Samaria Gorge Hike from Chania: Full-Day Walk & Libyan Sea Swim
Crete’s wild gorge walk ends with a swim and Cretan food
You’ll start before sunrise from Chania with a local guide who knows every twist of Samaria Gorge. Expect mountain air, wild goats, shaded trails, and real Cretan food by the Libyan Sea, with time for a swim before your return boat ride. It’s not easy on your legs but you’ll remember that cool water long after you’re home.
Step-by-step itinerary
Full-day Samaria Gorge hike and swim
- Depart from Chania at 6:00 a.m.
- Bus drive to Omalos with guide briefing
- Breakfast break at Omalos
- Start hike at Xiloskalo at 8:00 a.m.
- Hike 16 km through Samaria Gorge
- Swim in the Libyan Sea
- Enjoy lunch at Kri, Kri tavern
- Boat to Sougia
- Bus return to Chania
- Arrive back in Chania around 8:00 p.m.
What’s included
Your day includes early morning hotel pickup in Chania, guided bus transfer to Omalos for breakfast (not included), entry into Samaria Gorge with an experienced local guide leading every step of the way, free time at Agia Roumeli village for swimming in the Libyan Sea and enjoying lunch at Kri-Kri tavern (lunch not included), then a boat ride to Sougia where your bus returns you back to Chania by evening.
Next departure: 1 May 2027
Information
Start early from Chania, hike the full length of Samaria Gorge with a guide, cool off in the Libyan Sea, and enjoy Cretan lunch before your return transfer.
More experiences you might like
Traveler reviews
The experience
Maria, our guide, met us outside the hotel just as the sky was turning pale. She joked about needing “mountain legs” for Samaria Gorge. I’d only half-woken up, but her laugh made it easier. On the bus to Omalos, she pointed out olive groves and told us how locals still gather herbs here: oregano and dittany, she said, waving her hand at the hills. I tried to spot them but mostly saw goats chewing quietly along the road. Breakfast at Omalos felt like a pause before something big. I remember the coffee was strong and smoky, almost earthy.
The start of the hike at Xiloskalo is all stone steps and pine resin in the air. The path drops fast, my knees noticed, but Maria kept us moving at a steady pace. Sometimes we’d stop so she could show us wildflowers or those tiny kri-kri goats balancing on impossible ledges. The sound of water running somewhere below was always there, even when you couldn’t see it yet. I didn’t expect how much shade there’d be. Sunlight flickered through cypress trees and cooled things down now and then. My boots kicked up dust that smelled like sun-baked rock.
I lost track of time somewhere past halfway. There’s this moment where you look up and realize just how high the gorge walls are: like standing inside an old cathedral but wilder. Someone in our group started humming (maybe out of tiredness?) and it kind of fit. We finally reached Agia Roumeli with legs like jelly, but seeing that slice of blue, the Libyan Sea, felt like a reward you can’t really plan for. Lunch at Kri-Kri tavern tasted better than it probably should have: tomatoes sweet from the sun, bread still warm, olive oil so green it almost glowed.
I floated in the sea after eating, salty and weightless while my socks dried on a rock nearby. The boat ride to Sougia was quiet. Most people dozed or stared out at nothing in particular. Back on the bus to Chania, Maria asked if we’d do it again next year, I laughed because honestly, maybe? My feet are still recovering but I keep thinking about that first cold dip in the sea after all those kilometers.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 310 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure.
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Greek and Serbian.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 12 years). Children under 7 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 Samaria Gorge hike?
The hike covers about 16 km from Xiloskalo to Agia Roumeli.
What time does the tour start?
The tour starts around 6:00 a.m., leaving from Chania area toward Omalos.
Is there a guide during the hike?
Yes, a local guide accompanies you throughout the Samaria Gorge walk.
Do I need to bring my own lunch?
No need. You’ll have time for lunch at Kri-Kri tavern near Agia Roumeli after finishing the gorge.
Can you swim at the end of Samaria Gorge?
Yes, there’s time to swim in the Libyan Sea once you reach Agia Roumeli village.
How do we get back to Chania after hiking?
You’ll take a boat from Agia Roumeli to Sougia where your bus will be waiting for return transfer to Chania.
Is this tour suitable for beginners?
The hike requires moderate fitness due to distance and terrain. Not recommended for travelers with health issues or limited mobility.
Operated by Elafonissos travel. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 14 days ago
Samaria Gorge Hike from Chania: Full-Day Walk & Libyan Sea Swim
15h · EN +2
from € 29 per person
≈ US$ 33 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.