The 15 Best Gorge Walks on Crete

1.Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion & Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,191 reviews · 9 - 12 hours · from $41Our pick

You’ll hike 17 rocky kilometers through Samaria Gorge with an English-speaking guide, then rest, swim, or eat in Agia Roumeli before a coastal ferry and bus return. Guides such as Sara and Christina help with pacing and safety, but you need strong shoes and good fitness.

“The tour guide and transportation were great! The gorge itself has too many people. Often, the foot path is only wide enough for one person. With so many people on the paths, some fast, some slow, it kind of sucks. Also, the bathrooms suck. For the amount of money the gorge park takes in, improve the lousy bathrooms.”

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2.Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek, Pickup & Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,610 reviews · 9 - 12 hours · from $37

Travel from Rethymno to Omalos, then walk Samaria Gorge at your own pace with a multilingual mountain escort. Expect rocky downhill paths, ancient trees, springs, wild goats, and a ferry from Agia Roumeli. Guides such as Pia, George, and Alexandra have been praised for clear instructions and personal care.

“Long day, but great. Well managed and organised. Pia was a fantastic guide with incredible language skills. She managed the group really well.”

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3.Samariá Gorge Guided Hike with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,010 reviews · 1 day · from $37

Join an English-speaking guide such as Ingrid, Nikos, or George for Samaria Gorge’s rocky 16-kilometer descent. Pickup, bus transport, ferry tickets, and the €10 park entrance are separate. Walk at your own pace, then swim at Agia Roumeli before sailing to Sougia.

“This was an amazing hike, super easy with the hostel pick up/drop off. It was pretty busy at the start but not too bad if you get ahead of the crowds. We finished in about 3.5hrs and the ferry didn’t leave until 5pm, so we spent a while at the end - but there was a cute town and nice beach so no complaints! Would recommend.”

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4.Samaria Gorge with Professional Hiking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 720 reviews · 14 hours · from $37

Join an English-speaking guide and comfortable coach from Chania for the 16 km Samaria Gorge hike. Walk past the Iron Gates, refill water at springs, then swim and eat at Agia Roumeli before a scenic boat ride to Sougia. Guides such as Ingrid, Nikos, and Dimitris help keep the long day organized.

“I try think it would be better to write hidden costs of entry fee and ferry in description prior to paying. I would have still gone”

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5.Samaria Gorge Hiking from Chania with Professional Hiking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 372 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $51

Join a guided day trip from Chania to Samaria Gorge, descending rocky trails from Omalos to Agia Roumeli. Guides such as Ingrid, Nicos, and Sylvia help with timing and safety, while your bus, ferry, and beach stop turn this strenuous hike into a full Crete adventure.

“Amazing experience! Our tour guide Ingrid was very informative, friendly and safe conscious. Would highly recommend! Note: If you have any questions, CALL Viator or Tour directly.”

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6.Imbros Gorge Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 353 reviews · 8 hours · from $30Best value

Walk downhill through Imbros Gorge with an English-speaking guide, passing narrow rock walls and historic landmarks before reaching Komitades. Afterward, enjoy free time in Sfakia for a swim, seaside meal, or Venetian-fortress views. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

“Very nice guide with a very relaxing voice :) Hike was lovely and it’s such a beautiful experience - to walk through the gorge from the mountains to the seaside.”

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7.From Heraklion,Agia Pelagia,Malia: Samaria Gorge Guided Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 298 reviews · 12 - 14 hours · from $53

Set out from Heraklion, Malia, Agia Pelagia, and nearby resorts for a 17-kilometer trek through Samaria Gorge. Your mountain escort explains the route, waits at the back of the group, and helps as needed. Finish with free time in Agia Roumeli before the ferry to Sfakia.

“If like walking around new places and beautiful landscapes, then this trip it's a must. I have to admit it not easy and you should pack a lot of patience and good shoes to get through the gorge, but in the end it will all be worth it. The guide was very friendly and walked with us until the end (actually he started a bit later to be able to check on travelers who maybe had issues, but caught us close to the finish line). You shouldn't forget your sunscreen and some bottles of water. There are springs at resting spots so you can refill the bottles. You finish at…”

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8.Samaria Gorge Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 201 reviews · 17 hours · from $56

Join a multilingual guide, including experienced guide Athina, for a full-day hike through Samaria Gorge. Walk 15 km past the old village and Iron Gates, swim at Agia Roumeli, then ferry to Sfakia. Bring sturdy shoes, water, sun protection, and cash for the €10 park and €14 boat fees.

“Well organised trip and had a brilliant day. It was a long day being picked up at 6am and not getting back to hotel until 10pm but thoroughly enjoyed it. The Gorge is awesome and the walk was challenging in the heat but well worth the effort. The swim in the sea at the end was heavenly as was the cold beer after! Getting the boat back for part of the way was fab and also the stop for souvlaki being cooked outside for us.”

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9.Full-Day Samaria Gorge Hiking Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 162 reviews · from $32

Join Io Tours for a 14-hour Samaria Gorge day trip from Chania or Kalyves. Guides such as Pari and Dafne lead you through an 18-kilometre gorge at your own pace, then you get time for lunch and a swim in Agia Roumeli before the ferry and bus ride home.

“Incredible hike, challenging and hot but very picturesque. Dafne the guide was great. Clear instructions, earned trust quickly. Wear very sturdy shoes, preferably hiking boots. Steep descent of 1,700m isn’t kind to the fittest of legs/ankles. Lots of scree, uneven ground, small river crossings and rock hopping. Plenty of clean spring water, rest areas and toilets on the way. Food at the end was incredible. Pack snacks, lunch as there is no food during the hike. Most of the hike is in shade and there was a coolish breeze comi n up the gorge which was refreshing. Agia Roumelli beach where you finish isn’t the nicest of Crete beaches but…”

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10.Sarakina Gorge, Forests, and South Coast Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 138 reviews · from $111

Travel in a small group of up to six with guides such as George, Michael, Panos, or Fabrice. Ride an orange Land Rover through Kritza and Kroustas Forest, taste Cretan olive oil, eat at a traditional taverna, scramble through Sarakina Gorge, and finish by the Libyan Sea.

“Michael was an amazing guide, happy to provide loads of great information about Crete. He kept everything light and fun throughout the journey and essentially took the excursion from good to great! The various stops along the way were thought out well and all worth the time spent. The lunch was delicious in a great setting, prepared in a traditional way. The gorge was a good adventure as well but make sure you bring good shoes! The trip to the beach at the end is also a great way to finish the day and cool off after all the activities. 10 out of 10 :)Read more”

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11.Imbros Gorge Guided Hike and Village Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 133 reviews · 8 hours · from $35

Join guides such as Carolina or Ingrid for a mostly downhill 9 km walk through Imbros Gorge, with narrow cliff passages, wartime history, and a swim stop in Chora Sfakion. Hotel pickup, an air-conditioned coach, and drop-off are included. Bring sturdy shoes, water, sunscreen, swimwear, and cash for the gorge entrance.

“Excellent trip and amazing trek in the Imbros Gorge ..”

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12.Samariá Gorge Full-Day Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 129 reviews · 12 hours · from $37

Join an English-speaking guide such as Maria or Leonidas for a demanding 16-kilometer walk through Samaria Gorge. You’ll see springs, cliffs, Kri-Kri goats, the Iron Gates, and finish with a swim at Agia Roumeli before the ferry to Sougia.

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13.Samaria Gorge Hiking with transfer and expert Escort

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 125 reviews · 12 - 16 hours · from $47

You’ll descend the Omalos Plateau through Samaria Gorge with an English or German-speaking guide such as Nikos, Claudia, Marcos, or Ingrid. After 4 to 6 hours on the rocky trail, you’ll eat, swim, and rest at Agia Roumeli before a one-hour boat ride to Hora Sfakion and a bus back.

“Claudia is the best guide I've ever saw. And the Samaria Gorge is just awesome!”

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14.Imbros Gorge & Libyan Guided Sea Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 118 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $34

Start with an easy 3-hour descent through Imbros Gorge, passing Stenada and Xepitira Arch. Then take a bus to Chora Sfakion and the south coast for sea views, a swim, and traditional food. Multilingual guides, including Bea on some departures, lead this 9 to 10-hour trip.

“Sehr gut organisiert, von der extrem pünktlichen Abholung bis zum perfekt erklärenden Guide alles passend. Keine Beanstandung, genau wie beschrieben. Sehr gelungener Ausflug mit nahezu perfekter Organisation.”

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15.Kourtaliotiko Gorge: Guided River Adventure Trek with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 106 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $112

Join Panos, Alkis, or another certified guide for a 4.5-hour river trek through Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Swim to a cold waterfall, walk through clear pools, spot frogs and dragonflies, and finish with Cretan tapas and a beer at The Banana Garden.

“Great tour, great guide, truly stunning and breathtaking nature. Perfect length for a hike and a lovely ending at the tavern”

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