If you’re planning a trip to Crete and looking for an unforgettable outdoor challenge, hiking Samaria Gorge deserves a top spot on your list. Known as one of the most iconic hikes in the Greek Islands, this 16-kilometre trail takes you deep into a dramatic canyon, drops more than 1,200 metres in elevation, and finishes right at the Libyan Sea. It’s a full-day adventure – equal parts breathtaking, exhausting, and completely worth it.
Before you lace up your boots, it’s important to pre-plan as there’s lots of logistics involved for a smooth trip. Here’s a complete guide to help you plan the day from start to finish.
Hiking Samaria Gorge – Important details:
Distance: 16KM
Duration: 4.5-7 hours is normal.
Opening time: 7am-4pm (9 hours)
Difficulty level: Easy-medium.
Fitness level required: Basic, but good knees and ankles.
Hiking the Samaria Gorge isn’t particularly difficult. Some parts of the path are rocky, and there are steep sections but it’s 95% downhill. You don’t particularly need a great level of fitness to do this hike, but the length could be challenging for some (16KM). The other thing to note is that, due to it being mostly downhill, it can get tiring on your knees and ankles so if you need support, make sure to wear it!
When the gorge is open during the year
Hiking Samaria Gorge isn’t possible year-round. It only opens from 1st May to 31st October, with entry allowed between 7am and 4pm. If you arrive outside these hours, the gates will be closed, so planning your timing is essential, especially if you’re visiting in early May or late October when schedules can shift depending on weather conditions.
How to get to Samaria Gorge
The trailhead is located in the mountains of western Crete, and you have a few ways to reach it:
1. Public Bus from Xania (Chania)
This is one of the most convenient and affordable options.
- Cost: ~€7.50 one way
- Duration: Around 1 hour
- Departure: From Chania’s main bus station
2. Stay Overnight in Omalos.
If you want a calmer start to your morning, staying in Omalos is ideal. Most hotels offer a free shuttle to the trailhead.
3. Hiring a Car
You can also drive straight to the gorge entrance and park in the carpark for €5.
We combined options 2 and 3. We drove to Omalos the night before, booked two nights in Hotel Neos Omalos, and drove ourselves to the trailhead (5 minutes). I recommend doing two nights so that you can leave your belongings in your room, and can shower/rest that night after a long day in the gorge. The hotel has an on-site restaurant which is handy!
Entrance Fees & Tickets
The entrance fee to Samaria gorge costs €10 per person. What’s important here is that you must keep your ticket as you need it to check out at the exit. This is a safety measure to ensure everyone who enters also exits the gorge.
The Hike: What to Expect
The First Section: Pine Forest & Steep Descent
You’ll begin in the mountains, descending through a pine forest. It’s peaceful, shaded, and scenic, and at some sections can feel steep. Because hiking Samaria Gorge is a full-day adventure, some people choose to turn back after the first couple of kilometres, but honestly, this is the least memorable part of the trail. The first 5km are mostly forest with limited views, and turning around here means climbing back up the steepest section without having seen the best bits!
This was our original plan as we didn’t fancy a 12 hour day as I have a broken toe, and it was also my time of the month so energy levels were low. However, after hiking down for a few kilometres, the thought of hiking back up, after only seeing trees made me mad (hormones lol). We decided to continue the trail and complete the entire adventure, despite the ‘hassle’ of public transport later on (it’s really not that bad!)
Middle Section: Ancient Villages & Canyon Walls
Once you’re past the forest, the gorge comes alive. You’ll pass:
- The remains of ancient stone villages
- Towering rock formations
- Springs where you can refill your water
- A few shaded rest spots
- Toilets (not the cleanest, but functional)
We brought cooling towels and dipped them in the river whenever we had the chance and they genuinely saved us in the heat.
The Famous Iron Gates
This is the moment everyone talks about. The canyon narrows dramatically, with cliffs rising like giants on both sides. It’s one of the most impressive parts of the entire hike and feels otherworldly.
Reaching Ayia Roumeli
After exiting the national park, you can choose to walk the final 1km into the village or hop on a shuttle bus for a few euros. You’ll finish in Ayia Roumeli, a tiny seaside village on the Libyan Sea. Here you’ll find restaurants, shops, beaches and most importantly, the public transport ticket office. The combined ferry + bus ticket back costs around €21 per person.
The Ferry & Journey Back
There is only one ferry per day, departing at 17:30. It sells out and only runs once, so don’t be late or you will be staying the night in this town. While waiting for your departure, you can:
- Grab lunch at a taverna
- Go for a dip in the sea
- Wander the village
The ferry to Sougia takes about 45 minutes.
TIP! If you are heading to Sougia (or in that direction) sit on the RIGHT side of the boat. If you board the ship through the front mouth like we did, this means you’ll go up the left-hand stairs. We got a seat in the front row of the right side, and had the most perfect views of the coast the entire journey. It’s a very smooth ride (at least for us it was!).
Once you arrive to Sougia, you’ll be guided toward the prepaid buses with everyone else (there’s loads of them). Make sure you ask the driver where the bus you plan to get on is headed as it can either be:
- Heading straight back to Chania
- Returning to the trailhead (good if you left your car here).
- Returning to another location – check to see if it’s possible to get where you need to go directly with the bus. I know it also stop in Omalos town (where some hotels are).
How Long Does Hiking Samaria Gorge Take?
Hiking Samaria Gorge is a full commitment:
- 5–7 hours for the hike
- Time in Ayia Roumeli
- 45 minutes on the ferry
- Additional time on the bus back (one hour to the trailhead, closer to 2 for Chania).
In total, plan for 10 to 12 hours from start to finish.
You can choose to hike just a small section from the exit side and turn around, but honestly, the most impressive parts are near the end. If you can manage it and have the time, do the full route – it’s worth every step.
Contact Me
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Also, I have made a reel about Hiking Samaria Gorge – if you want some more visuals of what this hike is like throughout, go and check it out!