SAMARIA GORGE

The Samaria Gorge is the second most visited tourist attraction in Crete (after the Palace of Knossos) and by far the most popular hiking route on the island. Every year, more than a quarter of a million visitors walk through the gorge between May and October. During winter, it remains closed due to the risk of flooding and falling rocks.

It is considered the longest gorge in Europe and is an area of exceptional natural beauty. Rare flora and fauna have survived here and are strictly protected. The surrounding mountains are wild, steep, and impressive. The trail passes through ancient forests of cypress and pine trees and continues between dramatic vertical cliffs.

The hike begins at Xyloskalo, near Omalos in the White Mountains, at an altitude of 1,230 meters, and ends at the coastal village of Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea. The walk typically takes between 3 and 5 hours, depending on pace and breaks.