Full-Day Samaria Gorge Chania Guided Tour

A box any good hiker should tick ✅

This trek is truly spectacular! A once in a lifetime experience for anyone willing to put in the effort. It is shady and cool breezes pamper you throughout most of the trek. There are rwgukar toilet and water stations along the way. The streams offer the cleanest , thirst-quenching water I have tasted anywhere. And tbe track is a photographer's delight too. A cool swim at the beach at the end. Go! You'll be glad you did 🤠👍

Most memorable experience in Greece

We were hesitant to do the hike because we had heard it gets crowded with people. However, we learned of Elifinissos (spelling?) Travel. We were picked up at our hotel, brought to breakfast on the way up and started on the trail early. We made it past the two bus loads of people and then didn’t see many people until the end. The hike was gorgeous, mostly in the shade because of how early we started. The beach was beautiful with blackish sand and beautiful blue water. Fairy ride was nice to relax after the long hike and then attempted to sleep on the bus back to our hotel. Wonderful experience and our tour guides, Sara and Petros (I think that was our drivers name), were absolutely incredible. Thorough instructions, stellar driving skills thru the winding mountains in a huge bus and friendly staff.

Great hike

Great hike through the beautiful views of Samaria Gorge. The bus trip was well organized and our guide was very helpful and knowledgeable. The pick up from and the drop off to our hotel were also a big plus. We finished the hike a bit faster compared to the big group so we spent couple hours on the beach.

Great day trip

This is a great day trip - Samaria gorge is beautiful. It's a difficult level hike, so you must be fit and prepared but is worth it for the views. You hike at your own pace, not with the guide. The trip was well organised - clear instructions, not too many stops to collect people, a comfy coach, Costas was a great driver, Nikos was a brilliant guide and we were picked up and dropped off on time. There is free time (too much free time I think) in Ayia Roumeli waiting for the 5.30pm ferry. Most of our group had finished hiking by 1.30. There are some tavernas and a small beach. Would happily book another excursion with Elafonissis Travel.

Thank you Sara and Jorgos!

I had a great time on this unforgettable day trip to the Samaria Gorge! Thank you to the Elafonissos Travel for giving clear instructions beforehand and for the end of the tour in Agia Roumeli. I felt looked after so that I could spend the day enjoying 100%! Our expert guide Sara was helpful and friendly with any questions and I want to say a special thanks to Jorgos our bus driver for taking us safely up and down the mountain. Next time I'll be sure to book any Crete day trip with Elafonissos Travel. About Samaria: Breathtaking scenery. The 4h+ hike is doable with good shoes. I was undecisive between hiking boots and trainers. I decided to go with trainers WITH GOOD TRACTION. It was perfect on those slippery and angled stones. Wouldn't recommend too cushioned/ high heel shoes because of the risk on your ankles. Stick to the ground. Keep your eyes on the path and be sure to stop walking to enjoy the view or to take pictures. Unforgettable!

Very well organized tour

This tour was seamless and worth it rather than driving ourselves, as from what I understand it’s a hassle to organize a bus back to the starting point to collect the car. Sara was a great guide and made sure everyone was on the bus etc. I thought the early start time was totally unnecessary, but actually it meant we were quite alone on the walk ahead of the crowds which was really nice, and we had a decent lunch at the end and beach time so didn’t feel like we were annoyingly hanging around.

Best part of my trip to Crete

Sara was very friendly and great guide. You are left to hike at your own pace with Sara at the back of the group, in case someone gets injured or something. We were also one of the first tour groups of the day to arrive so the trail was less crowded. The views are unforgettable. I would HIGHLY recommend (:

Samaria Gorge hike

This definitely made my Samaria Gorge hike smoother and more accessible. There is a lot of logistics needed for that hike and my tour was smooth and let me focus only on the hike and enjoying myself. I want to shout out our guide Nykos and bus driver Apostolos. Nykos gave clear information and even offered rentals of hiking sticks, you can tell he knows the gorge well and even tells you where you can fill your water up throughout the hike. Our tour was also very timely, we arrived before other tours which I was thankful for as it allowed us to get ahead start and beat and keep pace ahead of many other hikers as the hike can get crowded. I enjoyed my hike mode for this reason as well.

Epic Gorge Hike.

Beautiful experience and well accommodated. Worth the convenience! Be sure to bring good shoes and water. Plenty of food options at the end of the hike and easy getting back to Chania.

This tour thought of everything!

This was an amazing trip. Our guide was very thorough with instructions. We were given a map with checkpoints and times and where to meet afterwards. She always stayed behind us making sure everyone was safe and not left behind. The bus was very comfortable on the ride in and there was no hassle to purchase ferry tickets. It was also very nice at the breakfast place before hand. They had sandwiches and snacks you could purchase for the hike. The hike itself was absolutely breathtaking. It was a hard hike but very worth it. Make sure to bring good hiking boots. If you don’t have hiking poles, the guide even provided those. This tour thought of everything which gave me the chance to relax and enjoy myself. I also loved how there were springs throughout the hike to fill up your water bottle. I would definitely choose this tour again!

Professional tour company

Unfortunately Samaria Gorge closed due to thunderstorms and high winds just as we arrived at the park. Although it was a huge disappointment, our guide Elena handled the situation incredibly well by offering an alternative hike at another gorge so that our day was not wasted. Once again we were disappointed that the majority of the group did not accept her alternative offer. The driver was excellent and we received refunds. Although we missed out on Samaria, this tour company is incredibly professional and accommodating therefore I’m still rating the experience as 5 stars.

Beyond spectacular

Surpassed my wildest expectations. Was incredible from beginning to end. Very organised. Nico runs a perfect program. It was long and hard but spectacular. Hiking poles were invaluable for my success. Nico had them for a small fee. I could have used better shoes and not my walking ONs. Buy breakfast pastry and coffee at the first stop and a sandwich at the cafe at the entrance. Plenty of water on the route I’m 69 with knee and hip replacements and I may have been last but there were a lot of us at the end. Nico kept track of us and was always behind to make sure we were doing ok. The driver did a superb job too.

Nice hike

Very nice place to hike. Not that difficult, if you are average fit. We started on the top and hike down. The first few km is only downhills, but other are quite flat.

Loved this hike

We really wanted to hike Samaria Gorge while in Crete and are so glad we did. The views are amazing and it is definitely a challenge. Our guide (Nicolas) was very good. He gave us lots of information about Crete and the gorge on the way up. The only downside is the wait and travel time after the hike. It was very windy when we arrived in the town, so it was difficult to find things to do for 3 hours. The only ferry leaves at 5:30 and then it is a long, winding bus ride back. Still worth the experience, but good to be aware of up front.

Overall a great...

Overall a great experience. Thomas was very knowledgeable and set out expectations for timelines and what to expect on the bus ride there. Very friendly and warm attitude as well.

Superb day of hiking with perfect tour!

Great hike! Doable unless you have knee issues or are not fairly fit and healthy! Elafonissos Travel did an excellent job! Clearly communicated the pickup spot, got us to the start early so peaceful trip and through the gorge before it was too hot. Thomas was a great guide, explained the trip, had our ferry tickets when we needed them.The bus driver provided a safe trip on a challenging road! Would not use any other provider!

Fabulous Day hike!

Fabulous hike! The tour was so well organized! Thomas, our guide, gave very clear directions, was friendly, helpful and organized. The bus driver drove safely which was a comfort since it is a very winding road. I would strongly recommend doing the hike (if your knees are good!) and I recommend using this tour provider, Elafonissos Travel.

Convenient way to visit the gorge!

This tour made it very convenient to visit the gorge from Hania. Thomas was a good guide for the day and explained how to navigate the hike well. I highly recommend packing a lunch to bring with, and making time for a dip in the Libyan Sea at the end of the day.

What a Trip

I had been planning to do the Samaria Gorge, but wasn't quite sure how I could complete the linear trip by myself. The tour offered by Elafonissos Travel solved my problem. Was picked up by coach at 5:35am from my hotel in Agia Marina and then we collected other hikers before setting off for the mountains. 47 in the group. Nikos, our guide, explained everything and got us prepared for the day ahead. I especially enjoyed the background history that he provided about Crete's history, the Gorge and the Kri Kri goats. After a short stop for toilets and breakfast we then launched straight into Samaria Gorge. 5 euro entrance feee for the gorge, which provides funds to look after the gorge. Rangers were located along the length of the route to assist, there were regular water springs to refill bottles, and even toilets at several locations. The trail was really well kept and the rangers did a great job of keeping it free of litter. At the end of the walk you have a chance to get something to eat and drink in one of the many taverns at Roumelli, and you also get a chance to cool off with a swim in the sea. Nikos organises the ferry tickets from Roumelli to Sougia (13 euros) and hands these out about 1 hour before the ferry leaves at 5:30pm. Coach was sat waiting in Sougia when we arrived on the ferry and we eventually got back to Chania around 8:00pm, with drop offs finishing around 9:00pm The coach driver was Manoli, and he was obvioulsy a very experienced driver who knew the roads well, which made for a smooth journey. Nikos looked after us throughout the whole day and made us all feel part of the group. I would highly recommend this trip with Elafonissis Travel. Be sure to bring a fully charged camera as you won't stop taking photos throughout the day.

Beware this is not for the casual hiker!

Let’s be real straight with this review from the top. This is no excursion anyone who’s not done significant hiking before! I don’t care what some of the other reviews say. If you think this will be “a walk through the park” you will be sadly mistaken! Good hiking shoes are a must and pole(s) are highly suggested. We went with 4 adults all in good shape on their upper 50’s. It took us 7.5 hours to complete!!! Don’t believe all the hype about frolicking at the beach and enjoying local food and craft beer after the hike. You will be in lots of pain, totally exhausted and then you will have to deal with a 50 minute ferry ride back to your bus. We stayed in Chania so then add another 90 minutes in a cramped bus! As for the views and sites. I guess they must have been there but we spent most of our time looking down at our feet as each step could have resulted in a twisted ankle, a slip and fall and god knows what other perils we avoided. Of the views and pictures we did take one would come away saying it was an amazing experience. And yes I’m proud we all made it and can now laugh about it but on the journey down steep rocky paths we all thought the worse at several times during the day. And if you think you are in pain after the hike just wait until the following day and day after! My wife was walking so awkwardly afterwards you’d have thought she’d given birth to a watermelon sideways! If you are looking for a casual hike with great views and pictures opportunities this in NOT the excursion for you!

Perfectly hike with great guidance

Nice trip everything was smooth, the guide Nikos was great as well with information and other details. Highly recommended company for Samaria gorge hike

Excellent demanding tour through the gorge

This was a very nice tour starting early in the morning. The first section of the tour from the entrance to Agios Nikolaos is the most troublesome, because it is steep downhill for most of the time, the stone road there is quite slippery, and your knees might suffer. Also, we had to be pretty fast in this section to keep up with the time schedule given to us by our guide. After leaving Agios Nikolaos, you can make your pace little bit slower and enjoy the beautiful views and scenery. The remaining two parts are more easy, but you are walking on uneven rocks for most of the time, so you need to be careful and watch your steps. We were more than two hours ahead of time in the final meeting point (Agia Roumeli) where you need to wait for your ferry which leaves at 17:30. The village is quite small, but you can take a swim in the Libyan see. You sail from Agia Roumelli to Sougia and from there you go to Chania by bus. The drive back to Chania is quite long. We were dropped off at our place at about 20:30. We could feel our calves for more than four days after the trip :-)

Recommended but be advised of expensive coffee brake stop

Correct pick up time, multiple pick up spots, clear instructions. We ordered a trip in the evening for the next day and got a quick response with confirmation and instructions. The guide was very clear and helpful (sadly I do not remember her name due to it being a bit hard to remember, as she was from Finland). All in all I would recommend this tour, however be advised that the coffee and meals are quite expensive at the coffee stop where the bus has the breakfast stop (we had 2 coffees and 1 juice and ended up paying 10 eur, which is too expensive for two super small coffee cups and a small bottle of juice).

Beautiful hike in Samaria

The hiking trail down the Samaria gorge is absolutely lovely. The Elafonissos guided tour arranges your pickup, ferry shuttle and drop-off, saving you a lot of trouble from arranging this yourself. The guide provides some nice information before you commence the hike. They also provided the option of renting hiking canes, which are very welcome for the initial steep descent. The early departure ensures you arrive at the gorge before the large crowds. I highly recommend staying in Chania, to save the extra hours driving from and to Heraklion.

A worthy experience!

Pretty tough but a rewarding experience & according to Apple watch, the trip was longer than 16km. The second half of the path was very beautiful. It was a bit difficult to enjoy the sights since there were lots of people doing the hike. Also toilets were quite dirty and all of them didn’t have toilet paper. Temperatures were good, lots of shade and the wind cooled at times. Bus trip back was confusing as it wasn’t made very clear which stops the bus would make. Otherwise this tour was trustful and went smoothly.

You can do it !

It was great experience. Everything was on time. Nicos was also very responsive, but also funny. It's great place to visit, and I recommend everyone to do it.

A truely memorable experience - but you need to be fit!

A truely memorable experience - but you need to be fit! We had an excellent guide, he shared lots of interesting information on the bus ride to the start of the gorge trek. The actual trek is very rocky and you need to focus at all times to make sure you don’t twist an ankle or slip. Aside of that, it’s the longest gorge in Europe, with many beautiful vistas - you feel like you’ve accomplished something by the end! We had a dip in sea at the end which was bliss! A boat trip back and then bus home, long but great day 😊

Decent but chaotic guide and unsafe driving

Having this purchased with half of the price provided by other companies, we can say that the schedule is the same. The walk through the Samaria Gorge is a great activity from start to finish. It does use all your leg muscles if you're not that active. I wasn't actually tired, but walking on rocks put a toll on my ankles and feet. The problem that I had with this well designed plan/walk is that our guide Jelena was all over the place. She wasn't organised or friendly. She was saying everything without a clear sense. Even though we had 0 problems in understanding what we had to do, it was difficult to keep up with her. On our trip back, she was also angry and argued with the driver for 1 hour. She just couldn't stop talking.. and this got on the nerve of the driver. They argued and the driver had to talk and use the phone while driving. He was using the phone A LOT. This is unacceptable, even though I understand that working with someone that annoys and really wants a fight is difficult. With your 20+ years of experience, Manolis, please stop using the phone with 50 loves in the back. And jelena... if you don't like doing this, consider another job.. I would go again on this trip with another guide and if the driver would agree to never use the phone while driving on slopes. As for the pickup, we wore picked up from Kolimbari, the closest place that they have near kissamos. There's free parking on the road. During the hike there's no phone signal, you have WiFi on the start and on finish. The trip is ~13km long with an additional 2.5 km if you want to walk from the end to the port. (Bus costs 2 euro, card payment worked). The beach has some really good restaurants, the one that they provide has bad reviews on Google, but the people didn't complained. We went to Faragi and it was perfect. Afterwards we had 2 sunbeds and waited on the beach for the departure. The boat trip is lovely, the waters are phenomenal. 🤩 even spotted a turtle on our way back.

Great company for trip planning

We did two trips with Elafonissos travel, Knossos and Samaria. Oh both occasions we were picked up promptly from our hotel by coach and taken to our destinations. Tour guides were friendly, organised and knowledgeable and the drivers were amazing at navigating the winding roads! It was two great hassle free excursions on our holiday and we thoroughly rate Elafonissos travel. They even drop you back off at your hotel! If only one slight niggle, the breakfast stop off on the Knossos tour was a bit of a let down. Not many options and quite expensive, glad I bought a few snacks with us. But apart from that really great company.

Great trip, good value, challenging.

I would like to have given this tour a five star review because everything went to plan, coach was on time, the tour guide was good and very clear about what lay ahead for the Samaria Gorge walk. The only criticism was that when we booked through the trip advisor site, the price offered for a pickup from our location (Almyrida) was not the full price. After I checked out, I received a call from the travel agent asking for 10eu more per person because of our location. It turns out that they only really operate in the Chania area and anything outside this incurred an extra charge - not clear on the site! After some bartering, I got the cost reduced to 7.5eu per head. All in all, the trip was still excellent value and would recommend using the agent again. BTW, Samaria Gorge is not for the feint hearted. It’s long - 16km, down hill, lots of boulders and hot. Having said that - if you’re fit, it’s a must!!

Thanks to our wonderful tour guides

Our walk down the Samaria Gorge started very well … we were picked up on time (although the location of pickup had been changed at the last minute) and the journey was interesting, with Elena, our guide telling us all about the Gorge and what to expect. Unfortunately part way into the walk I slipped and jarred my lower back and hip, and walking became extremely painful. Elena and her fellow guides, plus a National Park ranger were absolutely fantastic … they all agreed that I could not possibly continue the walk, gave me electrolytes which made me feel better and arranged for me to complete the walk on the back of a donkey called Maria! Without their help, I honestly don’t know what I would have done. Elena was a star. My husband, on the other hand, enjoyed the hike thoroughly and said that he felt so fresh that he could have done it again, and he’s nearly 70!

Nice day for walk. Gorge...

Nice day for walk. Gorge was everything advertised, very beautiful. The real issue was a very early start that made for a long time waiting at end for ferry. 5:30pm. We were finish walk at 1 pm. So a 4 1/2 hour wait. I understand the problem but I will try another method next time.

Majestueux! Bonne...

Majestueux! Bonne randonnée physique pour les habitués, il faut être bien chaussé. Il y a des sources d’eau un peu partout donc ne pas s’inquiéter pour cela.

Big kudos to Nikos

What a fantastic walk through the Samaria Gorge in Chania! Of course because of the breathtakingly beautiful nature, but certainly not least because of the extremely professional guidance by guide Nikos Kachris. Compliments Nikos!

Prachtige, intensieve bergwandeling door indrukwekkend natuurgebied

Goed georganiseerd. Vooraf stop om eventueel eren en drinken in te slaan. In de kloof voldoende tappunten voor water. Gids start als laatste om iedereen desgewenst te kunnen helpen en te zorgen dat de boot gehaald wordt. Goede uitleg van igids Jelena. Eten bij Kri Kri is slecht. Houdt rekening met paar dagen spierpijn van dalen en lopen door de bedding. Draag schoenen met goede grip.

Geweldige trip met Elafonissos travel door de Samaria kloof.

We waren de eerste groep die de kloof in konden dit jaar. Het weer was onzeker, zelfs nog wat regen 's ochtends waardoor het park iets later openging maar ondanks deze start een topervaring gehad. Zeer goede begeleiding door Thomas van Elafonissos Travel. Hij houdt goed in de gaten of mensen de tocht kunnen halen en als je het echt niet kan word je (uit voorzorg voor jezelf) in de eerste 2 km alsnog teruggestuurd. Thomas houdt alles goed in de gaten en we hadden een fantastische ervaring. De Samaria kloof is werkelijk prachtig. Het is een flinke trip dus alleen te doen als je normaal gezond bent. En het risico bestaat dat je nog twee dagen spierpijn hebt maar dat is het zeker waard!