Take on the challenge of hiking through the Samaria Gorge and immerse yourself in the unspoiled nature of what is considered by many to be Crete’s most important national park!
An organized bus tour from Kokkini Hani to the Samaria Gorge is perfect for those who love nature and long walks in the fresh air. Yes, we understand that early mornings may not be the favored choice during your vacations, but we strongly recommend that you make an exception and go. Why? Let’s give you a brief overview of what awaits you on this excursion: bus tour along the north coast of the island, mountains, spectacular views of wildlife, hiking trip through the gorge from the high plateau down to the shoreline, lunch in a traditional tavern or even a swim in the Libyan sea, if you wish, and finally a boat trip along the southern coast of the island to the village of Sfakia. Sounds like a great trip, doesn’t it? It really does!
Don’t be intimidated by the 16km trail at the bottom of Europe’s longest gorge: if you have brought drinking water, a camera and comfortable footwear, this trip will provide you with unforgettable impressions and great photos!
On this tour you will visit the following attractions:
Early in the morning you will be taken by bus from Kokkini Hani to the western part of the island. This is the greenest and most mountainous part of Crete. Before reaching the entrance to the Samaria Gorge, you will drive up to the mountains, pass through the heart of the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) region and cross the Omalos Plateau.
Leaving the bus in the mountains, you will walk to the place called Xyloskalo or “wooden stairs”. From here, at 1250 meters above sea level, you start walking through the Samaragia gorge. You won’t miss the stunning view of the gorge from the entrance – it’s absolutely breathtaking and perfect for snapping some memorable photos!
It is important to note two things: firstly, you will be descending all the way, because the path through the Samaria Gorge goes from the top down to the sea and the village of Agia Roumeli. Secondly, only the initial 4 kilometers of this trail are the most challenging due to the steep descent. But do not be afraid, as the trail gradually levels out, although it is still quite long.
Along the way, you’ll find several rest stops with refreshing spring water and shades. Note the small river (especially in spring) that meanders in and out of sight, adding a touch of serenity to your journey, and when you reach the sighn with a 4-kilometer mark, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the charming Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas) ancient chapel dedicated to the saint. And keep your eyes on the rock walls! You may be lucky enough to see the famous Cretan mountain goats Kri-Kri!
About halfway through the hike, you’ll come across the ancient village of Samaria, now deserted since its inhabitants were relocated in 1962 when the gorge was declared a natural park. While the village is abandoned, its old houses still stand and serve as lodgings for forest rangers. It also serves as a convenient rest stop along the trail.
Towards the end of your trip through the Samaria Gorge, you will see one of its most interesting features: the famous “Portes” or “Iron Gates”. These imposing rock formations mark the narrowest part of the gorge: here it is only 3 meters wide and reaches a height of 350 meters. It always makes an impression!
As your hiking adventure through the Samaria Gorge goes to the final point, you’ll arrive at the charming fishing village of Agia Roumeli. In the village you fill find some cozy traditional taverns serving up authentic dishes and a picturesque little beach after it. Depending on your pace during the hike, you’ll have some leisure time to enjoy a meal and/or indulge in a swim in the clear waters of the Libyan Sea.
The last part of our excursion in this area is a one hour boat trip from Agia Roumeli to the village of Chora Sfakion. From there our bus will pick you up and take you to your hotel in Kokkini Hani.
If you want to go hiking to the Samaria gorge from Kokkini Hani 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 Samaria gorge from Kokkini Hani online (see “How to book excursions in Crete”).
In 2025 the excursion to the Gorge of Samaria from Kokkini Hani takes place from 01/05 to 31/10. Available tour days – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
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.
If the weather is bad, for example if there are strong winds or a storm at sea, we can take an alternative route and visit the Imbros Gorge instead. This is another stunning gorge located next to the Samaria Gorge on the opposite side of the same mountain. As this route does not involve a boat trip, it can be done even in windy conditions or rough seas. The entrance ticket is cheaper (5 euro instead of 10 euro) and there is no need to spend extra on a boat ticket too.
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 16 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. There will be a short stop 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 a fairly challenging hike of at least four hours on a rocky path. Usually even five.
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 Samaria 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 does not manage to pass through the route in time and misses the boat leaving from Agia Rumeli, or if you 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!
Yes, on the way to Samaria gorge you will be accompanied by a guide. Your guide 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.
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.
| Schedule of the excursion program | |
|---|---|
| 5:30 - 7:00 | Departure from the hotels |
| 8:00 | Short stop to relax and drink some coffee |
| 9:50 | Arriving at the plateau of Omalos. Getting ready to descend into the gorge |
| 10:00 | Hiking tour in the gorge of Samaria |
| 14:30 - 17:00 | Gathering of the group with the guide at the exit of the gorge in the village of Agia Rumeli, free time |
| 17:30 | Boarding the boat, departure for the village of Sfakia |
| 17:30 - 18:30 | Boat trip along the south coast of Crete |
| 18:30 | Arrival of the boat in the village of Sfakia and boarding the bus |
| 19:00 | A stop at a cafe |
| 21:30 - 22:30 | Return to the hotels |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| up to 4 hours | From the hotels by bus to the entrance of the Samaria Gorge |
| up to 7 hours | In the National Park of Samaria |
| 1 hour | Boat trip from the village of Agia Roumeli to the village of Sfakia |
| up to 4 hours | Transfer by bus to the hotels |