With its unspoiled natural beauty, the island of Crete is a true hiker’s paradise. Both families and experienced hikers will find the perfect route here. However, a hike in Crete isn’t always a walk in the park…
Important Tips for a Successful Hike in Crete
The Diverse Landscape of Crete
Hiking through the Cretan Mountains: Between charming little houses and ocean views
The Greek island of Crete boasts both a very diverse array of flora and fauna and numerous breathtaking views of the sea. Furthermore, the consistently pleasant weather almost year-round helps ensure that many hiking enthusiasts love to wind their way through the island’s hills and mountains time and time again. Although the northern part of the island, in particular, is becoming increasingly developed for tourism, the mountains—and especially the south—remain (for now) a haven of unspoiled nature. The island is characterized by countless paved paths, narrow trails, and kalderimi (cart tracks). Since the high mountain regions and the southern part of Crete, in particular, are sparsely populated, you should never set out on your own. It’s also especially important to carry enough drinking water with you, as most water sources dry up in the summer and the goat watering holes are not suitable for drinking.
A real challenge for hikers arises from the lack of trail signage: Trails are rarely marked, so asking for directions and having good maps are often essential for reaching your destination successfully. In some places, you’ll find splashes of paint or cairns set up by other hikers, which can make it easier to find your way. Some hiking routes pass through gorges or dry riverbeds, which makes the hike particularly interesting but can also make it difficult at times. For this reason, guided tours are especially recommended for inexperienced hikers. Information about guided tours is available here…
The European Long-Distance Trail 4 (E4) is an exception: trails on this route are always marked with black-and-yellow signs bearing the inscription “E4” and are therefore easily recognizable.
Recommended Hiking Tours in Crete
Through the famous Samariá Gorge
Arrival at the beach after a long hike
The Samariá Gorge is located in Samariá National Park and, according to some travel guides, is the longest gorge in Europe. It lies in the White Mountains of western Crete and is one of the most attractive hiking destinations on the entire island. It is open only from early May through mid-October and costs 5 euros per person. In exchange for this fee, there are many rangers available to answer your questions, several drinking water sources, and restrooms every few kilometers. The gorge is only open during daylight hours. Since the rangers want to ensure that all hikers leave the gorge before dark, access is denied in the afternoon after a certain time (so be sure to check the schedule in advance!). It’s highly recommended to start your hike very early in the morning. To truly enjoy the gorge’s wonderful atmosphere, you should set out very early in the morning. The first buses arrive at 7:30 a.m., and from then on, the roughly 3,000 visitors per day begin hiking through the gorge. The hike starts in the village of Omalos and initially descends 1,250 meters into the depths of the gorge. The entire hike is 15 km long and eventually ends in the village of Agia Roumeli, which lies right on the sea: that’s exactly how it must feel when you’re coming out of a desert and suddenly discover an oasis! From Agia Roumeli, you should take a ferry to Chora Sfakion, since hiking back to Omalos is quite long and, due to the very steep ascent, extremely exhausting. About halfway along the route lies the abandoned village of Samariá, where you can often even spot Kikris. The panorama, of course, consists entirely of the gorge walls, which, however, never get boring. Most of the route is walked on rocks, so sturdy footwear is an absolute must. Overall, the hike is a real experience, but its difficulty should not be underestimated.
Hiking time to cross the Samariá Gorge: 5–6 hours
In the Kritsá Gorge
This gorge is one of the most impressive on the entire island. It begins in the small village of Kritsá, located in the hinterland of Agios Nikolaos. Near the soccer field on the road between Lato and Kritsá, a sign marks the start of the hiking route. The trail starts on a paved road but quickly turns into a narrow path leading down into the gorge. The hike is suitable for experienced hikers, as there is a lot of scree and several boulders to navigate, especially at the beginning. The gorge gets narrower and narrower toward the end, but this also makes it even more impressive! Since the gorge is flooded with water in winter, the rocks have already been polished smooth by the water, which looks particularly interesting. You can either take the same path back or return to Kritsá via an old mule trail above the gorge. The trail is marked with blue markers and, due to flooding in winter, is only passable from spring through fall.
Walking time to cross the Kritsá Gorge: approx. 3 hours (round trip)
Across the Lassíthi Plateau
The Lassíthi Plateau is one of the best-known and most beautiful on the island. There is a wonderful circular hike here that is about 13 km long and suitable for hikers of all levels. The starting point is the village of Tzermiádon, one of the 20 villages nestled amid the fertile lands of the plateau. Narrow paths wind through the fields, where potatoes, fruits, and vegetables are primarily grown. Since the trail has virtually no markings, it’s important to always head southwest. If you stay on this path, you’ll reach Psychró, where a visit to the Diktean Cave is definitely worth it! According to ancient Greek mythology, Gaia gave birth to her son Zeus here. From this significant site, a hiking trail marked E4 leads eastward to the village of Agios Geórgios. Once again, you find yourself surrounded by beautiful fields. After a short rest in Agios Geórgios, the trail continues north back to the starting point. This loop hike can be done from spring through fall and definitely shows Crete from a completely different perspective.
Walking time for Tzermiádon–Psychró–Tzermiádon: approx. 3–4 hours
Accommodations and Vacation Rentals
Crete offers numerous beautiful hiking trails—but you’ll also need to find the right vacation rental for a perfect vacation. You’ll find very attractive offers for vacation homes all over the island at Ferienhaus-Privat. Photos by:
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