SAMARIA GORGE WALK
CHANIA
CRETE
DISTANCE 16KM DESCENT 1250M
23 SEPTEMBER 2025
I had thought about doing this walk last year but all the advice was that it was a hard walk, it was a dangerous walk, you would not be able to do it. Which was like a promise I had to show them I could. Instead last year we did the Imbros Gorge Walk which was very nice but not the same.
After talking to the Spiridon Tour representative, we planned the day that I would do the Long Samaria Gorge Walk and Anne would do the Short Samaria Gorge Walk. The trips were arranged that at the end of the walk we would be on the same boat and same coach back to our hotel.
I had an early start and Maria the Guide was excellent with tips and explanations. She also mentioned that if you were over 65 years of age you could get free access to the Gorge otherwise it would be 10 Euro. Another tip that I had forgotten was you do not need to carry loads of water as there are places you could fill your water bottles on the walk. I would say you do need proper hiking boots for this walk and I had also brought my walking poles, which again I would say are very helpful stepping over stones and going down the steep parts of the track.
It was stunning views.
I wish I had taken a photo on the other side of this boulder, as it had hundreds of sticks and branches stopping it rolling down the side of the Gorge.
The water in the stream was so clear.
There were rangers and guides all over the route. Agios Nikolaos, the map show this is approx 4km from the start. My watch showed it was about 3.5km but that could be due to the twisting and turning of the path.
I was feeling warm now and so took off my long trousers in favour of my shorts.
At each of the water stops I had a drink of the water I had been carrying but had a longer stop at the Village of Samaria. This fellows friend had a share of my sandwich. The only thing I would say is that when sitting eating the place was full of wasps.
I had noticed on the walk some parts of the path had been changed which may also explain the difference in distances. The map shows approx 7km my watch showed just over 6km. This didn't matter I was having a great time.
There also appeared to be more people in the Gorge, perhaps some had come from the bottom of the Gorge?
Afendis Christos, I had another longer stop here and tried to eat another sandwich I had brought. Unfortunately I found another place full of wasps.
The map this time shows approx 11km, my watch now showed over 12km. Again there appeared to be more people around.
It was along here Maria had warned us that the Gorge is very narrow and people tend to slow each other up stopping to take photos.
This is shown on the map as the Iron Doors. There are no iron doors apparently it is just the angle you look at the cliff sides and the colour of the stones.
Suddenly without realising how far I had walked I was at the exit to the Gorge and there was Anne waiting for me.
Leaving the Gorge we followed the road past a memorial from WWII and walked the last couple of km into Agia Roumeli.
It had been a fantastic walk, crossing streams and dips, between high walled cliffs and fallen rocks, steep paths and boulders. Brilliant, loved it.
In Agia Roumeli, we had a beer and my watch showed I had walked over 18km with a descent over 1500m and a climb of 350m. The high sides of the Gorge and the twisting of the path I think would affect the reading on my watch. Anyway a swim in the beautiful calm Libyan Sea washed any dust of my feet. Then another beer whilst we waited for the ferry that would take us to Chora Sfakion and our bus back to our hotel. Thank you Maria for a great day walking.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking. If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Crete or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
