Samaria National Park

🌿 Samaria National Park: The Sacred Gorge of the White Mountains

📍 Location

• Located in western Crete, in the heart of the White Mountains (Lefká Óri).
• The park extends over more than 48,000 hectares, from the Omalos plateau to the coastal village ofAgia Roumeli, on the Libyan seafront.

🏞️ Samaria Gorge: the backbone of the park

• Long of 16 kilometers, it is one of the longest gorges in Europe.
• She starts at 1,250 meters above sea level to Xyloskalo, and descends to sea level.
• In some places the gorge is only 2 to 3 meters wide, with vertical cliffs of more than 500 meters from above - notably at the mythical passage of the Iron Gates.

🥾 Hiking and experience

• The path is well marked, but requires a good physical condition : account between 5 and 7 o'clock walking at your own pace.
• The route crosses:
• The pine and cypress forests,
• The ruins of the abandoned village of Samaria,
• The natural sources of pure water,
• Strikingly beautiful, rugged, rocky landscapes.
• At the exit, we reach Agia Roumeli, a small coastal village accessible only on foot or by boat.

🐐 Fauna and flora

• The park is home to exceptional biodiversity:

• The kri-kri, wild goat endemic to Crete, emblem of the park.
• The rare and protected plants, some of which grow nowhere else.
• A wide variety ofbirds, including birds of prey such as the golden eagle and Eleonora's falcon.

🛡️ Protection and recognition

• Created in 1962, the park is classified Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
• It is also registered in the network NATURA 2000 for the protection of flora and fauna.
• Strict rules are applied there: no smoking, picking plants, making fires or straying from the path.

🕒 Practical information:

• Open from May to October, depending on weather conditions.
• Main entrance : Xyloskalo (Omalos plateau).
• Price : approximately 5 € per person (2025).
• To expect hiking shoes, water, sun protection, and possibly a walking stick.

✨ Why Samaria is unforgettable

It is a crossing between heaven and earth, between forest and rock, between silence and breathSamaria National Park is not just a hike: it is a initiatory experience, a journey into the intimacy of wild Crete, where each step brings you closer to the sublime.