THE HIKE
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES
STRICTLY PROHIBITED
Lighting fires | Hunting and fishing in the Park |
Camping | Pets without a leash |
Picking flowers | Throwing stones |
The removal or destruction of nests | The disposal of rubbish in places other than those provided |
Destruction or damage of Geological formations | Smoking anywhere other than the rest points |
Possession of weapons and traps | Excessive noise |
Swimming in the streams | The consumption of alcohol |
Samaria Gorge lies inside Samaria National Park, and it is an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located in the White Mountains of Crete.
It is named after an old village located inside, which was abandoned in 1962, when the area was declared a National Park, mostly as a refuge for the endangered Capra Aegagrus Cretica, also known as Kri Kri.
The starting point is at Xyloskalo at an altitude of 1250m, ending up at the coastal village named Agia Roumeli.
The most famous part of the hike is the place called "Gates" or "Irongates". where the two sides of the gorge are 4m apart with a height of 500m.
Samaria gorge’s length is
approximately 13km plus 3 more km to the beach where you end up in Agia Roumeli
village. It takes up to 5 – 5 ½ hours the most in a slow pace, based also at
the number of your stops along the hike for resting/photos, and your fitness.
The hiking time mentioned above is in accordance to an average fitness condition, a slow pace with 4 to 5 stops at the most for some pictures or some rest, and the recomended hiking shoes. Time management is always up to you.
Route and Stops |
Xylosakalo - Entrance |
1. Neroutsiko - 1700m 40'min |
2. Sykia - 1200m 25'min |
3. Ag. Nikolaos - 900m 25'min |
4. Vryssi - 900m 20'min |
5. Prinari - 1100m 20'min |
6. Samaria - 1200m 25'min |
7. Perdika - 1100m 15'min |
8. Christos - 3100m 70'min |
9. Exit - 1800m 45'min |
Agia Roumeli - 3000m 70'min |
It is a medium difficulty level hike. It’s downhill and steep at first since you start at an altitude of 1250m, but once you reach the bottom it looks like it’s flat. At some points there are sharp stones along the trail so you have to be careful. Stay on the trail at all times and do not deviate.
Hiking shoes and socks are recommended. You can also use training and gym shoes but be careful of the sharp stones along the trail since you need hard soles. With everything else (flip flops, sneakers etc.) you will end up hurting your feet and sometimes missing your boat to your destination. Walking sticks are helpful for your balance.
The official opening hour of Samaria gorge is 7.00am. Keeping in mind that it takes 5 hours to walk all the way it’s better to plan an early start in order to avoid the heat during 12.00-3.00pm. You will also have to consider the driving time from the place that you stay, up to the entrance of the gorge. From Chania which is a 45km windy road it usually takes up to 1 hour.
You should take
into consideration the length of the hike, the difficulty level, your equipment,
your fitness, and also your friend’s/family that will be hiking along with you. Take water with you. There are springs along
the way but you should ask first at the entrance because by the end of the summer most of them dry up.
Keep in mind that there is a coffee shop at
the entrance of the gorge and after that only at the end. So last minute water,
coffee or snacks only there since Samaria gorge is a National Park and there
are no shops inside.
There are toilets along the way.
Mobile
phones have no signal.
Once you’re inside should anything bad happens notify immediately one of the Park Rangers or Firefighters that are along the way.
A
hat, a swimming suit (because at the end your will be by the sea), sunscreen cream, and sunglasses are recommended.