Imbros Gorge Adventure Day Trip from Chania
Description
Imbros Gorge is located in province Sfakia and is the second largest gorge in Crete, following Samaria Gorge. The picturesque scenery and its wilderness in combination with the low difficulty make the descent of Imbros ideal for families with children. The walking length of the gorge is 9 km and the course lasts about 2.5 hours. You can walk to the gorge all year round and it is definitely worth seeing.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Imbros Gorge is with a length of 8 km the second longest gorge on our island. It runs almost parallel to the gorge of Samaria. Although not as well-known as the famous Samaria Gorge, it is a real natural beauty, especially interesting because of its amazing lush vegetation. Many Cretan endemic plants and flowers are at home there. It requires most hikers approximately 3 hours of a relatively easy walk. You need comfortable strong shoes or trainers. Afterward, our bus will take us to Frangokastello or to Chora Sfakion where we can swim or enjoy a meal at the local taverns.
Arrival at Sfakia where you can swim or enjoy a meal at the local taverns. Chora Sfakion is the capital of the remote and mountainous region of Sfakia. The untamed landscape is combined with the quiet. Charming seaside settlement. The sandy beach with the crystal clear blue waters is suitable for relaxation after hiking. A few coffee shops and taverns are located within and around the villages. In its northern neighbourhood, you will find the ruins of the venetian "Fortress of Sfakia” or “Castel di Sfacia or Sfachia” where you can get a panoramic view of Sfakia and admire the wilderness of the nature.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You will receive a voucher with pick up details (pick up time & pick up point) one day before your tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Reviews(14)
We really enjoyed the gorge walk and thought the guide was very good in her communication and organisation. Only thing we didn't like was the extra time added on to the return journey by dropping people off at many hotels in Chania Town - this didn't happen on the outward journey.
Great hike - very doable and not too strenuous. It is a great day outing from Chania. You get to see the countryside, the mountains, and the beach experience at the end is an added bonus.
Welcoming with a smile at our hotel, which was in Chania. Top-notch host, always giving good advice, pleasant and available to answer all our questions. A hike that will leave the four of us with incomparable memories… Upon arrival, a picturesque Cretan village, a short stroll through the alleys. Pure happiness!
Great overall with a perfect length and difficulty for my 60 year old bones. Certainly not a walk in the park with rocks and rubble on 98% of the trail. Could be better organized. At the start, the bus pick up spot was 100m and around the corner from the location pinned in the confirmation, but the tour guide came and found the groups waiting. When we got to the end of the trail, we were confused as to where to meet the bus, so again we waited for the guide to find us.
If I could give this no stars, I would. This is an extremely poorly organized, executed tour program with no communication from the tour operator whatsoever. Save yourself the grief and do not use this company! I booked this tour through Viator and was confirmed for pickup at my hotel through the Viator app. There was no communication from the tour operator about pickup time, which is the usual protocol after booking confirmation. I made several attempts to communicate with the tour operator the day before and the morning of prior to the tour using the contact info given on the Viator ticket. I used the Viator chat, WhatsApp, numerous phone calls, and email. I even had my hotel reception call. There was no response from the tour operator through any of these. The phone would ring, hang up and then go to a busy signal. The morning of the tour, I waited at my hotel as dictated on the ticket. No pickup. It wasn't until after 0815 on the day of the tour, I received a phone call from a bus company telling me I was supposed to be at another location at 0810 (was never given to me), and had missed the bus. I was told as I was now trying to get to the new location, that the bus had left and I could take a taxi to find the bus. I was told I would not be reimbursed for the taxi because the bus company told me they had no fault in this and to take it up with the tour operator. The tour operator is non-responsive despite numerous phone calls. Non-existent customer service or follow-up communication. Again, donot use this company! I have submitted a request for a refund through Viator. If that fails I will submit the refund for services not delivered for both this company and Viator. Viator needs to do a better job of vetting these tour companies.
If you're wondering whether to do this trip, I can't encourage you more and here's why: 1. Great value for money 2. Well organised and informative 3. Breath-taking scenery 4. Excellent transport 5. Local pick up and drop-off points. The more robust your footwear, the more enjoyable an experience this will be. Myself and my middle-aged partner were initially apprehensive, but that soon disappeared and we certainly were not disappointed!
The Imbros Gorge is beautiful. The hike which is predominately downhill, is about 5.5 miles. The one major issue is the rocks. I mean millions of rocks that you must navigate through. I have wonderful hiking boots and my balance was tested as well as my feet punished from the grueling terrain. The hike is not easy. It is not treacherous but it is more physically demanding then guide books let on.
We were told we'd be picked up at our hotel. They called at the time the tour was to start and said they couldn't pick us up at the hotel, that they'd notified us. They had not. The man who called me was rude. The gorge walk itself was really nice. No problems with that part
Went with my family - 8,11,13 Yr olds - no issue really. Not hard but for younger children than mine might be too much, temperature was fine end of October but maybe too hot earlier. Guide was engaging and entertaining. Lovely stop at a small town for a swim. Overall we really enjoyed it.
Lovely courier. Interesting and epic scenery. Lovely taverna...nothing to dislike and a trip to the Libyan Sea was a lovely finale
