Platanos Tours · Heraklion and Malia hotels
Platanos Tours' full Samaria crossing with hotel pickup from Malia and Hersonissos to Heraklion and Agia Pelagia. It is the only easy way to walk the gorge from a base in the east, and the price is a very long day on the coach.
Samaria is in the far west of Crete, and this tour starts in the centre and the east: hotel pickup in Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Analipsi, Gouves, Gournes, Heraklion, Ammoudara, Agia Pelagia and Fodele. The listing puts the coach at about 2 hours 20 minutes each way from its main stops. It says "12 hours", but guests tell a longer story: a 5 a.m. pickup in Stalis and an 11 p.m. drop-off, or about 14 hours from Heraklion. Plan for the longer end.
The walk itself is the full crossing: breakfast on the Omalos plateau, then about 16 km from Xyloskalo (1,227 m) to Agia Roumeli on the sea, with an escort who speaks English, German and French at the back of the group. The entry ticket (€10) and the boat to Hora Sfakion (€15, €7.50 up to age 12) are paid on the day; EU citizens under 18 and over 65 enter free. The coach waits at Hora Sfakion after the 5:30 p.m. boat.
The operator calls it very challenging and does not take children under 6, pregnant women or people with back or heart problems. If you can move west for a night or two, a tour from Chania or Rethymno gives the same walk with half the driving. The park is closed for the winter: NECCA's ticket site lists it as shut from 1 November 2026 until at least 9 April 2027, and next season's opening date has not been announced yet. In 2026 it opened late, on 19 May, after winter storm damage, and storms closed it again from 19 October.
Pickup times depend on your area; the operator e-mails yours. The eastern resorts are collected first.
About 2 hours 20 minutes from the main stops, with a stop for toilets and snacks. The guide explains the day and the tickets on the coach.
About 30 minutes on the plateau. Pay the guide for the €10 entry and the boat ticket.
Down from Xyloskalo through the forest, the river bed, Samaria village and the Iron Gates to the park exit.
About 2 hours for a swim and lunch, then the 5:30 p.m. boat to Hora Sfakion, about an hour.
About 2 hours 20 minutes or more to the main stops, later for the far resorts.
★★★★★[...] The 14-hour trip is not accurate (approximately 16-17 hours), but it is absolutely worth it. [...] My wife and I (very fit and used to trekking) covered the gorge route in 4 hours and 15 minutes, with another 25 minutes from the end of the park to Agia Roumeli.
★★★★★Our escort guide Dimitris was really good in giving us all the necessary information along the bus ride, so that we didn't loose any time at the entrance. [...] I liked the fact that we got the plan of the gorge and tbe basic times written down on paper, so no doubs or missunderstandings.
★★★★★I was travelling with my 9 year old son and I felt very SAFE and taken CARE of. [...] The main worry for me was the heat, but it wasn't bad at all with the prep: isotonic drink tabs, textile hats that you can keep wet at all times, sunscreen, salty snacks in little portions all the way and sugar supply in small portions made our hike comfortable and enjoyable!
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Yes, with this tour, but it is a very long day. The listing says 12 hours; guests report around 14 hours or more, with pickups from about 5 a.m.
No. The €10 entry ticket and the €15 boat to Hora Sfakion (€7.50 up to age 12) are paid on the day. EU citizens under 18 and over 65 enter free.
Hotels in Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Analipsi, Gouves, Gournes, Heraklion, Ammoudara, Agia Pelagia and Fodele. The operator e-mails your pickup time.
The operator does not take children under 6. Fit older children manage it; one guest did it with a 9-year-old son. EU children under 18 enter the park free.
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The full crossing from Heraklion, Agia Pelagia or Malia, on a long day with a guide.
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