Samaria Gorge Hike
The Samaria Gorge hike with the boat and bus return is a full-day excursion with a built-in logic: walk the gorge, arrive at the sea, take the boat to Sfakia, bus back to Chania. The Iron Gates — 3 meters across, 300-meter walls, the sky reduced to a thin strip — is the same for every age. Older kids (10+) handle the 16km rocky descent; teens do it comfortably with reasonable fitness. Start at 7am. Proper walking shoes with ankle support are non-negotiable.
- Hours
- Opens 07:00 daily May-October; closes 15:00 for entry (last entry to finish before dark)
- Price
- Entrance 5 euros; boat and bus return approximately 15 euros
- Duration
- Full day
- Booking required
- No
Tips
- 07:00 start: the steep first 3km in cool air vs midday heat is a significant difference in effort
- Ankle-support footwear for everyone — not a suggestion for this terrain
- The boat from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia and bus back to Chania are included in the planning: check boat departure times before you start