TourMaster · Chania area, 76 pickup points
A guided day from Chania to the Imbros Gorge, a shorter and gentler canyon east of Samaria, with lunch and a swim in Chora Sfakion afterwards. Pick it when you want a real gorge walk in about 2.5 hours instead of six or seven.
First things first: Imbros is not Samaria. It is a separate gorge further east that runs parallel to it, from Imbros village on the edge of the Askyfou plain down to Komitades, a few kilometres from Chora Sfakion. The listing gives 9 km, mostly downhill (its own notes also say about 8 km), and the guided walk takes about 2.5 hours. The highlight is the Stenada, where the walls close to about 2 m and tower overhead. Before the road was built, this mule trail was the only link between Chania and Sfakia, and during the Second World War thousands of British soldiers walked down it to be evacuated from the south coast. There is no boat at the end: the coach waits in Komitades and takes you to Chora Sfakion for lunch, free time and a swim, and you are back in Chania around 18:00.
The coach and the guide are in the price. The gorge entrance is €5 per person in cash, paid at the start, with children up to 12 free, per the listing. Breakfast at the stop in Imbros village and lunch in Sfakia are extra. The path is a dry, rocky stream bed with loose stones for a long stretch near the end, and there are no springs inside, so bring at least 1 litre of water; you can refill or buy more at the start, and there are toilets at the entrance and the exit. Reviewers range from "not physically taxing" to "more challenging than I expected". Basic fitness and proper shoes cover it. The listing rules out wheelchair users.
Imbros lies outside the Samaria national park, so NECCA's season and its 13:00 entry cut-off do not apply. Sources disagree on winter: some say the gorge can be walked all year except in heavy rain or snow, others give a season of roughly April to October. The tour's own calendar is what counts, so check your date on the listing. Imbros is also the usual plan B: when Samaria closes for weather, many Samaria tours move their groups here. Compare the two walks side by side in Samaria or Imbros.
The coach collects from one of 76 pickup points in the Chania area, then drives about an hour south into the mountains.
A stop for coffee or a Sfakian pie with honey and cheese, at your own cost. Pay the €5 entrance in cash at the start of the trail.
The guide leads the walk down the stream bed through cypress and oak, through the Stenada narrows, to the exit at Komitades.
A short coach ride to the harbour village for about 2.5 hours of lunch, free time and swimming.
Roughly 1.5 hours by coach back to your pickup point.
★★★★★A great trip. Imbros Gorge was a stunning walk, not physically taxing but had to really concentrate at times on footing as the path is loose rocks for a big chunk towards the end. The town of Sfakia was really pretty and had a lovely beach.
★★★★★Guide was interesting, humorous and pleasant. He started the hike a half hour after the group and made sure no tour participants were struggling or left behind. I appreciated being able to leave my beach things on the bus while we hiked. Well organized tour!
★★★★★The hike itself is easy and can be done by both young and old if you have normal mobility. The visit to Sfakia was a wonderfully beautiful experience in a peaceful coastal town.
★★★★★the hike itself was more challenging than I expected, sturdy / strong shoes are advised and it's almost all uneven downhill terrain. you're left to go at your own pace and take breaks when you want [...] Overall great value for money and worth doing to see a different side to Crete.
Read next:
The tour listing gives about 9 km, mostly downhill, from Imbros village to Komitades; its notes also say about 8 km. The guided walk takes about 2.5 hours.
€5 per person, paid in cash at the start, per the tour listing; children up to 12 go free. It is not included in the tour price.
Yes. It is about half the distance, mostly downhill, and ends at a road, so there is no boat back. The path is still rocky and uneven, so wear proper shoes.
Often. Imbros is outside the national park and does not follow its season, and Samaria tours use it as the plan B on weather closures. Heavy rain can close it too, and the tour runs on the operator's own dates.
Ready to book
A shorter, gentler gorge near Sfakia with a guide, then a swim on the south coast.
Samaria Gorge the Easy WayCoach and boat to Agia Roumeli, then about 2 km up to the Iron Gates and back. Not the full crossing; entry and boat extra.★ 4.4 · Full day · from $31
Samaria Gorge with a Professional Hiking GuideThe full 16 km from Chania with a hiking guide, a safety briefing, VHF radios and poles to rent.★ 4.7 · Full day · from $35
Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek from ChaniaThe classic full crossing with hotel pickup around Chania, a live guide at the back and the coach home after the boat.★ 4.6 · Full day · from $45