The 8 Best Gorge Hikes in Rethymno

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

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

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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2.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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3.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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4.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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5.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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6.Kourtaliotiko Gorge River Trek with Lunch! Pick-up Avaliable

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 90 reviews · 5 hours · from $112

You’ll follow an English-speaking guide through Kourtaliotiko Gorge, swimming to its great waterfall and walking through river pools for about two hours. Gear, transfers, a waterproof phone case, and a light meal at Banana Garden are included. Hotel pickup around Rethymno is optional.

“It was truly an awesome experience from the very start to the end. The guide was well organised and helped walking through more challenging spots in the river. Also told a lot about Crete and the place where we were walking. The views were breathtaking. At the end we had lunch at banana garden where we also got a chance to walk around with the garden owner and see lots of plants/trees. Thanks very much for such a great experience. It was well worth it!”

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7.Samaria Gorge Trek: Full-Day Excursion from Rethymno with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 46 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $38

Leave Rethymno early for Omalos and walk 16 kilometers through Samaria Gorge, with a guide such as George, Pia, Jorgos, or Ingrid nearby. The descent takes about 5 to 7 hours, followed by lunch or a swim in Agia Roumeli and a ferry to Sfakia.

“Trekking in Samaria Gorge is tiring but definitely worth every minute. It took us around 7 hours to walk down the gorge but we stopped often to take photos because the view is really amazing. You should wear comforable shoes with non-slippery soles because the steps and stones can be very slippery. A water bottle is necessary and luckily you can refill it from the several springs during the hike. The bus arrived on time and managed to keep the schedule the whole day. Our guide (Jorgos) was very kind and helpful all day. He checked on the tourists from time to time and asked if we had any questions,…”

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8.Unique Wine & Food Experience Inside a Cretan Gorge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 4 hours · from $170Top rated

Spend four hours on a stone-built balcony in Zourida Gorge, tasting Greek wines, two Cretan spirits, and nine organic local dishes. An English-speaking host explains Cretan food and winemaking in a small group of up to 14. Transport is not included, so plan your route from Rethymno.

“It was really nice meeting new people and the setting was absolutely stunning. The food, the wine and our host were amazing.”

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