Samaria Gorge Long Way from Heraklion & Surrounding Areas

Description

Come and explore the Gorge of Samaria. This excursion is one of the longest but also the most beautiful you can experience.

Our adventure starts very early in the morning since the gorge is situated on the western side of the island. Our first stop is in the vicinity of Rethimnon. We have the chance to get our breakfast before moving on to Omalos Plateau. The walk starts from Xiloskalo. At the entrance of the gorge, we enter this vast canyon of 18 km that is considered to be the longest in Europe. Canyon width varies from 2 to 40 meters and a depth of 250-600 meters. We usually need 6-7 hours to cross the rocky gorge down to the shore. 

The path follows the route of Taras, a river with gurgling, lucid water. It gave its name to the ancient town which was located at the end of the gorge. On the way, we can get a glimpse of the caves that formed a natural shelter for the Cretans. In war times and now they are the natural habitat of the well-known wild goats, or kri-kri, as they are also called. Halfway we come across the village of Santa Maria, which was abandoned by its last inhabitants in 1962. 

The amazingly wild and unspoiled scenery, as well as the vegetation that we come in view of during hiking, is unparalleled to those in other places on Crete. 

Three kilometres prior to our exiting this majestic gorge, we reach the Iron Gates (Sideroportes), the narrowest spot of the route, just a few meters wide, but 300 meters high – an amazing contradiction that can cause nothing but awe. 

A bit later we will arrive in the small fishing village of Agia Roumeli, where we have quite a long time to lunch and enjoy a refreshing swim in the deep blue, crystal clear waters of the Libyan Sea before boarding the ship that will take us back along the coast to the village of Sfakia, where we will catch the bus for our return trip. 

On the way back we will have the chance to admire Imbros Gorge, as well as the villages of Askifou and Vrisses.

This is an excursion for those who feel adventurous and are in good physical condition.

Highlights:

• Extraordinary rock formations,
• Indigenous rare plants, flower and bird species,
• Rough downward ground,
• Impressive and primitive view,
• Exquisite landscape that has been under no human intervention,
• Unique sensation of awe and infinite wonder for the untouched grandeur will always be engraved on our memory.