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

If you found this blogpost useful, please leave a comment below or send me a DM on Instagram! I love chatting to you all.

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!