The 10 Best Hikes in Crete to Explore
Crete is the biggest of the Greek islands, offering an unmatched outdoor playground in the Mediterranean.
Most people flock to Crete for the fantastic beaches, warm water, and pretty Greek coastal villages. While this is all worthwhile, you should also add hiking to your itinerary.
The best hikes in Crete take you to some of the most beautiful parts of the island. Hiking these trails is the best way to fully enjoy Crete’s natural beauty and island charms.
While you won’t find towering mountain summits here, the coastal views, incredible gorges, and unique Greek scenery make hiking in Crete memorable.
Ready to start your adventure? Here are our top picks for the best hikes in Crete.
1. Samaria Gorge
Length: 16 km
Duration: 5 - 7 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Towering cliffs, Mediterranean Sea finish, chance to swim
The Samaria Gorge is the most famous hiking trail in Crete and one of the longest gorges in Europe. We’d also rate it one of the best hikes in Greece.
The 16-km trail starts at the Omalos Plateau and winds down through dense forests, past mountain streams, and between towering cliffs.
Along the way, you’ll encounter the ancient chapel of Agios Nikolaos, lush vegetation, and stunning views of the White Mountains.
The most iconic part of the hike is the “Iron Gates,” where the gorge narrows to just 3 meters wide, with cliff walls rising almost 300 meters above.
The trail finishes at the village of Agia Roumeli, where you can relax by the sea, swim, and enjoy a meal before taking a boat to nearby towns.
If you can, we’d recommend doing the hike from May to October, as it can get seriously hot in the summer and is closed during winter.
As one of the best hikes in Crete, it’s included in our epic four-day hiking trip around Crete.
2. The White Mountains Trails
Length: Varies
Duration: Full day
Difficulty: Challenging
Highlights: Remote landscapes, rugged trails, stunning sea views
The White Mountains, or Lefka Ori, are a hiker’s paradise, offering several challenging trails for experienced adventurers.
Not only are some of the best hikes in Crete found here, but many who experience the trails would say they’re some of the best hikes in Europe.
These mountains are known for their rugged, rocky landscapes, providing some of Crete’s most remote and untouched scenery.
One of the most popular trails begins in the coastal village of Sougia and leads to the small, isolated village of St. John.
This hike passes through pine forests and climbs steadily up the southern slopes of the White Mountains, offering stunning views of the Libyan Sea along the way.
The trail is steep in places, but the reward is the solitude and breathtaking views of the Cretan countryside.
We’d recommend hiking in the White Mountains if you’re after a more challenging and less touristy experience.
The second day of our hiking adventure in Crete is focused on this beautiful area.
3. Anopolis to Loutro Bay
Length: 6 km
Duration: 3 - 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Coastal views, Marble Beach, crystal-clear waters
The hike from Anopolis to Loutro Bay is a beautiful coastal walk with stunning sea views.
Starting from the village of Anopolis, this well-marked trail follows a cliffside path with panoramic views of the Libyan Sea below.
As you make your way along the trail, you’ll pass through the tiny, peaceful settlement of Livaniana before reaching one of the hidden gems of Crete - Marble Beach.
This secluded beach is known for its sparkling turquoise waters and white marble pebbles, making it a perfect spot for a refreshing swim.
After a rest at Marble Beach, continue the hike to Loutro, a pretty seaside village accessible only by foot or boat.
Loutro is a peaceful retreat with whitewashed buildings, a calm bay, and quiet tavernas. It’s a perfect end to a long day of hiking and a real gem of the island.
This hike forms day three of our hiking adventure in Crete.
4. Seaside Trail to Sfakia
Length: 6 km
Duration: 2 - 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Highlights: Sweet Waters Beach, WWII history, seaside views
This seaside trail from Sweet Waters Beach to Sfakia is a relaxed, scenic hike along the southern coast of Crete.
The trail follows the coastline, offering awesome views of the Libyan Sea and plenty of opportunities to cool off with a swim at the small, secluded beaches along the way.
One of the highlights of this trail is Sweet Waters Beach, a pebbly beach with crystal-clear freshwater springs that bubble up from beneath the sand.
The trail continues toward Sfakia, a village rich in history, mainly connected to World War II.
Sfakia played an important role during the Battle of Crete and remains a site of historical importance. After exploring the village, you can relax in a local taverna before heading back.
This fantastic hike is the final section of our Crete hiking tour.
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5. Imbros Gorge
Length: 8 km
Duration: 2 - 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Narrow passages, towering cliffs, ancient mule path
Imbros Gorge is often compared to the more famous Samaria Gorge. However, it’s shorter, quieter, and full of natural beauty.
It may not be as famous, but it’s still one of the best hikes in Crete.
This 8 km trail starts in the small village of Imbros and descends gently through a landscape of towering cliffs, ancient trees, and dramatic rock formations.
One of the most remarkable features of this hike is how narrow the gorge gets, with the sheer cliffs coming as close as 2 meters apart in some places.
The gorge has an interesting history. It served as a route for British soldiers evacuating Crete during World War II.
The path is lined with fig and almond trees, and as you walk, you’ll pass by natural arches and over loose stones that add a bit of difficulty to the trail.
The hike ends in the village of Komitades, and from there, you can walk or take a short drive to the seaside town of Hora Sfakion for a well-deserved rest.
6. Agiofarango Gorge
Length: 7 km
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Highlights: Secluded beach, ancient chapels, rock formations
Agiofarango Gorge is a peaceful hike through a rugged landscape that ends at a stunning, isolated beach. It’s one of Crete’s best hikes if you’re after a short trail with major rewards.
The trail begins at Moni Odigitrias, a small monastery known for its fascinating defensive tower, and follows a dry riverbed down to the sea.
The hike is gentle and suitable for most hikers, with minimal elevation changes. As you go through the gorge, you’ll pass towering rock formations, hidden caves, and ancient chapels nearly 1,000 years old.
The trail’s highlight is the beautiful beach at the end, one of Crete’s most secluded spots. It’s perfect for a quiet swim or a snorkelling session, so we recommend packing supplies to spend some time there.
7. Agia Irini Gorge
Length: 7.5 km
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Shady trails, lush vegetation, picnic spots
The Agia Irini Gorge is a hidden gem on the island, providing a peaceful, shady hike.
Starting just below the village of Agia Irini, the trail gently descends through a landscape of aromatic herbs like sage, small caves, and ancient stone bridges.
Unlike many other gorges on Crete, Agia Irini offers plenty of shade, making it a great option to avoid the intense summer heat.
The trail is well-maintained and relatively easy, though you’ll need to climb over boulders in some sections.
The gorge ends at a peaceful taverna near Sougia, a small seaside village, where you can rest and enjoy a meal after your hike.
8. Aradena Gorge
Length: 3.5 km
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Marmara Beach, rickety bridge, uncrowded paths
The Aradena Gorge is one of Crete’s lesser-known treasures. It’s a short but beautiful trail that deserves a spot on Crete’s list of best hikes.
The trail begins just before the rickety Vardinogiannis Bridge, known for bungee jumping, and quickly descends through a rugged landscape of cliffs and boulders.
Along the way, you’ll pass the early Byzantine Church of Agios Ioannis before reaching the breathtaking Marmara Beach, one of the island’s most secluded and beautiful beaches.
Marmara’s waters are an incredibly vibrant shade of blue, perfect for a refreshing swim.
After relaxing at the beach, you can continue along a 4-km coastal path to the village of Loutro.
This village is known for its charming, car-free environment and quiet beauty - we’d recommend spending some time here.
9. Paleohora (Palaiochora) - Sougia Coastal Walk
Length: 14.5 km
Duration: 6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Highlights: Coastal cliffs, ancient ruins, isolated beaches
The Paleohora to Sougia Coastal Walk is a long but rewarding hike with spectacular views of Crete’s southern coastline.
Starting in the lively port town of Paleohora, the trail follows the rugged coastline, offering dramatic views of the cliffs and sea below.
Along the way, you’ll pass through isolated beaches perfect for a swim and the ancient archaeological site of Lissos, where you can explore ruins from the 2nd century BCE.
The trail is mostly exposed, with little shade, so be prepared with plenty of water and a hat.
The final part of the hike leads through a small pine forest before arriving in Sougia, a quieter seaside village with excellent tavernas and places to relax.
It’s a relatively long hike, but the trail is mostly flat and suitable for most hikers.
10. Richtis Gorge
Length: 9.7 km
Duration: 4 - 5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
Highlights: Waterfalls, lush vegetation, old stone bridges
Richtis Gorge offers a uniquely green hiking experience contrasting with Crete’s more arid landscapes.
This 9.7-km trail is full of natural beauty, featuring waterfalls, dense vegetation, and ancient stone bridges that add a historic touch to the hike.
The gorge is cooler and shadier than most others on the island, so we recommend hiking it in the summer months.
The main attraction is the Richtis Waterfall, where you can cool off and enjoy the serene atmosphere.
The trail can be challenging in sections due to loose rocks and uneven paths. Still, the peaceful surroundings and stunning scenery are well worth the effort.
Summary
Many incredible trails wind their way around Crete, but we chose these routes as the best hikes due to their wide range of sights and experiences.
However, if you want to experience the real magic of Crete, we’d recommend taking a multi-day hiking tour that lets you explore all the best parts of the island.
Ready to start your adventure? Check out our highly rated four-day Crete hiking tour, which we think is the best way to experience this Greek paradise.
