Exploring Creta: Hiking the Samaria Gorge

This classic route takes you through one of the largest and most impressive gorges in Europe, stretching 16 kilometers, starting from the Omalos plateau at 1,200 meters, and ending at the Libyan Sea.

The route begins with a steep descent, but as you go further down, the landscape changes, and you find yourself walking through a beautiful forest of pines and cypresses.

One of the most spectacular points of the gorge is its narrowest passage, known as "The Doors" (Portes).

Here, the gorge narrows to just 3 meters, while the vertical cliffs rise to 600 meters on both sides.

The estimated time to cross the Samaria Gorge is about 6 hours, depending on your pace.

More experienced hikers can complete the route in about 5 hours without long breaks, while those doing fast hiking can cross the gorge in about 4 hours without stopping.