Samaria Gorge (Chania, Crete, Greece) is the longest canyon in Europe. Tens of thousands of tourists visit this attraction every year. All guidebooks in Crete advise you to go - on your own or with a tour - to this gorge. Why is it so interesting? You will learn about this from our article. And while we're on our way. You will have to walk on sloping terrain, along a steep path. Therefore, you need to take suitable shoes. The gorge abounds with springs of fresh water. Therefore, it is enough to take an empty flask. The length of the gorge itself is thirteen kilometers. Two more must be trodden from the Xyloskalo point on the top of the mountain, where the route begins. And then, leaving the gorge, it remains to walk another three kilometers to the nearest village of Agia Roumeli. So count your strengths. There are more gentle routes. You will not see all the beauty, but look at the main sights. We will describe them below.
Samaria Gorge in Greece: how to get there
This main naturalattraction of Crete is located in the south-west of the island, near the city of Chania. The Samaria Gorge is located in the White Mountains (the Greek name is pronounced "Lefka Ori"). Most of Crete's attractions are easiest to visit with your own or rental car. But the Samaria Gorge is not the case. You will have to travel the same path twice to get back to the car. From Chania, you can take the Ktel shuttle bus to Xyloskalo on the Omalos plateau in an hour. From this point the hiking trail begins. After eighteen kilometers of marvelous beauty, the road will lead you to the village of Agia Roumeli. Ferries of the Anendyk company regularly sail from its pier to the town of Chora Sfakion, and from there regular buses leave for Chania, the second largest city of Crete.
Alternative routes
For those who know that they will not be able to go through the entire Samaria Gorge, the guide to Crete offers a choice of two lightweight options. First: drive to Xyloskalo and go down the stairway through a beautiful pine forest. Walk as much as you want, but taking into account the fact that you will repeat this entire path, but moving up. And the second option is for the laziest. Arrive at the village of Agia Roumeli and start climbing to the lower exit of the gorge. You have to walk three kilometers there and the same back. But as a reward, you will see one of the most beautiful places in the Samaria Canyon - the Iron Gate. There are no doors there. But in this place the gorge is the narrowest. Its width is only three meters. If you are determined to go the entire route, then plan not toless than five hours of travel (with a h alt and photographing beauties). The whole journey, but in the opposite direction, will take you at least seven hours. After all, you will need to rise from the level of the Libyan Sea to the top of the Omalos plateau (1250 meters high).
History
Samaria Gorge (Greece) was known to people during the time of the Crete-Mycenaean civilization. Proof of this are the ruins of ancient temples, which, presumably, were dedicated to Artemis and Apollo. The river Tarreos flows along the bottom of the canyon. Most likely, the gorge in ancient times was called the same. At least the city that was formed in the 6th century BC behind the "Iron Gate" was given the name Tarra. It was small but independent. Tarra minted her coin, on the obverse of which was the head of a local endemic, the mountain goat kri-kri, and on the other side - a bee. The city reached its heyday in the Roman period. Tarre is mentioned by Sekliot, Diodorus and Pliny. When the Venetians owned the island, a village was located on the site of the once lively city. There was a Romanesque church dedicated to the Mother of God. Its name (Holy Mary - Hosia Maria) gave the name to the village, and at the same time to the canyon.
Interesting facts
Small in size, the Samaria Gorge nevertheless played a prominent role in the history of Greece. The Turkish yoke did not touch the inhabitants of Sfakia, who took refuge in these impregnable mountains. In fierce battles, the Greeks did not allow the Ottomans to pass through the Iron Gates. The canyon was no less important inrecent history. In the period 1935-1940. (known in Greece as the dictatorship of Metaxas) the oppositionists, led by General Mandakas, hid here. At the beginning of World War II, the path of the Greek government going to Egyptian emigration ran through the gorge. In 1942-43, detachments of fighters of the resistance movement against the Nazi occupation were stationed here. The partisans did not in the least prevent German scientists from conducting a comprehensive study of the fauna and flora of the Samaria Gorge and making a documentary film about it. During the Civil War, the canyon became a haven for left-wing rebels who hid here until 1948. In 1962, it was decided to establish the White Mountains National Park here. The inhabitants of Samaria were moved to another place. Now the biosphere reserve covers 4850 hectares.
Samaria Gorge (Crete, Greece): Description
The Greek government created the sanctuary just in time, because virgin oak forests and cypress groves were cut down everywhere. Some species of animals and plants that lived and grew only on the island of Crete were also on the verge of extinction. Now the populations are completely restored. Walking along the Samaria Gorge, one should not forget that this is the territory of a national park, and for collecting plants and berries, cutting down trees for a fire and pitching tents, there is a fine. After all, the canyon ecosystem is very fragile. It must be taken into account that several thousand people pass through it every day. But tourists during such walks can see how wild kri-kri goats jump over the rocks, notice a wild cat scurrying in the branches andmarten, follow the flight of an eagle. The trail winds along the riverbed, often crossing it. Sheer cliffs rise along the banks, overgrown with Cretan cypress, various types of pines, holm oak, plane trees, erondas, ebony.
When is the best time to visit Samaria Canyon
Summer in Crete is not conducive to long hikes. In the shade it can be more than thirty degrees. And it gets very stuffy in the gorge. In addition, the river in the summer turns into a half-dried stream. Winter for Crete is the time of rains. The river floods the entire gorge, in addition, because of the showers, collapses often occur. Therefore, since November, the passage through the canyon is closed. The best time to visit a natural attraction is the first half of spring. The Samaria Gorge is in bloom at this time. The river is very full-flowing and gives amazing freshness. Do not forget that the reserve is visited annually by about two hundred thousand tourists. At the peak of the season, up to three thousand sightseers accumulate at the beginning of the trail. Not all of them reach the end of the route. You can avoid traffic jams if you arrive at the Omalos plateau early in the morning. First, there is a long descent to the bottom of the gorge along the stairs. After this escapade, unprepared tourists have shins hurting in the morning. The path at each kilometer is marked by wooden posts. There are places to rest along the route. As a rule, tables are placed near springs with fresh water. There are toilets along the way. The order is observed by the staff of the national park riding on mules.
Historic Sites
The Samaria Gorge in Greece amazes with its pristine beauty. But not only wonderful views appear before the eyes of tourists. After all, this place was inhabited in the era of antiquity. In the Samaria Gorge (sometimes right next to the trail) there are several ancient temples. The Church of St. Nicholas was erected on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo or Artemis. You can also see the ancient temple of Hosia Maria, which gave the name to the village and the gorge. Among other historical and cultural attractions, one cannot fail to recall the temple of St. Mary of Egypt of the XII-XIII centuries (with wonderful frescoes of 1740) and the Church of Christ. The village of Samaria, deserted in 1962, is located approximately in the middle of the route. Some houses with traditional Cretan architecture have now been restored. In Samaria there is a pharmacy, a first-aid post, and in case of injuries to tourists, several mules and a heliport.
Excursions and reviews about them
Samaria Gorge (Crete) is one of the top ten must-sees on the island. Back in the thirties of the twentieth century, the inhabitants of Samaria made a living by taking tourists to their canyon. Now, tour desks are cashing in on this attraction. The cost of an organized visit to the Samaria Gorge varies from the point of departure. If you go there from the eastern parts of Crete, it will cost forty euros, and if from the western tip of the island, then thirty-five. Reviews warn: after paying for the tour, you will have to passthe whole route in its entirety and at a fairly brisk pace. The bus will take you to the plateau and then meet you at the exit of the canyon. And it's easy to leave the group. In this case, you will have to return home at your own expense.
Self-Guided Tours
This type of travel is recommended by all tourists. You depend on the bus and ferry schedules, but in general you are your own hosts. How much does such a trip cost? Travel by bus from Chania and back - fourteen euros, ferry - nine and a half. For the entrance to the Samaria Gorge, you will have to pay only 5 Є. In total, the entire trip will cost one person twenty-eight euros with cents.
Reviews
Many irresponsible tourists refer to the excursion to the Samaria Gorge as a visit to the botanical garden. But the rugged terrain of the area very soon convinces them of the opposite. You need to be prepared for the hike both in terms of equipment and in terms of he alth. If you have sore legs, weak joints, heart problems and blood pressure, it is better to stay on the beach. In all other respects, tourists are satisfied with the trip. You will bring many pleasant memories and gigabytes of wonderful photos from the Samaria Gorge.
