Samaria Gorge Hike
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 34 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Samaria Gorge Hike worth booking?
Samaria Gorge Hike is a 12-hour experience in Chania, Greece, from $8 per person. It scores 79 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 34 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 79 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (34)
- Duration
- 12 hours
- From
- $8 per person
Grab your proper shoes and get ready for the 16km hike! Get ready for a lifetime experience and be ready to have your breath taken away by the astonishing view. The descent of the gorge will start early in the morning a
What you get
- map
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Pick-up/ drop off in Bali,Panormo,Skaleta,Adele,Platanias,Rethymno,Atsipopoulo, Kavros, Georgioupoli
About this experience
Grab your proper shoes and get ready for the 16km hike! Get ready for a lifetime experience and be ready to have your breath taken away by the astonishing view. The descent of the gorge will start early in the morning and it will last about 5-6 hours (depending on the visitor). Along the length of the gorge you will cross a wonderful landscape with little lakes, huge rocks discovered by the bed of the torrent. All together we will get on the boat with destination the city of Sfakia the CHECKINCRETA’s bus will waiting for us to take us back to the hotel. It’s necessary to have with you a hat, sunscreen, a bottle of water and some fruits. All along the way of the Gorge, you could find water spot as well as toilets. The guide of our agency CHECKINCRETA, will follow you all along the day and will stay with the last persons of the group. Pregnant women as well as persons with health problems are not allowed to do this excursion.
What's included
Included
- map
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Pick-up/ drop off in Bali,Panormo,Skaleta,Adele,Platanias,Rethymno,Atsipopoulo, Kavros, Georgioupoli
Not included
- Entrance of the gorge
What you'll see and do
Samaria Gorge National Park
The name of our guide is Kostas. He is local and he knows the gorge better than everybody. He will take care of you all along the 16 km hiking. Our guide will give you all the informations that you will need inside and also he will give you a professional map of the gorge.
360 minutes here · Admission not included
Omalos
before we enter the gorge, we'll stop in xyloskalo (tavern) where you can take a quick breakfast or buy food for the gorge and visit the toilet before you start the hiking. There, our guide will collect the money for the entrance of the gorge and the boat ticket.
40 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Pick-Up from Rethymnon area
Pick-Up from your hotel / accomondation in Rethymnon area Pickup included
Pick-Up From Panormos area
Pick-Up from your hotel / accomondation in Panormos area Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, ru, en, pl, fr
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Wed, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Checkin Creta Travel
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 34 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
4 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Physical effort
4 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Value for money
3 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
34 verified traveler reviews for Samaria Gorge Hike. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Just a perfect day!
Perfectly organized by the agency and expertly guided by the tour guide.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you had a perfect day and enjoyed both the organization of the tour and the guidance provided by our team. Your kind words mean a lot to us and motivate us to continue offering memorable experiences. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Crete soon!
via Tripadvisor
Arduous hike; took us two days for our legs to recover
This is a full day adventure. You only need a plastic/water bottle as there are many places to refill with fresh water along the way. Wear shoes that have excellent treads and ankle support (no flip flops, no shoes without tread). Wear thin layers depending upon the weather. Do BOTH do this hike if you have bad hips or knees. Walking sticks would have been helpful. You cannot enjoy the grandeur of the gorge without stopping to look up (it’s very difficult to walk and look around for fear of slipping or twisting your ankle). Worth seeing but you should be strong/healthy. I kept thinking about the ocean reward at the end as the 13 kilometer hike was difficult. Go to the beach to the right of the ferries if you want a beach with sand and not the same rocks you just traversed.
via Viator
My second visit
It was my second time to visit this place, so I knew what I could expext from it. The gorge is amazing, but it is a long distance. Our tour guide was really nice and I felt myself in safe, because she gave us every important information about the gorge and the path. This was a long trip, but it is totally worth. I can only recommend it if you feel yourself enough fit to complete.
Response from the operator: Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us and for choosing to visit the gorge with Checkincreta 🌿 We are truly happy to read that you enjoyed the beauty of the gorge and felt safe and well-informed with the help of our guide. Your kind words about our service mean a lot to us. Indeed, it is a long but rewarding trip, and we are glad that you found it totally worth it. We hope to welcome you again soon on another adventure in Crete!
via Tripadvisor
Superb guide and a fab day.
We had an amazing day. Our guide, Smaro was outstanding. On the coach to the gorge she gave lots of helpful information about how to stay safe on the hike, but she also talked points of interest along the way. Smaro stayed at the back of the group on the hike to make sure no one was left behind, and was always pleased to see us when we met up at rest stops. Her great energy and enthusiasm really helped motivate us! The gorge was absolutely stunning and we would definitely do it again, although next time I will be wearing proper walking boots!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! 🌟💖 We’re delighted to hear you had such an amazing day and that Smaro’s care, energy, and enthusiasm made your hike both safe and enjoyable 🙌😊. The gorge truly is a breathtaking place 🌿⛰️ and it’s fantastic that you experienced it so positively! We can’t wait to welcome you back for another adventure 😉🥾✨
via Tripadvisor
Tough hike but worth it!
Checkin Creta picked us up on time from the location provided, initial instructions given before the trip were very informative. Make sure you bring cash as the guide will collect this for the entrance fee and ferry when you board the coach. You are left to do the walk yourselves with guide staying with the last person of the group throughout the walk. Samaria Gorge itself was absolutely beautiful with spectacular views, this is hard walk though due to the terrain. So be prepared as steep declines on very uneven surfaces with slippery rocks. Good grip shoes are a must for this! At the end there is a tavern where you meet the guide to get your ferry tickets and then wait for the ferry to arrive. Instructions for when getting off the ferry to find the coach were very limited from the guide, as pretty much our whole group got off found one another and were then clueless as to where we were suppose to be meeting the coach. When you get off the ferry turn left and walk up the steps on the right and this is where the coach/bus car park is, where the coach will be waiting for you. Overall experience was definitely one to tick off and very glad we completed it as the gorge is incredible!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for your lovely words and for sharing your experience with us! 🧡 It truly makes us happy to hear that you enjoyed the breathtaking beauty of Samaria Gorge – even though it’s a challenging hike, it’s absolutely worth every step, just as you said! We also genuinely appreciate your honest feedback regarding the return directions. It's very important to us to keep improving, and we’re already making sure to give clearer instructions at the end of the day to make everything smoother and stress-free. Big congratulations for completing such a tough but unforgettable adventure – we’re so glad we could be part of it with you! We hope to welcome you again soon on another journey through our beautiful Crete. With much love, The Checkin Creta Team 💙
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Wed, Sun
- Price range
- $8 to $38
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 12
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 79
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Samaria Gorge Hike: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Chania.
How much does Samaria Gorge Hike cost?
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Prices start at $8 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Chania usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Samaria Gorge Hike take?
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Plan for about 12 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Chania is not rushed.
Is Samaria Gorge Hike worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 79 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 34 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Chania, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Samaria Gorge Hike?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Samaria Gorge Hike suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 12-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Samaria Gorge Hike?
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Around 12 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Chania can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Chania and add a light layer if any part of the 12-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Samaria Gorge Hike start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Chania within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Chania?
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On Outty we rank every Chania experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Half-Day Rethymno Quad Safari, Elafonisi & Falasarna Small Group Tour from Chania w/snacks, Balos & Falassarna Beach - Jeep Tour with Loungers and Lunch. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Chania?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Chania?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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