Allcretetours · Kolymvari or Stavromenos
A coach and boat day that lands you at Agia Roumeli, at the bottom of the gorge, so you can walk up to the Iron Gates and back at your own pace and swim in the Libyan Sea. Pick it when you want the gorge's narrowest point without the long descent from Xyloskalo.
Read the name literally: this is not the full crossing. The classic Samaria walk runs about 16 km from Xyloskalo, at 1,227 m on the Omalos plateau, down to the sea. The easy way starts at the other end. A coach takes you south, a boat carries you along the coast to Agia Roumeli, the village with no road, and from there you walk up into the gorge to the Portes, the Iron Gates, where the walls close to about 4 m and rise some 300 m. ANENDYK puts them about 2 km and an hour's walk from the Agia Roumeli side. Then you turn round, eat, swim, and take the 17:30 boat out. Walk as much or as little as you like: the operator pitches it at families with children, and reviewers with limited mobility made it to the Gates with help from the guide.
Now the money, because the listing is out of date here. Its not-included list shows the boat tickets at €20 and the gorge entrance at €5. The park entry ticket is €10 per adult on NECCA's ticket system, the same price for a short there-and-back as for the full crossing; EU citizens under 18 and over 65 go in free. Keep the ticket: it is checked at the exit. For the boat, ANENDYK's own adult fare between Hora Sfakion and Agia Roumeli is €17 each way; tour groups often pay a lower group fare on the day, so ask the guide what the group rate is and carry enough cash for both legs. Lunch and drinks in Agia Roumeli are on you. The full cost breakdown has every fee in one table.
The day is long. The listing says 9 hours, with two pickup options only: Kolymvari, west of Chania, and Stavromenos, east of Rethymno. Reviewers describe riding up to Omalos with the full-crossing hikers first, then being driven down to the coast for the boat; one put the whole trip at more than 15 hours door to door, with a little over 6 of them in Agia Roumeli. The roads are winding. Timing inside the park is not a worry on this route: even after the 13:00 entry cut-off, NECCA allows short visits from Agia Roumeli into the first 2 km until 16:00, and everyone must be out by 18:00. The national park is closed for the winter now. NECCA sets next season's opening date each spring, and on bad-weather days the park can close at a day's notice.
The listing gives two options, Kolymvari and Stavromenos. The exact time and point arrive on your voucher a day before the tour.
The coach climbs to the Omalos plateau with the full-crossing group, with a break and photo stop there. Easy-way guests then carry on by road to the south coast for the boat.
A ferry along the coast to the village at the mouth of the gorge. You pay the boat on the day.
Pay the €10 entry at the southern gate and follow the stream bed up to the Portes. Go as far as you like, then turn back.
Tavernas and the beach in Agia Roumeli. Reviewers had time for both, and for a rest in the shade.
The afternoon boat back to the waiting coach, then the long drive to your pickup point.
★★★★★Very nice and scenic 2kms route inside Samaria Gorge, perfect to have a taste of it without straining yourself. Very nice guide Babis.
★★★★★In the end we walked up a significant part of the Gorge and could possibly have walked more of it if we had more time. The Gorge was spectacular, with so many contrasting sights. [...] We have enough time to enjoy food in the local tavern and have a swim nearby in the sea.
★★★★★It was a fantastic trip, and especially suitable for families with children and older people who want to see the gorge, but can't walk the 16 km. [...] we had a fantastic day with time for both hiking (in manageable amounts), a nice lunch and swimming at the beach.
★★★★★The guide was very good. He helped me a lot to reach the day's destination, the Iron Gate, despite my limited mobility. Wonderful.
Read next:
No. You arrive by boat at Agia Roumeli, walk up about 2 km to the Iron Gates and back, and leave by boat. The full crossing is about 16 km from Xyloskalo down to the sea.
The same as for the full crossing: €10 per adult on NECCA's ticket system, free for EU citizens under 18 and over 65. The tour listing still shows the old €5.
About 2 km, roughly an hour's walk each way according to ANENDYK, climbing gently along the stream bed.
Yes. The operator says it suits families with children, and you walk only as far as you want. The park sets no age limit but does not recommend the full crossing for small children.
Ready to book
By boat to Agia Roumeli and up to the Iron Gates at your own pace, with time for a swim.
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