Best trails in Samaria National Park
The Samaria Gorge offers a 13 km main hiking path and an additional 2 km to Agia Roumeli. The hike typically takes 6-7 hours with rest stops. Vehicles are prohibited, and the route descends from 1227m to sea level, transitioning from forest to a rocky riverbed with potential river crossings. Hiking is restricted to the main path for safety and environmental protection. Basic facilities are available, and visitors are responsible for their safety.
The gorge is usually open between April and October, with exact opening dates determined annually. Entry is allowed from Xyloskalo (07:00-13:00 or 13:00-15:00 for a short 2km hike) and Agia Roumeli (07:00-13:00 or 13:00-16:00 for a short 2km hike), with all visitors needing to exit by 18:00. Unplanned closures can occur due to safety or environmental reasons, so checking for announcements is advised.
Access to Xyloskalo is by car or public bus from Chania. Agia Roumeli is reachable only by boat from Chora Sfakion, Sougia, or Paleochora. Hiking options include the full route from either entrance or shorter hikes returning to the entry point. Hiking from Agia Roumeli to Xyloskalo is possible but involves a steep final section. Public bus and ferry schedules should be checked in advance. Children are permitted with adult supervision, and dogs must be leashed.
Top trails
Visitor info
The ticket to be issued is mandatory for your entry into the National Park of Samaria. With the ticket, you contribute significantly to the implementation of basic works in the Gorge of Samaria, such as the cleaning-maintenance of the main path, the maintenance & improvement of infrastructure, and the supervision of the area along the main path.
Trail reviews for Samaria National Park
This was a highħight of our trip to Crete! Moderate difficulty mainly due to distance and some slipperiness on the downhill paths and gravel. Prepare - water (but my too much as there are regular stops with watering fountains and the stream water is drinkable and delicious), snacks/fruit, preferably hiking shoes to reduce slipping (we only had normal trainers on holiday), cash (€5 parking, the rest we paid by card, although had cash as wasn't sure). We drove to Xyloskalo from Chania (1 hr), parked, bought our return bus ticket (€7 each), bought entry tickets for the Samaria National Park (€10 each), did the trail until Agia Roumeli beach (total 18km in 5h30 according to my FitBit tracking). The km markings along the trail were showing less from my tracking. At the destination we had a fresh dip in the sea, bought the ferry tickets to Sougia beach (€16 each) and had lunch. The ferry leaves at 17:30 and lasts 40 mins. Then you get the return bus to Xyloskalo to get back to the car. Have fun!
A Crete MUST SEE!! Such an amazing trail with so many great views. The beginning of the trail (~3 km) is a pretty steep decline and most of the trail is loose rocks varying in size. I would highly recommend wearing hiking boots with ankle support as the terrain is rocky, uneven and the smooth rocks can be slippery at times. If you have bad knees or anything of the sort, I would proceed this trail with caution. It’s mainly downhill, with some short flat parts. There are multiple bathrooms along the way as well as fresh spring water refill stations. A 1.5 L water bladder is plenty big because of the refill stations - but I would definitely pack lunch and snacks because it is a long hike. Around the halfway mark (~7.5 km in) you’ll reach Samaria village which is a nice rest stop to have lunch. After this mark, most of the shade goes away so bring a hat and sunglasses. Wear light weight clothing as it gets warm quick but bring a light long sleeve for the beginning as it’s cold at the top of the mountain. I recommend wearing a bathing suit under your hiking clothes because you can swim at agia roumeli beach at the end of the hike. I would go with an organized group so you have bus and ferry transfers pre booked
Left Agia Roumeli at 7am and was shaded until around 9:15am. Made it to Marmara around 11 (7.3 miles) and tapped out and took the water taxi to Loutro (had hiked Samaria Gorge the day before and was carrying a 20 lb pack). Two liters of water was perfect. The last fourth of the hike in the sun was brutal even in September. EDIT: Did loutro to marmara leg — as someone who is afraid of heights, I was totally fine. I didn’t allow myself to look down and I just turned my body to hug the cliff. There are rocks to hold on to the entire time.
Difficult hike because of lots of rocks and the return is all uphill. However, there is a small tavern at the end of the outward journey where you can eat something very nice. Plan the whole uphill return trip. Landscapes similar to Samaria, but less grandiose! I recommend this beautiful hike.
The path is interrupted at the bottom when it rejoins the path leading to the samaria gorges