After 30 minutes of descent found the source Neroutsos. Leaving behind the source and along the downhill path, we reach after 45 minutes in the chapel of St. Nicholas. In 60 minutes the Agios Nikolas appears ahead, the ruined village of Samaria, located approximately in the middle of the path.
Here you will find the wayfarer a small station that is equipped with telephone and first Emergency aid and toilets with running water. Here also can rent whoever wants a mule for the remainder of the journey. The gorge was abandoned in 1962 when the Greek government declared the area of the canyon national park.
The Most of the Samariotes moved to St. Roumeli and elsewhere. Now, most houses are in ruins. Only churches Ossia Mary, Christ and St. George fighting the erosion of the time.
The Ossia Maria is the oldest of the three. Built in 1379 by the Venetians then prevailing in Crete and have little economic interest in timber-rich forests of the gorge. The name "Ossia Maria" gradually became "Sia Maria", "Sa Maria" and finally Samaria. At 45 minutes after the gorge is in our path a great source, known in the region as Kefalovrisi or Kefalovriso.
The presence of running water from the sea Kefalovrisi to do the latter part of the journey more enjoyable. In 20 minutes Kefalovrisi to find the church of the Transfiguration and more after the Sidiroportes. It is the narrowest part of the gorge, about three meters wide and several meters deep. Approximately 30 minutes from the Doors and just get out of the limits of the gorge one arrives at the old St.Roumeli
Waiting the ship in Agia Roumeli
Twenty minutes later the hot portent of Libyan is a really blue. New Bible is Roumeli on the ruins of ancient Tara and vibrant.
The 16 km hiking and 1,200 meters height difference from Xyloskalo to sea require six hours available to suck some juice this Cretan corner.
The potential for rehabilitation, in the more or less common, is by boat to Sfakia, the Sougia and Paleochora
Prohibitions
The Gorge National Park is open to visitors from 1 May to October 31.
Visitors are allowed to move Only the central path has been marked by Xiloskalo in St. Roumeli and vice versa.
Traffic on all other trails requires written permission of the Forest Directorate of Chania and strictly controlled.
Prohibited exactly lighting up fire, camping overnight in the Park, cut flowers, the eradication or destruction of plants.
Even the possession of weapons or traps, the introduction of the dog park, hunting, Fishing and swimming in streams of the park.
Not allowed radio, song, throwing stones, the usual noise rejection waste to other locations beyond those established for the purpose it.
Also, no smoking, except the positions of rest and The consumption of alcohol.
The greatness of Samaria
The crossing of the "Gorge offers a unique and fascinating experience. In Crete there are plenty of diamonds a finite natural beauty and a kind of remarkable is the gorges.
The Samaria Gorge, "the gorge, but it is one and only. The Passage of the "Gorge is a unique and fascinating experience. The hiker is confronted with nature and wild beauty.
Rewarded for the hard hiking in rough ground with steep primitive and an imposing sight, a beautiful landscape without human intervention, a unique sense of awe and admiration for infinite the greatness that faces intact.
The National Park of the White Mountains Crete, known as the Samaria Gorge, founded in 1962 to the protection and preservation of scientific and cultural value of region. For these reasons recognized by the Council of Europe as one of the most wild, unspoiled and unique scientifically terms of natural parks in the world!
The reputation of this magnificent place starting from ancient times. The stunning natural beauty was known and admired by the ancient Minoan times.
The Dorians who occupied the region in the 5th century BC convert canyon to a large religious center, creating the city-state Tarra its exit to the sea.
Also, they built churches and founded the Oracle of Apollo in the heart of the gorge. Starting the journey us from the inexhaustible Chania with its Venetian harbor, the 42 kilometers of asphalt road leads us from among orchards and concrete examples of Cretan folk art on the physiognomy praised the plateau Plateau.
About four kilometers from the principle of coming to Xiloskalo Plateau, where the road ends. Of this point begin walking. Now you are at an altitude of 1200 measures.
The majestic mountain that stands before you is Gigilos. At the foot of the great slippery rock downhill on the right is the source Linoselli, where tradition says that Zeus descending often took his bath.
In final passage
In the background, to your left, you can see the bare peaks of the White Mountains. One of these, Pachnes (2,452 m), is the second highest peak in Crete with four measures the difference Psiloritis.
Xyloskalo has remained a strategic point during the long history.
The of importance because it is the lowest passing to go in and get out of the canyon. Where the trail begins, stairs cut into the rock to make the transition easier. In the old days but they used a ladder made of logs trees, from where it got its name, Xiloskalo.
In Xiloskalo and tourism booth is equipped with a restaurant. From terrace one can enjoy one of the most panoramic Lunches will ever receive in life. Mr. Aristotle, in charge tourist kiosk of wooden ladders, a genuine native who is Always full of enthusiasm to give you any information you wish for entire complex of the White Mountains and of course the Samaria Gorge
From Wikipedia:
The Samariá Gorge (Greek: Φαράγγι Σαμαριάς or just Φάραγγας) is a National Park of Greece on the island of Crete - a major tourist attraction of the island - and a World's Biosphere Reserve.
The gorge is in the prefecture of Chania in southwest Crete. It was created by a small river running between the White Mountains (Lefká Óri) and Mt. Volakias. There are a number of other gorges in the White Mountains. While some say that the gorge is 18 km long, this distance refers to the distance between the settlement of Omalos on the northern side of the plateau and the village of Agia Roumeli. In fact, the gorge is 16 km long, starting at an altitude of 1,250 m at the northern entrance, and ending at the shores of the Libyan Sea in Agia Roumeli. The walk through Samaria National Park is 13 km long, but you have to walk another three km to Agia Roumeli from the park exit, making the hike 16 km. The most famous part of the gorge is the stretch known as the Iron Gates, where the sides of the gorge close in to a width of only four meters and soar up to a height of 1,100m (3,610feet)
Entrance to the Gorge
The gorge became a national park in 1962, particularly as a refuge for the rare kri-kri (Cretan goat), which is largely restricted to the park and an island just off the shore of Agia Marina. There are several other endemic species in the gorge and surrounding area, as well as many other species of flowers and birds.
The village of Samariá lies just inside the gorge. It was finally abandoned by the last remaining inhabitants in 1962 to make way for the park. The village and the gorge take their names from the village's ancient church, Óssia María ["Saint Mary"].
A "must" for visitors to Crete is to complete the walk down the gorge from the Omalos plateau to Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea, at which point tourists sail to the nearby village of Hora Sfakion and catch a coach back to Chania. The walk takes 4–7 hours and can be strenuous, especially at the height of summer.
Local tourist operators provide organized tours to the Gorge. These include bus transportation from your hotel to the entrance (near Omalos village), and the bus will be waiting for you to disembark the ferry in Sfakia (Hora Sfakeon) to take you back. If you are on your own, you can make a one-day round trip from Chania (see below) or from Sougia or Paleochora. Note that the morning buses from Sougia and Paleochora do not operate on Sunday. The ferries leave Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakeon (East-bound) and to Sougia/Paleochora (West-bound) at 18:00.
There also exists a "lazy way" - from Agia Roumeli to the Iron Gates (more or less an hour of non-challenging terrain) and back.
Information provided by the Chania Forest Protection Service[1]
* Visits to the National park are allowed from May 1 to October 15.
* Park visiting hours are 07:00 to 15:00 daily. From 15:00 to sunset, visitors are allowed to walk a distance of only two km within the park, either from Xyloskalo or from Agia Roumeli.
* Within the park it is strictly prohibited to camp, stay overnight, light fires, or swim in the streams of the gorge.
How to visit from Chania
* There are daily buses starting from Chania to the head of the gorge, called Xyloskalo. The buses, marked "OMALOS", depart Chania Central Bus Station at 06:15, 07:30 and 08:30; the fare is €6.20
* The morning buses take one hour. The gorge is 12.8 km (8 miles) long, but there is another distance of 3.2 km (2 miles) to walk after leaving the gorge to reach Agia Roumeli; you need five to six hours to walk the 16 km. Be aware that it's always going downhill and thus is strenuous to the knees.
* The entrance fee is €5 (no less money for children or students, 2010).
* There is plenty of drinking water all along the gorge. Sneakers or hiking boots are recommended.
* At the end of the gorge plus 3.2 km (2 miles) is Agia Roumeli, a village with restaurants and accommodation, and boats to Chora Sfakion or Sougia. To return the same day, take the 17:30 boat (fare: €9.00, 2010) to Chora Sfakion.
* From Chora Sfakion, buses return to Chania (fare: €6.50), departing at 18:30; the bus always waits for the boat to arrive.
* Tickets for the two buses can be reserved at the ticket office at the Chania bus station. The ticket for the boat can be purchased in Agia Roumeli only .
* There are daily guided tours operated by various travel agencies, whose cost is usually around €40 (2008) and which includes fare for buses that stop at hotels. The price does not include boat tickets and entrance fees, which is usually collected separately on the bus.
