Booking choice: The Samaria hike with a hiking guide, from $35 per person. Check dates Tour details
Samaria had about 121,000 visitors in 2025, and the villages at both ends live off that traffic. That is why the 2026 season made news in Crete twice: once when the gorge failed to open on 1 May, and again when October storms shut it for good.
Here is how the year went, what changed for hikers, and what it tells you about booking a crossing next season. Dates come from NECCA's announcements and the Greek press.
The quick answer
The Samaria Gorge opened late in 2026, on Tuesday 19 May, after winter landslides and expert inspections. New this year were free helmets at both entrances, medical and nursing staff from the first day, and a second year of weather alerts up to two hours ahead. The adult ticket stayed at €10. Storms closed the gorge from 19 October, and the winter closure began on 1 November.
When did the Samaria Gorge open in 2026?
On Tuesday 19 May 2026, from both entrances, almost three weeks after the traditional 1 May opening.
NECCA confirmed the date once the annual maintenance of the path, the infrastructure and the communication systems was finished. From then on the season ran on the usual hours: start the full crossing between 7:00 and 13:00, and be out of the park by 18:00.
The season had a few one-day closures for rain, then a run of storm closures in October. The timeline below has the dates that mattered.
| Date (2026) | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1 May | The traditional opening day passes with the gorge still shut after winter damage |
| Early May | Repairs under way; a first inspection is stopped by hail over the May Day weekend |
| Tuesday 19 May | Opens from both entrances, Xyloskalo and Agia Roumeli |
| Tuesday 22 September | Closed for the day: forecast rain above the approved limits |
| 1 October | Both entrances shut under a red-code weather alert for Crete, pending inspection |
| Monday 19 October | Closed from both entrances until further notice, pending inspections |
| 1 November | Winter closure begins, until at least 9 April 2027 |
Why was the 2026 opening late?
Winter damage. Heavy rain swelled the river to about 2 m in places near the Portes, landslides covered the path, and the gorge could not open until repairs were done and experts had inspected the slopes.
NECCA warned local authorities about the river in early April, contractors started work in mid-April, and the May Day storms set them back again. Prof. Efthymios Lekkas, whose team has mapped the danger zones in the gorge since the rockfall accidents of 2023 and 2024, tried to inspect over the May Day weekend and was stopped by about an hour and a half of hail. His inspection and one by IGME, the Greek geological survey, came before the go-ahead.
Not everyone was happy. People in Agia Roumeli, which has no road and depends on the gorge, said the repairs began too late. Lekkas's answer was that the gorge is "dynamic", so no opening date can be fixed in advance. Expect the same rule next spring.
What safety measures were new in 2026?
Free helmets at both entrances, medical and nursing staff from the first day of the season, and a second year of nowcasting weather alerts that warn of severe weather up to two hours ahead.
The helmets are optional, and the park strongly recommends them. They are there because of rockfall, which is most likely after rain. Wear one through the narrow sections, where the walls are highest.
The medical staff showed up in reviews too. Ira, in a 5-star review from Oct 2026 for the hiking guide tour, wrote: "There are staff members along the route to help you if needed." The weather alert system watches critical points in the gorge, and a forecast above the rain limits set by the Region of Crete closes the gorge the day before.
| Measure | Where or when | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Free helmets | At both entrances | Optional, strongly recommended |
| Medical and nursing staff | In the gorge from the first day | On hand along the route; the emergency number is 112 |
| Nowcasting weather alerts | Second year in use | Warns of severe weather up to two hours ahead at critical points |
| Rain limits | Set by the Region of Crete | A forecast above the limit closes the gorge, decided the day before |
A professional hiking guide, a safety briefing and VHF radio support on the full crossing.
Check dates for the Samaria hike with a hiking guideHow much did it cost to hike the Samaria Gorge in 2026?
€10 for an adult entry ticket, the same as in 2025, plus the boat from Agia Roumeli: €17 to Hora Sfakion at ANENDYK's own fare, or about €14 to €15 on a tour.
The ticket is sold on NECCA's ticket site and at the entrances, and it is checked again at the exit as a headcount. Keep it until you are out. Many older blogs still quote €5, the fee before 2025.
Most tours leave both the ticket and the boat to be paid on the day. The all-inclusive tour includes them. The full breakdown, with what each tour covers, is in our cost guide.
| Ticket | Price (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry ticket, adult | €10 | Same price for the full crossing or a short walk in |
| Family ticket | €6 per person | Bought together at the entrance or online |
| Organised group (over 10) | €8 per member | What most tours pay for their groups |
| Annual pass | €25 | For repeat visits in one season |
| Free entry | €0 | Under 18 and over 65 (EU citizens), EU students, disabled visitors and a companion, residents of Sfakia, Platanias, Chania and Kantanos-Selino |
| Boat to Hora Sfakion | €17 | ANENDYK's own adult fare; tours quote a group fare of about €14 to €15 |
Why did the Samaria Gorge close in September and October 2026?
Storm forecasts. The gorge shut for a day on 22 September when forecast rain passed the approved limits, closed again on 1 October under a red-code alert, and from 19 October stayed closed until the season ended.
On 22 September the forecast was up to 10.5 mm of rain at Xyloskalo and 8 mm at Agia Roumeli, above the thresholds the Region of Crete approved for the gorge to stay open. In October the closures came in a series, and from Monday 19 October NECCA kept both entrances closed "until further notice", pending inspections. The winter closure followed on 1 November.
The tours coped by switching to Imbros. Shannon, in a 5-star review from Sep 2026, wrote: "While we were unable to go to Samaria, the guides worked together to have half of us go to alternative hike and the other half return to Chania for refund." If you book in the autumn, expect that choice on a stormy day.
What does the 2026 season mean for planning next year?
Treat every date as provisional. The opening depends on the winter, and autumn storms can close the gorge early, so the safest window is late May to September with a spare day in your plans.
- Late spring: no 2027 date yet. Check NECCA's ticket site before you fix the crossing day.
- Summer: the most reliable months, though very hot days can close the gorge too.
- Autumn: cooler walking, but 2026 showed how fast storms end the season. Have Imbros as plan B.
The closure in detail is in our winter closure post, and the daily hours and season rules are in the opening times guide.
The full 16 km with a professional hiking guide, a morning comfort stop and free time in Agia Roumeli.
Explore the Samaria hike with a hiking guide Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
When did the Samaria Gorge open in 2026?
On Tuesday 19 May 2026, from both entrances, after repairs to winter damage and inspections by experts.
Are helmets required in the Samaria Gorge?
No. Free helmets are handed out at both entrances and their use is optional, but the park strongly recommends them.
How much was the Samaria Gorge entrance fee in 2026?
€10 for an adult. Under 18 and over 65 (EU citizens) enter free, and family and group tickets cost less per person.
Why did the Samaria Gorge close in October 2026?
Storms. After a series of weather closures, NECCA closed both entrances from 19 October until further notice, and the winter closure began on 1 November.
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Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Samaria Gorge with a Professional Hiking Guide
- Pickup from meeting points in the Chania area
- Professional English-speaking hiking guide
- Safety briefing and VHF radio support
Samaria Gorge All-Inclusive: Ferry & Entry Fee
- Pickup and drop-off in the Chania area
- Hiking guide and live English guide
- Samaria entry ticket included
Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek from Chania
- Pickup and drop-off in the Chania area
- Air-conditioned coach both ways
- Live English-speaking guide
