The 15 Best Canyon Hikes in Greece

1.From Chania/Rethymno: Samariá Gorge Guided Hike with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,010 reviews · 1 day · from $37Our pick

You’ll hike about 16 kilometers through Samaria Gorge with an English-speaking guide, descend from Omalos past springs and the Iron Gates, then swim at Agia Roumeli before taking the ferry to Sougia. Guides such as Ingrid, Nikos, and Silvia help with timing, safety, and transport.

“All round great trip. Third visit. Highly recommend this company and the Samaria Gorge in General!”

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2.Samaria Gorge with Professional Hiking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 720 reviews · 14 hours · from $37

Join a guided 16 km descent through Samaria Gorge, with transport from Chania, spring water stops, Kri-Kri sightings, and a swim at Agia Roumeli. Guides such as Ingrid, Nikos, and Dimitris keep the day organized, while the return boat and coach remove the transport headache.

“Very intense but very nice. Thanks a lot to Nikos and our Driver. They did a perfect job, could not have been any better”

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3.From Heraklion: Samaria Gorge & Agia Roumeli Hiking Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 422 reviews · 15.5 - 17.5 hours · from $58

You’ll hike Samaria Gorge with a multilingual guide such as Maritsa or Maria, then swim and eat in Agia Roumeli before taking the ferry to Sfakia. Expect a 16 to 18 km rocky descent, a 15.5 to 17.5 hour day, and extra costs for park entry and the boat.

“It was an unforgettable hiking experience! Something completely different from just laying on a beach. Great tour! Get comfy trainers or hiking shoes and you will be safe 😉”

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4.Samaria Gorge Hiking from Chania with Professional Hiking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 372 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $51

Join Fantasy Travel for a full-day Samaria Gorge hike from Chania with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned bus, hiking support, and a ferry ride. Guides such as Ingrid and Nicos provide clear safety advice, while the 16 km rocky descent ends at Agia Roumeli beach.

“Amazing and challenging hike. As advertised. Amazing views and stunning scenery. The whole thing was well-organized. Prompt bus pickup at my hotel at 6am, and safe transportation to the start and from the ferry drop off. Amazing guide. You are at the whim Of the ferry schedule to start the return so it is a full day (back to my hotel at 9:00pm). Not for the feint of heart. The first 4km is a steep downward hike - stone stairs, uneven and rocky footing. The descent was less steep for the rest. But you need to maintain focus for footing.”

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5.From Rethymno/Chania: Imbros Gorge Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 353 reviews · 8 hours · from $30Best value

Walk 8 to 9 km downhill through Imbros Gorge, passing narrow rock walls and old landmarks, with a guide nearby but room to set your own pace. Afterward, enjoy free time in Sfakia for lunch, swimming, or a walk to the Venetian fortress. Pickup and return are included.

“Absolutely perfect day! The hike was pleasant walk down the gorge with plenty of shade and gorge(ous) scenery followed by a refreshing swim in the sea in a quaint little seaside village. Everything was planned perfectly and we enjoyed every second :)”

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6.Samaria Gorge Hike with Local Mountain Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 282 reviews · 14 hours · from $36

Join Io Tours for a full-day Samaria Gorge hike from Chania. Guides such as Pari and Dafne provide safety tips while you walk at your own pace through pine forests, rocky riverbeds, and narrow cliffs. Finish with lunch or a swim at Agia Roumeli before the ferry to Sougia.

“Incredible hike, challenging and hot but very picturesque. Dafne the guide was great. Clear instructions, earned trust quickly. Wear very sturdy shoes, preferably hiking boots. Steep descent of 1,700m isn’t kind to the fittest of legs/ankles. Lots of scree, uneven ground, small river crossings and rock hopping. Plenty of clean spring water, rest areas and toilets on the way. Food at the end was incredible. Pack snacks, lunch as there is no food during the hike. Most of the hike is in shade and there was a coolish breeze comi n up the gorge which was refreshing. Agia Roumelli beach where you finish isn’t the nicest of Crete beaches but…”

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7.Samaria Gorge Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 201 reviews · 17 hours · from $56

Spend 17 hours hiking Samaria Gorge with a multilingual guide, following the Taras River through the White Mountains to the Iron Gates. You’ll have time for a swim at Agia Roumeli, then take a ferry to Sfakia before the coach returns you to Crete’s north coast.

“The trip in Samaria Gorge was amazing. All these views were so beautiful. The road in Gorge was hard and legs hurt badly in the end, but it was worth it. I'm glad that i took this trip.”

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8.Imbros Gorge Guided Hike and Village Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 133 reviews · 8 hours · from $35

Join an English-speaking guide such as Carolina or Ingrid for a mostly downhill 9 km hike through Imbros Gorge, followed by lunch and a swim in Chora Sfakion. Expect a rocky trail, striking narrow passages, hotel pickup, and a long day that may run beyond eight hours.

“Excellent day - just as described Ingrid and Manos were great”

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9.From Rethymno: Samariá Gorge Full-Day Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 129 reviews · 12 hours · from $37

Join an English-speaking guide, including Maria or Leonidas, for a demanding 16-kilometer walk through Samaria Gorge. From Rethymno, you’ll ride to Omalos, hike past springs and the Iron Gates, swim at Agia Roumeli, then take a ferry to Sougia before returning by bus.

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10.Samaria Gorge Hiking with transfer and expert Escort

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 125 reviews · 12 - 16 hours · from $47

Walk from the Omalos Plateau through Samaria Gorge with a first-aid-trained guide such as Nikos, Claudia, Ingrid, or Marcos. After 4 to 6 hours on rocky downhill trails, rest at Agia Roumeli, swim in the Libyan Sea, then take a boat to Hora Sfakion before your bus ride home.

“Meet new friends from not only my Hostel but also from US. What a great hike. Ingrid was an excellent guide!!!”

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11.From Georgioupoli: Easy Hiking Day-Trip to Imbros Gorge

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 100 reviews · 8 hours · from $34

Travel from Georgioupolis through the Askifou Mountains to Imbros Gorge, then walk toward Komitades before relaxing by Frangokastello Castle. Guide Alexandra leads in English or German, with time for a swim and lunch beside the Libyan Sea.

“Imposante Schlucht, allerdings ist leicht für die Wanderung etwas untertrieben. Schönes Meer in Frangokastello. Tolle Guides und Busfahrer.”

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12.Imbros Gorge Tour with Professional Hiking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 71 reviews · 11 hours · from $38

Travel from Chania to Imbros Gorge for a guided 2.5-hour downhill walk through striking rock formations. Guides such as Ingrid, Karolina, and Nico add local stories, then you finish with free time, swimming, and lunch beside the sea in Sfakia. Bring sturdy shoes, water, and swimwear.

“This was a joy! Ingrid was an amazing guide - so friendly and energetic! The gorge was gorge-ous (ha ha) and definitely manageable for a novice hiker like me. Next time I'd use the hiking poles though to ease the long slow descent and pressure on my joints. Absolutely loved the swim at the end, and listening to Ingrid's stories on the drive back. The weather was ideal, and the memories will last a lifetime! Highly recommend!”

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13.Kritsa Canyon Guided Hiking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 7 hours · from $93Top rated

Spend seven hours exploring Kritsa Canyon with an English-speaking guide such as Giorgos. Expect a moderate four-hour hike with gorge views, short climbing sections, old farmyards, Minoan remains, and a stop in Kritsa village for food, coffee, or a small museum.

“Giorgos was a great guide. He picked us up on time from our hotel, drove us to our starting point and checked we had enough water etc for our trip. He told us so much information about the surrounding area, plants etc. The walk was paced just right for a physically fit family with teenage kids. He made sure we didn’t miss anything. We really enjoyed a trip to the small museum at the end of the walk. We would highly recommend this trip. It has been the highlight of our week so far!”

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14.South Crete: Sarakinas Gorge Hike, Swim & Jeep Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 39 reviews · 8.5 - 9 hours · from $108

Spend 8.5 to 9 hours exploring southeast Crete by jeep. Visit Kritsa, ride through Katharo and Selakano, walk Sarakinas Gorge, enjoy a regional meal, and swim at Voulisma beach. Guides such as Alex, Janis, and Zacharias have earned praise for their local knowledge and lively driving.

“Tolle Tour, super sympathischer Guide, viele interessante Infos über die Insel, gute Gruppengrösse - ein wirklich schöner Urlaubstag 👍👍👍”

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15.Imbros Gorge Hiking Tour & Beach Relaxation

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · 9 hours - 630 minutes · from $35

Leave Chania by air-conditioned bus for a guided 7 km walk through Imbros Gorge, then spend two hours swimming or eating beside Frangokastello. Guides such as Iniki and Irenya have led recent departures. Bring sturdy shoes, water, snacks, sunscreen, and cash for the gorge fee.

“Vores guide Irenya var fantastisk 👍hun havde meget empati, var fantastisk til at formidle både fakta omkring Kreta og hvordan vi skulle forholde os i kløften”

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