Samaria Gorge

The Samaria Gorge is a gorge of unique beauty, the second largest in Europe, with a total length of 16 km and a width from 3 meters to 150 meters. Indeed, it has the particularity, where at a point of the path has a width only 3 meters, and the surrounding rocks reach 300 meters high, causing awe and admiration for nature. This point is called Sideroportes.

Samaria Gorge starts at the White Mountains, and more specifically Xyloskalo at an altitude of 1,200 meters and ends in St. Roumeli, a beautiful and quiet seaside village. The route follows a river surrounded by tall trees and rich vegetation, while the canyon, recognized protected forest, is home to over 400 species of plants and animals, many of which are endemic and rare species!

Hiking through the canyon you will meet about halfway, an abandoned village called Samaria, hidden in the canyon! From this village the gorge got the name!

The route will fascinate you, but you should know that you should wear comfortable clothes and shoes, hat and sunscreen. It takes from 6 to 8 hours until the end of the gorge. If you want to reach the village of Agia Roumeli, enjoy a swim in the Libyan Sea and catch the boat to Paleochora, Sougia, Loutro or Sfakia, you need to walk for 3 more kilometers! You can of course spend the night in the beautiful village of Agia Roumeli and enjoy the sea and tranquility!

With car hire you can have a comfortable access in the canyon, having the option to go up halfway and enjoy the traditionally built, abandoned village of Samaria.