Hiking at Samaria, the longest Gorge in Europe! From Chania

The best experiences I had in Crete, are land and local people ( you guys are my ❤️🇬🇷).. Samaria trip had both.. breath taking nature and landscape alone with the greatest guide ever Nikos... σας ευχαριστώ από τα βάθη της καρδιάς μου!

We absolutely loved this tour. Nikolas is a seasoned guide. He gave us all the info we needed to be safe and be at places on time and then lets us explore on our own! The transportation was a good size van with air conditioning. I liked this better because it could move around the curvy roads much better than all the other huge buses that the other groups were in. We arrived at the breakfast stop before all the other buses arrived which allowed our small group to eat in a more relaxed atmosphere before the big crowd arrived. We had plenty of time to hike and make it to the ocean to swim and eat. The hike itself is long and hot, so you must be used to walking down a steep hill for 4-6 hours and sweating! We were in shape, and during the first 3 hours, our quads were tired, but as the trail became less steep, our legs adjusted. There is plenty of spring water and outhouses along the way. Bring food to eat along the way. Wear good hiking shoes that can handle a lot of rocks. The trail is made up of rocks and a little dirt. We loved it and highly recommend it. The views of the gorge are amazing, nothing we had ever seen!!!!

I did this hike 20+ years ago and it’s still amazing! The natural wonders of this land and being in nature soothes the soul but tests the body. Modern day gaming cannot compare to the exhilarating accomplishment of completing 12.8 kilometers of hiking and the last 3 kilometers of walking on to a beach for a well deserved swim.

It's amazing, it's better to go soon, and make the road that's very easy and smooth, you end up in the sea, but wear skimps or flip-flops because it's stones and burn quite a lot

Hiking Samaria Gorge is a fantastic experience but quite challenging so I do recommend getting in shape first. It’s a long way with some difficult terrain, but so worth it for the views and overall experience. For us the low point was the coach ride back to Chania through the mountains. Our driver had a very aggressive approach which included overtaking a coach on a blind bend and driving at speed so close behind two other coaches that they pulled over to let him pass. It really was a white knuckle ride and a disappointing end to an otherwise wonderful trip. The tour guide was responsible for our safety and should not have allowed such a dangerous style of driving.

The hike was incredible. Some of the most dramatic views that you will see in Crete (or anywhere) and definitely worth the trip. It is challenging, so some experience hiking is needed. However, this tour was not as advertised. It is 15 hours, not 7-8 hours. The hike itself takes between 4-6 hours. But the bus to take us there stopped at a tavern for about an hour on the way in, the ferry didn't leave until 5:30pm, and then the bus ride back was about 2hours. There was a lot of wasted time since they picked us up at 6am and didn't get us home until 9pm. It would've been a much better experience if they had been honest about the amount of time. We picked this excursion over other similar companies because we thought the 7-8hours would be better than the 12hours advertised by competitors-- turns out those competitors were just more honest. Additionally, neither the ferry ticket nor the admissions ticket for the hike were covered in the price, nor were they purchased in advance (which would've saved some time). It's a great hike, but would probably be better just arranging the transportation to and from the mountain yourself.

Beautiful Gorge, would do it again! Booked this through tripadvisor. It is really recommended to book through some agency which takes care of your transfer! Bring proper hiking shoes, we used approach shoes. DO NOT go without proper footwear, we saw three injuries because people thought it was wise to go in sport shoes. It did work for some.. For others the holiday was probably over.. Worst case you end up on a donkey, so better don't rush the decent and take your time and enjoy the scenery (no prices for the first place anyway ;)) Also we made it in about 4 1/2-5 hours and did not rush. Took a break frequently, took photos and drank and ate. The city at the end of the hike has plenty of restaurants and none seemed overpriced at all! When you go there most tours seemed to stop "for breakfast" for about 20 minutes before continuing for a couple more minutes with the bus. I'd recommend to not get your breakfast there, either use the "restaurant" just before the hike starting point (final dropoff of the bus) or bring your own. Why? Far too expensive and mediocre quality at best. I'll definately recommend this to my friends in case they visit crete. :-)

What a beautiful walk! We’re so pleased we organised our trip with Tripadvisor as having the bus pick up and drop off and a tour guide made things so much easier! My boyfriend and I completed the 13.3km walk in just under 6 hours. It was hot and rocky but simply stunning! We’d definitely advise to wear grippy shoes, use sticks for balance and if you need to support your knees and take sunscreen and a bottle to refill. There are water refill taps from the gorge which are crystal clear and ice cold - as well as toilet points - throughout the walk. We were told to make sure you finish the walk before 2pm so start early or the heat will make the walk less enjoyable. It was €5 per adult to enter as it is a protected site Would 100% recommend!

The gorge is a marvellous place to visit.The narrow path of the river is the most beautiful part of the track.

This was an extremely challenging and dangerous trek. Slippery rocks, steep inclines and very rugged terrain was never highlighted. We saw several people with leg injuries at the conclusion of the trip. The extra bus and boat costs were also a surprise. Trek schedule allowed very little time to appreciate its beauty.