" Hiking in Greece "
Samaria Gorge, Crete

"Hiking in Greece " By: Alison Yates

Samaria Gorge is Europe's 2nd longest and staggers down sixteen kilometres from the Omolos Plateau in Central Crete, to the Libyan Sea at Agia Roumeli, on the south coast.

Thirteen of these kilometres pick their way through steep stone steps, through cold clear streams, over rocks and boulders, past freshwater springs, and through mountain forests. The last three kilometres are a gentle stroll on a paved path to the coast.

The landscape and views are spectacular, but there are other reasons to trek through Samaria.

Crete is a wonderful place if you love to combine nature with tourism. Some of the best beaches in the world can be found here, and there's the weather too. Glorious hot sunshine most of the year means that Crete is a top destination for north Europeans, North Americans, Russians, and even Italians, who flock here to avoid the high prices of their own resorts.

For the Nature Lovers

A big feature of Crete is its flora and fauna. There are more than 1,700 different species of plant in Crete and 10% are indigenous to this Island. Many are endemic too (only found here). The Gorge is abundant in wild flowers and herbs, especially in the spring. Samaria is a large Greek National Park and the flora and fauna are protected. Picking flowers or hunting is prohibited.

Crete's most famous inhabitant - the Wild Cretan Goat or Kri Kri is found here in Samaria, and one or two other locations in Crete. This small brown stocky animal with very distinctive curled horns is only found on Crete.

Hiking in Greece during the summer, you might find this goat coming down into the valley and it has been known to feed from hikers. At other times, you might not see them unless you stop and look upwards amongst the ledges and crevices on the gorge wall.

Tips for Hiking in Greece, Samaria Gorge

Your best way to appreciate this hike is through an organised tour, bookable when you get to Crete. All the resorts have agents who can organise this for you. You can be independent and do it by taxi or bus if you wish, although coordinating ferry, bus and/or taxi at the end of the hike is difficult.

Hiring a car and making your own way is not possible, unless you walk back up the Gorge to collect your car where you must leave it, at Omolos. If you do manage to walk back up the Gorge (another 16K – uphill this time) you might not be a fit condition to drive anyway!

Taking on the hike is not for the faint hearted. You'll need to be fit and quite agile. You will find when hiking in greece that the terrain is sometimes steep and unforgiving, and there have been some casualties over the years. As recently as 2007 two polish tourists inexplicable deviated from the main path and paid with their lives. The Gorge can be a dangerous place for those without the necessary experience and physical stamina!

Costs

Costs vary depending on where you go from. Coach and taxi transfers are about €30.00, admission to the Gorge is €5.00, and then you'll need a ferry trip to get back to civilisation after the end of the hike at around €8.00 We went from Kalyves near Chania and it cost €39.30.

You will be collected from, or near, your hotel, and taken to the Omolos Plateau where the hike starts. After your long walk, you'll be put on the ferry to Sougia, Paleohora, or Chora Sfakion, from where you'll be coached back to your hotel in the evening.

The hike takes between 4½ - 6 hours depending on your speed, fitness, and the number of times you stop.

On arrival at the head of the Gorge, you will disembark for a coffee, snack and toilet visit at one of the restaurants there. Your guide will go and get the tickets and then you're off!

The start of the hike is a steep stepped section with slippery stones and loose pebbles, and it's easy to slip. This is not the place to stare around you. Keep an eye on where you are putting your feet.

Hikes are sometimes cancelled if the weather is bad, because this first section is treacherous when wet.

It will also be quite crowded here and as the pathway is narrow and there will be a lot of people with you. There are not many places to pass, so patience and care is needed for the first couple of kilometres, then things will get less hectic with space for passing and room to stop for pictures and a breather.

All along the way there are resting places, and your guide will give you the info on this, including his or her recommendations on after what time you should be arriving at each major rest place. One such place is the small church of Agios Nikolaos.

We thought we were allowed too little time to get to the first major resting place and too much time to get to the second one. This was perhaps a bit of psychology to get people moving through the Gorge at a reasonable pace, especially at first.

You will be warned that this hike is hard on the knees, and this is certainly true. It's a downhill trek for the most part and this can jar the bones a little.

This is a long walk over some difficult terrain. If you are not used to walking then don't attempt this hike. In particular, it's not recommended for children under 8 and people with knee problems or other health issues.

Tips and Essentials:

• Don't burden yourself with loads of water, you can refill your bottle in the Gorge

• Watch your step all the way! If you want to look at the view, take a picture, or search for Kri Kri - STOP FIRST, or you'll fall!

• Apply some Vaseline to your feet before putting on your good hiking socks and boots or quality training shoes - this will help avoid blisters.

• Don't leave the main path. It's mostly obvious where the path goes, but if ever you are not sure, stop and wait for someone to follow and show the way.

• Don't rest too long, or your legs may seize up! Plus, you don't want to be late finishing

Things to take:

Don't take too much stuff with you – it's a long hike and you don't want a heavy load on your back.

• A little water to get you to the first spring water fountain

• Fruit, nut and/or chocolate snacks to keep you going

• Lunch

• Sun cream

• Hat

• Camera

• Money for entrance fee, ferry ticket, and dinner at the end

Getting an early start is the key to a successful day. Organised trips start from all over Crete, so this will determine when you are able to start the hike. Starting near Chania in the west of the Island will give you a head start and will mean that you'll be one of the first groups down the steep steps at the start of the Gorge. This is a good thing, because the pathway can get very busy with up to 2,500 hikers a day vying for a foothold during the height of the summer season.

This early start also means that it's cool, which is good in the summer. In May it's quite cool so early. But don't worry – you'll soon warm up!

All in all, hiking the Samaria Gorge is a memorable experience, and as the aching legs and painful blisters subside, you'll soon be basking in the glory of a great achievement – a tough trek through one of Europe's biggest gorges!

If the Hiking in Greece article was helpful you can find more information about Crete at this link. Click Here for more information about Crete...

Top of Hiking in Greece Page

Vacation Ranking Homepage

Do you have a simlar adventure you would like to share with the world?

Share Your Favorites Here

Your contribution can save travelers wasted trips to bad establishments in the future. Other travelers will read your recommendations and have the chance to come back and Rank them. Submit a Ranking Below. Focus on positive experiences please.

#1) Scroll down Add a Title (When Hiking in Greece we ...)

#2) Tell us about the place, Why, Where, personal experience...

#3) Optional Upload a Picture, and Your Name(Can be Nickname.)

#4) Submit Your Contribution

If I was in your town what should I do? Where should I eat? Or let us know about a great experience you had on a Vacation or Trip.