Samaria Gorge hiking tour: 18-km limestone cliff walk

Limestone walls narrow as you walk the gorge floor.

This is a full-day hiking tour of Samaria Gorge departing from Chania, where you walk 18 kilometers from the top of the gorge to the bottom, descending through high limestone cliffs and rocky terrain with a professional guide. Hotel pickup and bus transport to the trailhead are included. The hike itself is rough and uneven, with many boulder scrambles and steep sections, and ends at Agia Roumeli on the coast where you take a boat back to Chora Sfakion. The guide speaks English or German depending on your option, and water stations and toilets are positioned along the route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Samaria Gorge hike and return

• Bus pickup from Chania
• Hike 10-mile Samaria Gorge trail
• Stop for breaks and water
• Reach Agia Roumeli for rest
• Boat ride to Chora Sfakion
• Coach transfer back to Chania

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in Chania and a bus ride to the top of Samaria Gorge. Once you step onto the trail, the walk descends 18 kilometers through the gorge itself. A rough, rocky path that follows the riverbed and climbs over boulders at points where the walls close in. The limestone cliffs rise on both sides, and in places the gorge narrows to just three meters wide, which means you'll be climbing over rocks and navigating tight passages rather than walking a smooth trail.

Water stations and toilet facilities are spaced along the route so you can refill and rest without carrying everything yourself. The terrain is uneven throughout. Expect loose rocks, steep descents and sections where you need to use your hands to pull yourself up or down. By midday you'll reach Agia Roumeli at the gorge's end, where there's time to rest and buy food (not included in the tour). From there, a boat carries you back along the coast to Chora Sfakion, where the bus picks you up for the return to Chania.

This is a challenging full-day commitment: the entire outing runs about 14 hours from pickup to drop-off. The hike itself demands a high level of physical fitness and steady footing on uneven ground. Children as young as three can join if accompanied by an adult, though the difficulty and length mean most young hikers will need support on the harder sections.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or German.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Chania.
• bus transport to the gorge trailhead and from Chora Sfakion back to town.
• water stations and toilet facilities along the route.
• boat ride from Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion.

Options for this experience

5 options

Samaria EN ChaniaGuide in English · Available from 20 May 2027English-language Samaria guide from Chania, includes pickup

Samaria EN-DE Reth-GeorgGuide in English or German · Available from 25 May 2027Samaria with English and German guide from Rethymnon and Georgioupoli, includes pickup

Samaria with English and German guide, from KalyvesAvailable from 25 May 2027Includes pickup

See 2 more options

English and German guide, from Agia Pelagia to MaliaAvailable from 25 May 2027Samaria tour with English and German guide, from Heraklion area, Chersonissos, Malia, Stalida, Analypsi, Anissara, Kokkini Chani, Karteros, Amoudara and Agia Pelagia; pickup is included

Samaria EN-DE Sissi-MilatosGuide in English or German · Available from 25 May 2027Includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 20 May 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 25

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cretan Holidays

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're a strong hiker comfortable with scrambling over rocks and navigating steep, uneven terrain for a full day: the 18-kilometer descent through the gorge itself is the point, and the rough ground and narrow passages are what make it a genuine mountain hike rather than a walk. The fixed schedule and included transport mean you don't arrange the logistics. You show up ready to walk.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the actual hike through Samaria Gorge?

The walk is 18 kilometers from the top of the gorge to Agia Roumeli at the bottom, covering the full length of the gorge on foot. The entire tour, including bus transport and the boat return, takes about 14 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off.

What makes the Samaria Gorge hike difficult?

The trail is rough and rocky with uneven footing throughout, and at several points you'll need to climb over boulders or scramble up steep sections. In places the gorge narrows to only three meters wide, which means navigating tight passages. A high level of physical fitness is required.

Are there places to rest and get water during the hike?

Water stations and toilet facilities are positioned at several points along the route so you can refill and take breaks without carrying all your supplies. At the end of the gorge at Agia Roumeli, there's a longer rest stop where you can buy food and drink before the boat ride back.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Chania, bus transport to and from the gorge, a professional guide in English or German, and the boat ride from Agia Roumeli back to Chora Sfakion are all included. Food, drinks and entrance fees are not included, though entrance to the gorge itself is available as an add-on depending on your option.

How do you get back from the gorge after the hike?

Once you reach Agia Roumeli at the end of the gorge, you board a boat that carries you back along the coast to Chora Sfakion, where the bus is waiting to return you to your hotel in Chania.