DESCRIPTION

SCHEDULE:
You will be picked up from your hotel at around 7:00am and it will take about 1.5hrs to get to Omalos where you will start your descend to the gorge at Xyloskalo (entrance of the gorge). The entrance fee for the gorge is 5euros and you can buy the ticket there. The whole journey will take 5 -7 hours according to your pace. Once you reach Agia Roumeli, you will have time to swim and have some food if you want, as the boat to Sougia departs at 5:30pm.
The ticket for the boat costs 10euros. It takes about an hour to get to Sougia, where we will pick you up from at around 6:30pm. You will be back to your hotel around 8:30pm. 
It may sound a bit tiring and too long of a day but do let me re-assure you that it will all be worthwhile and you will be greatly rewarded once you do it! The scenery along the way is absolutely stunning and the whole day will be such an unforgettable experience!!!!
Once you book this trip with us, we will send you more information and small tips (via e-mail) for the trip, to make it us enjoyable for you as possible!

This is a “must” see place if you are in Crete! 

MORE INFORMATION:

Samaria Gorge is the longest trekking gorge in Europe and also the most famous of all. For many visitors, it is the sole purpose of their visit to Crete. The length of the gorge, which belongs to the European E4 path, reaches 18km and takes almost 4-7 hours to hike from Omalos to Agia Roumeli, depending on trekking. Initially we descend from Xyloskalo to the riverbed of Samaria Gorge.

Samaria Gorge has been inhabited since the beginning of time.  There are remnants of Byzantine churches and Venetian castles.  At the halfway point, a visitor can find the remains of a more modern settlement.  Until 1962, families lived in the tiny village of Samaria in the shade of the soaring walls of the gorge.
The first church we encountered was St. Nicolas’s Chapel (Ayios Nikolaos).  Nearby is a plateau covered in perennial flowers, which wasn’t always so peaceful.  At this spot, in the late 1700s, there was an uprising against the Turks who were pursuing thousands of women and children hiding in the gorge.

There are many fresh-water springs along the route and the water is potable. Also, there are plenty of toilets along the way. In about three hours we reach the old village of Samaria, at an altitude of about 300 meters, after crossing by the church of St. George. The village of Samaria lies just inside the gorge, in the middle of nowhere. It was finally abandoned by the last remaining inhabitants in 1962 to make way for the park.

The gorge became a national park that year (1962), particularly as a refuge for the rare kri-kri (Cretan wildgoat), which is largely restricted to the park and the island Theodorou just off the shore of Agia Marina. There are several other endemic species in the gorge and surrounding area, as well as many other species of flowers and birds. The village and the gorge take their names from the village's ancient church, Osia Maria ("Saint Mary").
The most famous part of the gorge is the stretch known as the Iron Gates, where the sides of the gorge close in to a width of only four meters and soar up to a height of 500 m.

Booking Conditions 
Once you decide for your favorite Van Tour and the date of your convenience, please complete the booking form and send it to us. We will then check the availability and provide you with a booking confirmation including all necessary information and details.
Pick you and drop off for all our Van Tours is at the road in front of your hotel.
Your booking does not require a prepayment. Since all our activities are weather dependent we prefer full payment at the beginning of the Van Tour.
A few days before the tour you will receive a further email and we will ask you to confirm again your attendance. 
Should you have more questions or require any information, please email us at tours@seastarchania.gr. We will be glad to respond as soon as possible.