Samaria Gorge Trek, Guide Included

Samaria Gorge Trek, Guide Included, 9 - 12 hours, rated 4.6 across 3,548 traveller reviews.

Overview

This full-day excursion from Chania, run by Platanos Tours, takes on the Samaria Gorge trek with a live English guide along for the day. It runs between 9 and 12 hours door to door, starting with hotel pickup from a long list of points along the coast from Perivolia and Chania centre out to Kolymvari and Kamisiana. An air-conditioned coach carries the group to Omalos, high in the White Mountains, where there is a breakfast stop before the walk begins.

The trek itself is the main event and it is demanding. The listing puts it at 17 kilometres of walking, about 4.5 hours through the national park on rocky terrain. Hikers move at their own pace while the guide stays toward the back of the group to help anyone struggling. The route passes old forest, a river, freshwater springs and the gorge's rock formations, with wild goats sometimes visible on the slopes. After the walk there is roughly two hours in Agia Roumeli, the village at the end of the gorge, with time for a swim, lunch or a drink before collecting ferry tickets from the guide.

The return is by boat from Agia Roumeli to Sougia, about an hour on the water, then a coach ride of about 100 minutes back to the drop-off points, arriving around 8.30 PM. This suits reasonably fit walkers who want the logistics of a famous long hike handled for them. It is not recommended for children under 6, pregnant women or anyone with health problems.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup from your hotelChoose from 18 pickup locations covering Chania centre and the coastal strip from Perivolia to Kamisiana. Give your hotel name when booking and the pickup point and time come by email.
2. Coach to OmalosA 100-minute bus ride into the White Mountains with scenic views on the way.
3. Breakfast at OmalosA break at Omalos for breakfast and the first views of the mountain range before entering the gorge.
4. Samaria Gorge trekAbout 4.5 hours of hiking through the national park on rocky terrain, with the guide at the back of the group. Park entry is an extra fee paid onsite.
5. Free time in Agia RoumeliAround 2 hours for lunch, a swim, snorkeling or simply resting. Ferry tickets are collected from the guide at a set meeting point.
6. Ferry to SougiaA 1-hour boat ride along the coast to Sougia. The ferry ticket is an extra fee paid onsite.
7. Coach back and drop-offA 100-minute bus ride returns to the 18 drop-off locations, arriving back around 8.30 PM.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points make the difference between a good day and a hard one on this trek.

• Footwear matters. The listing insists on hiking shoes or at least sturdy trainers, and one reviewer described the path as constant downhill with a lot of stones. Broken-in shoes with grip are the single most important thing to pack.
• Pace your own walk. Hikers walk at their own speed, with the guide positioned at the back of the group to assist. Reviewers liked this arrangement, noting they could enjoy the scenery without pressure while support was still close at hand.
• Water and sun. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, all listed as essentials. One reviewer pointed out there are spring water points along the gorge where bottles can be refilled, so there is no need to carry large amounts from the start.
• Swim at the end. The listing includes swimming among the free-time options at Agia Roumeli, and one reviewer described a swim in the sea there as the reward after the walk. The village also has taverns, bars and shops if you prefer to rest instead.
• Extra cash on the day. The gorge entrance fee and the ferry ticket are paid onsite, not included in the booking, and food and drinks are also at your own cost. One reviewer noted the confirmation email spells this out. Bring euros for these plus any taverna lunch in Agia Roumeli.
• A long day. With pickup in the morning and return around 8.30 PM, plus a final hour on a ferry that one reviewer described as crowded, expect a full and tiring day. Reviewers who appreciated the pacing said the time allowed for the hike and the relax afterwards felt about right.

Common issues. The main gripe in reviews is that the headline price is not the full cost: the park entry and the ferry ticket are paid separately on the day, which some travellers found unclear at booking time. One reviewer reported the ferry back gets very full, with people standing at the rails or sitting on stairs, so queue early for a seat. One reviewer also described the trek as almost entirely downhill on rocky ground, and hard on the legs. The listing warns it is not suitable for children under 6, pregnant women or anyone with health problems. The national park can also close at short notice due to weather, in which case the operator tries to reschedule, and refunds if that fails, so booking early in your stay gives room to rearrange.

Common Questions