like” and you can refill your bottle from there. Be careful, the water is cold as ice 😊as stated above, if you go there in the summer or in autumn, they can be dry

· There is a small restaurant at the entrance where you can buy some sandwiches, snacks and drinks

How to get there:

By car – please read carefully! 

· You will leave your car at Xyloscalo, in one of the two parking lots, 5E/day

· You will do the hike through Samaria, take the ferry from Agia Roumeli to SOUGIA, not to Chora Sfakion

· From Sougia, take the bus to Xyloskalo. The bus departs ONLY after the arrival of the ferry

· The bus will leave you at the entrance, where you started your journey in the morning.

· You can buy the ferry and bus tickets from the coffee shop at the entrance

· REMEMBER – only way back to your car is from Sougia!

By public transport

· The bus to Xyloskalo departs only from Chania, every day, at 5am and 7:45am

· The bus from Sougia to Xyloskalo – Chania is at 16:15 pm, every day, after the arrival of the ferry

· If you use public transport, you can take the ferry to Chora Sfakion as well and from there the bus to Chania

· Not recommended if you stay in other areas, such as Rethymno or Heraklion

By organized tour

· There are around 14 travel agencies that organize the tour from Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno

· If you stay in Heraklion area, especially in the east – Malia, Hersonissos – expect a very early pick-up time. Ours was at 5:50 am

· Follow the guide’s instructions and don’t be late at pick-up times

· You will receive a map of the canyon with meeting points and the time you should be there. This is what I received

The Gorge looks like this:

The entrance – as you can see, there are some steps and the road is paved at the entrance, but they will disappear in a short walk

And the view is totally out of this world

As you walk, you will find a lot of springs/small rivers

You will have to cross them either on a log bridge or by jumping from stone to stone – be careful, some are slippery. My left foot slipped and I walked for the rest of the canyon with a wet shoe 😊

After 3h30 mins you will reach the former Samaria village, which has been deserted in 1962, when the area became a national park. It’s also a resting spot and you can have a small snack here. Mind the goats. They like your sandwiches as well

You will walk through small corridors, watch your step 😊also, the wind is quite strong here

Once you reached Πορτες or the Iron Gates, you are almost done

Reaching the exit doesn’t mean that the walk is over. There are still 3 more kms to Agia Roumeli. From here you can take the shuttle bus or stop for a coffee/cold drink. Payment can be made only in cash, still no phone coverage here

You can say your hike is done once you reach the beach at Agia Roumeli. Look how beautiful it is, with its grey sand

This is the ferry that will take you back to modern world. And remember it does not wait for you 😊 

Once boarded on the ferry, take a look back. And see how the sea hugs the mountain and how beautiful it is ❤