Samaria Gorge Long Way from Heraklion & Surrounding Areas

<p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">Come and explore the <strong>Gorge of Samaria</strong>. This excursion is one of the longest but also the most beautiful you can experience.</p><p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">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 <strong>Rethimnon</strong>. We have the chance to get our breakfast before moving on to <strong>Omalos Plateau</strong>. The walk starts from <strong>Xiloskalo</strong>. 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. </p><p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">The path follows the <strong>route of Taras</strong>, 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 <strong>village of Santa Maria</strong>, which was abandoned by its last inhabitants in 1962. </p><p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">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. </p><p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">Three kilometres prior to our exiting this majestic gorge, we reach the <strong>Iron Gates (Sideroportes)</strong>, the narrowest spot of the route, just a few meters wide, but 300 meters high – an amazing contradiction that can cause nothing but awe. </p><p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">A bit later we will arrive in the small fishing village of <strong>Agia Roumeli</strong>, 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 <strong>Sfakia</strong>, where we will catch the bus for our return trip. </p><p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">On the way back we will have the chance to admire <strong>Imbros Gorge</strong>, as well as the villages of <strong>Askifou and Vrisses</strong>.</p><p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">This is an excursion for those who feel adventurous and are in good physical condition.</p><p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em"><strong>Highlights:</strong></p><ul><li style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">Extraordinary rock formations,</li><li style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">Indigenous rare plants, flower and bird species,</li><li style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">Rough downward ground,</li><li style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">Impressive and primitive view,</li><li style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">Exquisite landscape that has been under no human intervention,</li><li style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:rgb( 87 , 100 , 111 );margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em">Unique sensation of awe and infinite wonder for the untouched grandeur will always be engraved on our memory.</li></ul>