A-must-do for those who want to try something alternative and explore the wild nature of the island
Although Crete is one of the most popular holiday destinations
in Greece along with Samaria gorge which has hundreds of visitors per year (and thus, you can find it in most tourists guides), I’d also like to share this story and give you a few extra tips...
So, my friend Sofia and I walked down the Samaria gorge last summer
and we enjoyed every minute of it. For those that haven’t heard of it, the gorge is located in the southwest of
Crete and is 16 km long. It’s just 42 km from Chania town and is very easily
accessible by local buses.
We set off around 7:30 am from Chania town centre and arrived at Xyloskalo, the head and entrance of the gorge, at 8:30 am. The view of the high White Mountains from the top of the gorge was stunning!
To our surprise, it was a little bit colder than we expected...
Xyloskalo is in an altitude of 1.200 meters and the temperature was much
lower than in Chania town. At Xyloskalo, there is also a small cafe and a convenient
shop where you can buy water, snacks, food etc.
Freezing...
The trail towards the gorge is very well maintained and is
suitable for everyone. It’s very easy to cross, but it’s better to wear hiking
shoes. Throughout the gorge, there are many designated resting areas, where you
can find fresh water sources and first-aid stations.
It took us approximately 6
hours to reach Agia Roumeli beach, which is the end of the hike and from where
we took the ferry to Sfakia town and returned by bus to Chania city. Agia
Roumeli beach is magnificent; to us it seemed like an ‘oasis’ in the middle of the
desert. At that point, we had been walking
for over 6 hours under the strong sun...
Sfakia town
Last but not least, I would suggest to take it ease...walk down the gorge slowly so as to really enjoy and observe the stunning landscape view, the old Samaria village and the wild kri-kri goats.
Although Crete is one of the most popular holiday destinations
in Greece along with Samaria gorge which has hundreds of visitors per year (and thus, you can find it in most tourists guides), I’d also like to share this story and give you a few extra tips...
So, my friend Sofia and I walked down the Samaria gorge last summer
and we enjoyed every minute of it. For those that haven’t heard of it, the gorge is located in the southwest of
Crete and is 16 km long. It’s just 42 km from Chania town and is very easily
accessible by local buses.
The trail towards the gorge is very well maintained and is
suitable for everyone. It’s very easy to cross, but it’s better to wear hiking
shoes. Throughout the gorge, there are many designated resting areas, where you
can find fresh water sources and first-aid stations.
It took us approximately 6 hours to reach Agia Roumeli beach, which is the end of the hike and from where we took the ferry to Sfakia town and returned by bus to Chania city. Agia Roumeli beach is magnificent; to us it seemed like an ‘oasis’ in the middle of the desert. At that point, we had been walking for over 6 hours under the strong sun...
It took us approximately 6 hours to reach Agia Roumeli beach, which is the end of the hike and from where we took the ferry to Sfakia town and returned by bus to Chania city. Agia Roumeli beach is magnificent; to us it seemed like an ‘oasis’ in the middle of the desert. At that point, we had been walking for over 6 hours under the strong sun...
Last but not least, I would suggest to take it ease...walk down the gorge slowly so as to really enjoy and observe the stunning landscape view, the old Samaria village and the wild kri-kri goats.
Tips
Wear hiking shoes, sunscreen and long-sleeved white top if you visit the gorge during the summer months. Also carry a few extra t-shirts and socks.
The sun is very strong and the temperature might rise up to 35 °C.
The sun is very strong and the temperature might rise up to 35 °C.
Before you set off, check out the opening hours of the gorge as well as the timetable of the local buses and boats (these might change depending on the time of year you visit).
Don’t miss the last boat from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia town as there’s no other way to get back to Chania town (unless you want to climb up the gorge...).
