On the tour of Crete, enjoy a fascinating hike through Europe's longest gorge and bathe in the pristine waters of the Libyan Sea. Take a boat trip along the south coast of Crete and admire the cliffs.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Mobile ticketing: Use your phone or print your voucher
Duration 12 - 16 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
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Live tour guide: German, English
Pickup included: Pick-up from hotels in Matala — Agia Galini

Highlights

Discover the incredible landscape of Crete and take a hiking tour of the white peaks of the Omalos Plateau
Tour the longest gorge in Europe and relax in the small, idyllic fishing town of Agia Roumeli
Visit traditional taverns, swim in the crystal clear sea, and enjoy a boat ride along the South coast

Full description

Experience the Samaria Gorge and descend from the Omalos Plateau. Descend into the gorge, measuring 18 kilometers long, 4 by 150 meters wide, and up to 700 meters deep. The exploration will take from 4 to 6 hours. Hike through the longest gorge in Europe and admire the beauty and diversity of nature. The smallest section of the gorge is only approximately 4 meters wide and the cliffs reach heights of 350 meters — enjoy this incredible sight. At midday, stop in the fishing village of Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea and relax in the taverns or take a dip in the crystal clear blue waters. In the late afternoon, take a 1-hour boat tour from Agia Roumeli, past the mighty rocks of the south coast of Crete to Hora Sfakion. A bus will be waiting there to take you back to your accommodation.

Includes

Bus transfer
Tour guide

Entry to the Samaria Gorge (5€ per person)
Boat tour ticket (11€ per person)

Not suitable for

Pregnant women
People with mobility impairments
People with heart problems
Wheelchair users

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask
You must fill out a travel information form

Prepare for the activity

Important information

What to bring

Comfortable shoes
Sun hat
Sunscreen
Water

Not allowed

Pets
Open-toed shoes

Know before you go

This tour is offered from Heraklion, Gouves, Gournes, Kokkini Chani, Analypsis, Anissaras, Hersonissos, Malia and Stalida
Remember to wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots, and bring a camera, light jacket, sunscreen, a hat, bathing suit and lunch
This tour is not suitable for persons with disabilities

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 89 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.3/5
Transportation
4.4/5
Value for money
4.1/5
Safety
4.4/5

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Fantastic trip. Well organised. The gorge is an amazing hike, it is incredible tough going down hill over rocks for approx 7km so make sure you have hiking boots and also recommend walking poles. We finished the walk around 2pm which meant we had some time to swim in the sea at the end which was amazing after the 16km! A must do activity for anyone visiting Crete.

October 3, 2021

This tour is arranged for travel to and from Samaria Gorge. We started in Heraklion at approximately 5:00 AM and got back approximately 10:30 PM. The mini buses and tour buses were comfortable. The guide was average; not overly friendly or particularly informative. You basically hike on your own and just meet the group to catch a ferry at 5:00 PM. The hike was more physical than we had anticipated, but people of all ages and fitness levels made it successfully. We wish we had know that there was no way to buy food in the national park. We would have bought more power bars or sandwiches the day before and packed them for the trip.

October 13, 2019

well worth the money, very challenging if you want it to be or easy, depends on your fitness level! The end was the best part, the Lybian Sea was breathtaking and felt amazing after the 16k hike! I definitely recommend good shoes and snacks for the hike! Claudia was an amazing guide!!

September 18, 2019

Crete: Hiking Tour in Samaria Gorge

Crete: Hiking Tour in Samaria Gorge

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