Hiking on Crete Island - Samaria Gorge and South Coast
Hike one of the most unspoiled and isolated areas of South Europe along splendid seaside and mountain trails. Stay in traditional villages and enjoy Greek hospitality, Mediterranean food, and exceptional wine.
Itinerary
You'll meet your guide at 8:15 AM at the Chania Central Bus Station before heading off to Omalos Plateau. Today, you'll hike one of the longest and most beautiful gorges in Europe - the famous Samaria Gorge. A well-marked trail runs for 16 km inside the gorge and exits at the Mediterranean Sea. You'll end the day by the sea, with a chance to swim and enjoy an evening meal.
After a hearty breakfast, you'll begin a day of hiking. The seaside trail runs along the coastline through pine forests. After lunch, you'll ascend the south side of the mountain towards your final destination - the remote village of St. John.
You'll start the day at Anopolis village. The well-marked trail above the sea will lead us to Livaniana settlement and finally, you'll exit onto a magnificent secret beach with crystal waters – The Marble Beach. Short break for rest and swimming and continue hiking towards Loutro.
We make our way via a magnificent seaside trail, you'll cross the marvelous Sweet Waters beach to the historic Sfakia village - a place where there is a lot to learn about WW2 history. After resting and relaxing at Sfakia, we end our trip with a transfer by bus back to Chania early in the afternoon.
Don't see your date? We may be able to open a new group or setup a private trip if there are 2 or more people in your party. Contact us.
What's Included
Included
- Guides.
- All transportations during the trip.
- Samaria National Park entrance fees.
- Accommodation in traditional seafront hotels in double rooms.
Not Included
- Flights.
- Visa (if applicable).
- Travel insurance.
- Meals.
- Bottled water and drinks.
Have a question?
If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.
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Rated 5.0
1 verified review
John
(May 2024)
FAQs
Before you go
The trip is ideal for beginners with an average level of fitness. You do need to be prepared to hike multiple hours each day but the pace is fair and we take lots of breaks.
Please refer to 'Inclusions' section above.
- Hiking shoes - Backpack (30 -40L) - T-Shirts - Long trousers - Shorts - Sun hat and sunblock - Light towel, flip flops and swimwear - A light rain jacket and light fleece jacket - Personal overnight equipment (toiletries)
Meeting point / Starting point : 08:15 am at the main entrance of Chania Central Bus Station by Kydonias Street (Kydonias & Kelaidi Partheniou). End: 1:00 pm in Chania town on Crete Island - Central Bus Station You can get to Chania town by the following means: - By boat from Piraeus Port (Athens). - The closest airport is Chania International Airport (Daskalogiannis ) which is about 14km away. There is an airport bus which runs to the city centre (€2.5) Alternatively you can take a taxi which should cost around (€25-€30 ). - Heraklion Airport to Chania. is around 140km. If you are not renting a car, there is also a bus that runs this route.
Children need to be at least 10 years old to join. As these are open groups, we strongly recommend that families contact us (info@skyhookadventure.com) to arrange a private trek. In the case of private groups, active and athletic children as young as 8 will also be welcome.
European citizens do not need a VISA to travel in Greece. Please check travel requirements according to your nationality. Contact your Embassy or check on the official website.
On your trip
Day 1: 6 - 7hrs with 1250m of descent Day 2: 5hrs with 700m of ascent Day 3: 4hrs with 600m of descent Day 4: 4hrs
For the three nights, the accommodation is in guest houses in double or twin rooms. Towels and personal hygiene products are provided (soap, shower gel and shampoo). For single-room occupancy (possible after request) there is an extra charge of 190 euros per person. You will need to arrange this directly with your guide after booking. - Night 1 is at the seafront of Agia Roumeli village. - The second night is in a mountain village, at Agios Ioannis or Anopolis (depending on the guest house's availability). - The third overnight is at the seaside village of Loutro, the most iconic settlement of southwest Crete.
During the 4-day hiking trip, you carry all your belongings in a village-to-village hiking tour. A backpack of 35 - 50 lit volume should be enough for all your equipment and clothing. Please keep in mind that you will need only lightweight clothing, all guest houses provide towels and personal hygiene products in the bathroom and shower. There are unfortunately no porters or luggage transfers available.
You can enjoy local delicious food in traditional Cretan tavernas and restaurants at all stages of our trip. The food is not included in the trip price. For dinner or lunch, please budget approximately 15 - 25 Euros pp (without alcoholic drinks) and 10-12 Euros for your breakfast. Breakfast is typical with bread, eggs, butter, honey and jam, orange juice and coffee. For your main meals, you can enjoy local meat, fresh fish and traditional Greek cuisine. Vegetarian options are also available and most dietary requirements can be catered for.
The day 4 of the trip, we will cross a short section near the sea cliff. The track is very wide and clear. This section can be avoided by a short boat transfer (if someone is very afraid of heights). In general, this track is used every day by hundreds of travellers of every age.
The weather in Crete is best for hiking in May-June and September-October. Days are warm and most people are comfortable hiking in t-shirts and shorts. Usually the days are full of sunshine and cooler in the mornings and evenings.
Throughout the trip, there are many water sources to fill your flasks with pure clean water. No need for filters or tablets. Bottled water is available at every stage of the trip and you can buy this from restaurants, coffee shops and mini markets. Bottled water is not included in the trip price.
You can use credit or debit cards in every stage of the trip and in every village.
We recommend that you ask your hotel or guest house in Chania to store your luggage and pick it up when you return.
Other FAQs
Yes, you can extend your trip. There are many amazing hiking destinations to visit, like Mount Ida and the very Top of Crete, or many impressive gorges. Sightseeing and fantastic beaches are also an option. You can easily spend at least 10 days in Crete Island without feeling bored!
Your head guide is Akis
All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip your guides run Olympus Alpine Guiding, based in Katerini.
By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!
