Crete, Greece is one of my FAVORITE Greek islands. Since it’s the biggest Greek island, there are a plethora of things to do, especially for adventure seekers!  Hiking the Samaria Gorge HAS to be on your adventure list!

At my THRIVE Fitness, Adventure, and Transformation retreats in Crete, Greece, we spend most of the time out of our villas enjoying all of the amazing nature this island has to offer. 

If you’re planning a trip to Crete, Greece and you LOVE adventure, you definitely want to add hiking the world-famous Samaria Gorge to your bucket list! 

The gorge of Samaria is situated in the National park of Samaria, in the White Mountains in western Crete. This majestuous gorge is considered one of the great attractions of Crete and is also one of the largest gorges in Europe, at 16 KM long! If you love to hike this is a MUST-DO activity in Crete, and quite frankly in Europe!

Getting to the Samaria Gorge

Instead of piecing together how to hike this gorge yourself, I highly recommend using one of the many tour companies in Crete to make this hike as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. I always opt to explore the wilderness by myself, and have spent HOURS looking at dozens of blogs and articles to try and figure out an easy way to hike the Samaria gorge without a guide or your company. 

In a nutshell, it’s possible, and not easy. The hike’s in and out, not a loop, and you end up in a completely different area by the sea where the only easy way out is by ferry, which then takes you yet again to another new location. So it’s possible to hike the Samaria gorge without a guide or travel company providing the transportation, however that means coordinating catching different public buses and the ferry. So it is not impossible, and it is a bit more difficult logistically. 

I personally think it's much easier and more enjoyable to have a tour company deal with all the transportation logistics. The company I always hire for my retreats is 

Kyriakakis Excursions and only costs a total of 39 euros per adult and 17 euros per child for your transportation in a nice air-conditioned coach bus, having a guide who will ensure your safety and answer questions during the hike, your park entrance, and your ferry cost. 

I want to note that hiking the Samaria gorge is a long day. If you go with a tour company they will pick you up between 6-7am, and you won’t return back home until almost 9pm. This is if you’re starting the hike in Chania/western Crete, however the timing is about the same from Rhethymo/middle of Crete. 

What to Know Before Hiking the Samaria Gorge

When you hike the Samaria gorge you’re hiking downhill, and because you start at an altitude of 1230m, you don’t need to start this hike super early in the morning to beat the heat because it’s cooler at this higher elevation. So if you’re not a morning person like me, this is another reason why this hike is so awesome! 

The Samaria gorge is 16km long and takes anywhere from 4-7 hours depending on how fast you walk. If you suffer from poor knees I recommend wearing real hiking boots with ankle support and using hiking poles. 

It’s important to note that you can only hike the Samaria gorge from the beginning of May to the end of October before the heavy Fall rains begin. The first time I went to Crete in 2019 I went in late October and wasn’t able to hike the gorge due to it being too late in the season. 

This hike is so special because you hike down to the shores of the Libyan Sea in Agia Roumeli, which is absolutely gorgeous! It’s the perfect place to jump into the refreshing crystal clear sea after sweating your butt off. This small town also has yummy traditional greek tavernas to grab lunch and/or a refreshing drink after your hike, and small little shops to buy cretan souvenirs at as well!

What to Bring and Wear to Hike the Samaria Gorge

During the hike I recommend bringing a big bottle of water either in a thermoflask (keeps your water cold for hours!) or in a camelback. If you’re not sure what thermoflask to buy, check out my favorite one here! If you run out of water there are stations throughout the hike where you can fill up your water bottles. 

For food I recommend bringing electrolytes and healthy snacks that won’t melt like a protein/granola bar, beef jerky, fruit, and nuts. I HIGHLY recommend Ultima Replenisher’s electrolytes. They are super clean, delicious, and are the only electrolytes I use for my retreats. After the hike there will be restaurants to eat a proper meal to recharge so don’t carry more than your necessary snacks.

For clothing I recommend wearing a hat, athletic clothing, comfortable sneakers or hiking boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, and an SPF shirt if you are sensitive to the sun. After the hike you will want to take your shoes off, so I recommend packing a pair or flip flops or sandals in the bag as well. AND since you can swim in the ocean after this hike, I recommend bringing a bathing suit, change of clothes, and a light towel.

What’s Next? 

The Samaria gorge hike is AMAZING and just one of many must-do’s on the island of Crete. 

If you want to explore Crete and not worry about planning a thing, apply for my THRIVE retreat in Crete, Greece from September 4-11, 2022!

On this bucketlist retreat we’re exploring the BEST of western Crete! Hiking the famous Imbros gorge (another incredible gorge in Crete), sipping wine in the Cretan countryside, hiking to Balos Beach, exploring Crete’s famous pink sand beach and the famous old city of Chania, moving our bodies with morning yoga and fitness classes facing the ocean, and so much more! 

If you want to join this incredible bucket list adventure, apply here now!

And if you want to learn more about THRIVE Fitness, Adventure, and Transformational retreats and other upcoming adventures in Bali, Sedona, AZ, Mexico, Utah, Croatia, and more, click here!