Samaria Gorge (Long Way)

Price: 50 EURO

(price includes: bus transfers, tourist guide, ship ticket, entrance fee to Samaria gorge and lunch)

!VERY IMPORTANT! REQUIRED: Casual clothes, hat, swimming suit, very good walking shoes.

Participants with heart or pressure problems are advised to join the alternative, Samaria Lazy tour.

Health certificate is required - walking distance 17 Km on a dust and rocky path!

Departure at 6:30

A stunning drive through the White Mountains to the Plateau of Omalos, which has the shape of an irregular circle and is surrounded by steep, awe-inspiring mountains. On the South part of the plateau you can see Xyloskalo (wooden steps) from where the descent begins towards the ravine of Samaria - National Park of Samaria. It is the biggest and most imposing ravine in Europe. It spreads 17 km in length from the position Xyloskalo and terminates at St. Roumeli in the Libyan Sea. We will arrive at Xyloskalo around 8 o’clock in the morning and we will start walking.

Descending the 600 wooden steps you will be intrigued by the beauty and serenity of this massive gorge which is shadowed by the White Mountains. The trail thins out to a mountain path winding through the gorge, where you can see the caves on the rugged mountain sides which once sheltered soldiers but which are now left to the rare Cretan goat “Kri-Kri”. The wild and unspoilt scenery and flora that you will see along the way is unrivalled anywhere in Crete. Nearer the end of the gorge the mountainsides narrow to a mere width of 2 m (the Iron Gates) before opening out to the coastal village of Agia Roumeli on the shores of the Libyan Sea. The small village is built on the ruins of ancient Tara. Tara is mentioned by many ancient writers (Theophrastus as well!) as a small but strong and independent town. There is time for lunch and a swim in the crystal clear water before the boat ride at 15:45 to the village of Chora Sfakion (eastwards). Chora Sfakion is the capital of the province, built amphitheatrically towards the Libyan Sea. Completely satisfied, you ponder over the magnificence of nature and the accomplishment of tackling Europe’s longest gorge

Return by 19:00

Samaria Lazy tour

Price: 55 EURO

(price includes: bus transfers, tourist guide, ship ticket, entrance fee to Samaria gorge and lunch)

Departure from Chania to Sfakia at 8:00, arrival at Chania at 19:00

From Sfakia to Agia Roumeli we will travel by ferryboat. There is enough time to walk in the Samaria Gorge till the “Gates”, to take lunch at the tavern and to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Libyan Sea.

Links: http://www.ornithologiki.gr/en/sppe/en091.htm

http://www.interkriti.org/visits/samaria/samaria.htm

http://www.creteisland.gr/frame.index.html

http://www.samaria.west-crete.com/rules.htm

http://www.explorecrete.com/samaria.html

http://www.vacation.net.gr/p/samaria.html

http://www.great-adventures.com/destinations/greece/samaria.html

http://www.in.gr/agro/_fisi/EthnikoiDrymoi/drimoi_10.asp (in Greek)