Crete is an island that combines many beautiful beaches and impressive mountains and gorges. Among the most famous gorges of Crete is the Gorge of Imbros, located in the south-west of the island in the southern part of the Askifou plain. Our organised tour from Karteros to the Imbros gorge is perfect for those who love hiking in the mountains: if you have already travelled through the Samaria gorge and want a new experience, or if you are just preparing to conquer it, a trip to the Imbros gorge is just what you need.
On this tour you will visit the following attractions:
Early in the morning, we will leave Karteros for south-west Crete, where the bus will take us almost directly to the entrance of the gorge. We call this gorge the “younger brother” of the Samaria gorge: although it is located in the same mountains, the route is much shorter and easier, but the views are in some places as good as those of the Samaria gorge. The landscape is literally covered in a variety of vegetation, and along the way you will see wild herbs, flowers and trees that grow only in Crete. If you love wildlife and hiking, you will love this place!
The trail through the gorge begins in the mountains near the eponymous village and gradually descends to the coast. You will begin the hike at an altitude of 700 metres and finish it almost at sea level (so you will only be descending, not climbing). There are also far fewer rocks in the Gorge of Imbros, making the trail less challenging. The whole hike takes about three hours at a relaxed pace. The eight kilometre route through the gorge of Imbros is suitable even for families with small kids!
The first section of the gorge is quite wide, with not very high cliffs around it. As you descend, the path narrows and the cliffs become higher. In some places, you will walk between rock walls only a few metres apart! Throughout the walk, you will have the opportunity to observe the impressive natural beauty of the gorge up close, including its bizarre stone patterns, varied vegetation, old oaks and cypresses, and abundance of herbs and flowers. There are quite a few shady spots in the Imbros gorge, so it can be quite cool even on hot days.
The next part of the gorge has one of the most impressive sections. It is called the “Stenada” (“narrow area”) – and for a reason. Here, the walls of the gorge are only 1.6 metres apart and 300 metres high. This means that here you can touch both sides of the canyon at the same time! Not far from the exit of the Gorge of Imbros is another beautiful spot that will definitely not go unnoticed – it is a large stone arch. A great place for beautiful photos!
Apart from its natural beauty, the Imbros gorge also has an interesting history. As you walk, you will notice many caves and traces of an old stone path that once connected the village of Sfakia with Chania. This path was frequently used during the 19th-century battles between the Cretans and the Turks. During World War II, the gorge was also used as a secret route to the sea.
After hiking through the Imbros gorge, we will end up at the village of Komitades and then head towards the Frangokastelo Fortress, which is located by an excellent sandy beach. The Venetian fortress was built at the end of the 14th century to protect this part of the southern coast. It was also the site of a fierce battle between the Cretans and the Turks in the 19th century. The battle was so brutal that, according to locals, the shadows of the fallen soldiers appear here at dawn every early June in the form of ghosts. Now this fortress is a historical monument and a famous landmark. Landscapes, nature, history, legends… In total you will have about two and a half hours free time to walk around, have lunch in a tavern and swim in the Libyan Sea, after which we will make the return journey to your hotel in Karteros.
If you want to go hiking to the Gorge of Imbros from Karteros with an organized bus tour, the price of the trip in 2025 is:
This tour is sometimes included in special promotions and sold cheaper for our followers – keep an eye out for discounts on Facebook!
Are you traveling as a big family or a group? Contact us in advance or visit our offices and we will try to make you the best offer.
You are welcome! We will run this personalised tour in a suitable car or minivan for you on any day. No large groups, long pick-ups or waiting – just you, your family or friends and the guide! You can ask us in advance – and we will organise everything for you.
You can book an excursion to the Gorge of Imbros from Karteros online (see “How to book excursions in Crete”).
In 2025 the excursion to the Gorge of Imbros from Karteros takes place from 01/04 to 30/11. Available tour days – everyday.
Please note that trip schedules are subject to change, including cancellation. This is extremely rare and may be due to weather conditions. For example, heavy rains at the beginning (April and May) or end of the season (September and October) and other force majeure situations. If there are any changes, we will try to let you know as soon as possible.
Please make sure that you have correctly identified your vacation area in Crete and read the cancellation and refund policy.
If there is less than 24 hours before the trip, please contact the manager to check availability before you make a booking!
Firstly, you can come to one of our offices where booking for all services is available and payment can be made either by cash or card.
Secondly, in case of online booking you can choose cash payment (which is available for some areas only) or you can pay online by card. In the case of cash, we will arrange a meeting with our courier in advance, who will bring the prepared documents to your hotel or villa and collect the cash. Please note that this option is only available for bookings made well in advance (days or weeks before the trip!). In case of online payment, you will receive the tickets by e-mail or WhatsApp – as you prefer.
Please keep all documents and tickets until the end of your trip!
It depends on the location of your hotel or villa. In some cases a tour bus will literally stop at the front door of the hotel and you just have to be there, in others it may be a short walk to the nearest pick-up point. This is usually a large central street, bus stop, square, car park, etc. – somewhere where there is no risk of the tour bus getting stuck on a narrow one-way street or stuck in traffic.
You will receive full details of the time and place of the pick-up with your travel documents when you make your booking. Please read it carefully before the trip.
Yes, about 8 kilometres on a rocky path. However, the trail goes downhill all the way to the sea, so in general the route is not too difficult (no climbs at all).
As the tour starts early, you can order an early breakfast (“lunch box”) at your hotel on the way. Also we can do a short stop (optional) at a cafeteria for breakfast before the descent into the gorge.
There are no shops or cafes in the gorge – no places to buy anything. It’s a nature reserve. So you have to bring everything you want to eat during the day. The most important thing is drinking water.
Drinking water and sunscreen are essential. It is advisable to bring a snack of apples and nuts. Also it’s nice to have a small backpack to keep your hands free. Please, choose very comfortable, not new and tried-and-tested shoes: trekking boots, sneakers or very (very-very) reliable sandals and a second pair of socks.
Bathing clothes can be useful: in case of swimming, you will need them on the coast after leaving the gorge. It’s a good idea to bring a pair of slippers, as you’ll definitely want to take off your sneakers after walking down the gorge, or even a change of clothes to wear after swimming in the sea.
As all our buses have good air conditioning, it is possible that someone may feel chilly on a long trip in the evening. It’s very individual, but keep this in mind just in case.
It is not extremely difficult or dangerous – absolutely not – but it is still a hike of two and a half or three hours on a rocky path.
We want to note, that this tour is not recommended for people with joint, spine or heart problems, very young children, pregnant women and overweight people. If you wish, we can organize more suitable hikes that you’re sure to enjoy in safety and comfort!
We are not responsible if the trip to Imbros gorge turns out to be more difficult than you expected or if the guide does not consider it possible for you to pass through the gorge and forbids you to descend. We also are not responsible if you or one of your friends suffer any health problems as a result of the descent. Of course, we can help and handle almost any situation, but it’s better not to create it intentionally 🙂
We at Crete.life are here to help you get the most out of your time in Crete – not to sell you more by hiding some facts and complexities. Sometimes this means that it’s better to take a different route in an easier gorge or to arrange a completely different trip. Your wellbeing is the first priority!
In case of a large group trip you will be accompanied by a guide; if you would prefer to take this trip privately (without other tourists) you can be accompanied by a driver-guide or by additional guide too – it’s up to you! They will introduce you to the trip, explain how it’s organized, and tell you a little about the places visited. This trip is considered a walking tour, so there will not be as much information as there will be on excursions to museums or archaeological sites.
Mostly it’s the beautiful views: the mountains, the gorge, the forest, the sea.
Languages: English, German, French on any available day. On some days we can also organize excursions with Italian, Polish, Romanian and Russian speaking guides, so check the booking calendar or send us a request.
Please note that this is an approximate tour schedule. Times may vary depending on traffic and pick-up and drop-off locations. Exact times will be sent to you along with other information when you make your reservation and specify your hotel.
For private trips, we can be flexible with the timetable and organise everything according to your wishes.
| Schedule of the excursion program | |
|---|---|
| 6:30 - 8:00 | Departure from the hotels |
| 9:00 | Short stop to relax and drink some coffee (optional) |
| 10:00 | Arriving to the gorge of Imbros. Getting ready to descend into the gorge |
| 10:00 - 13:00 | Hiking tour in the gorge of Imbros |
| 13:00 - 13:30 | Gathering of the group with the guide at the exit of the gorge in the village of Komitades |
| 14:00 - 17:00 | Visiting the village of Sfakia or the beach of Frangokastelo |
| 19:00 - 21:30 | Return to the hotels |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| up to 3 hours | From the hotels by bus to the entrance of the Imbros Gorge |
| up to 3 hours | In the National Park of Imbros |
| up to 3 hours | Free time in the village of Sfakia or Frangokastelo beach |
| up to 3 hours | Transfer by bus to the hotels |