The famous gorge of Samaria proves that Crete hides the most exquisite natural miracles in its bossom. 18 kilometres in length, the longer gorge in Europe, it was officially listed as a National Park in 1962, rewards visitors, apart from everything else, with rare types of fauna and flora. The famous gorge starts from Ksyloksalo at the Omalos plateau and ends up at the sea-side village of Agia Roumeli in southern Crete. Walk around the magical Cretan nature, among around 450 types of plants and see up close the Cretan wild goat, also known as Kri Kri. A break is taken halfway at the village of Samaria, where nowadays only the rangers of the forest occupy, and it will give you the opportunity to rest as well as be charmed by the traditional architecture. The root till Agia Roumeli lasts for 4 to 8 hours (depending on your pace), however the views in combination with the dense vegetation, the magnificent trees and the running water will calm you and give your choice justice in every step. The Samaria gorge is considered to be the most visited one in Greece and the existence of drinking water as well as lavatories in different areas will make your walk even easier. Reaching Agia Roumeli, you may relax by the sea and enjoy Cretan delicacies cooked with passion and pure ingredients in one of the traditional taverns, just before the little boat transports you to Chora Sfakion.
ITINERARY
- A 20-minute break for breakfast in Rethymnon.
- The tour starts at 10:00 in the morning from Ksyloskalo. The duration of the root in the Samagia gorge lasts approximately 6 hours. The running water in the gorge is drinkable. A tourist guide supervises the root, calculating the departure time of the boat to Chora Sfakion, so that you reach Agia Roumeli on time.
- At the end of the gorge, in the village of Agia Roumeli, you may enjoy a dive in the blue water as well as traditional Cretan delicacies in one of the taverns in the area.
- Your tourist guide will inform you of the precise departure time to Chora Sfakion. The duration of the voyage by boat from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia lasts for around an hour.
