Hiking Samaria Gorge and Staying in Agia Roumeli

by Corrie
(Canada)

Hello, I will be travelling in Crete 28 Sept-2 Oct and would prefer not to rent a car.

I am staying in Chania for the 28 and 29 before hiking Samaria Gorge on the 30th and spending two nights in Agia Roumeli.

I would like to take a bus from Chania to the gorge, finish in Agia Roumeli, spend two nights, catch the ferry to Sougia and then take the bus back to Chania.

Is this possible? Is there a public bus or do I have to arrange for an expensive charter? The charter could not guarantee I could return with them two days later and may have to take the public bus. I really want to relax in Agia Roumeli after the hike for a few days and hear the South of Crete is gorgeous.

The other challenge is what to do with my luggage. Are there lockers in bus stations? Would the hotel in Chania hold on to my luggage for three days? It seems crazy to rent a car just to hold my luggage for me. And I wouldn't know where to park it safely while I was in Agia Roumeli.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

How to Hike the Samaria Gorge Using Local Buses and Ferries

Hi Corrie,

You can do this trip on the local buses and ferries. As you will travel in autumn and shoulder season the services may not be as frequent as they are in summer, so you are doing the right thing in checking ahead to see if this is possible.

Your itinerary will look something like this, based on summer schedules. Please note you will need to contact the bus and ferry companies directly to get autumn schedules confirmed.

Mon 29 Sep
Stay Chania

Tues 30 Sep
Best to start really early and leave plenty of time
Depart Chania on local bus on 6.15am, 7.45am or 8.45am to Omalos (start of Samaria Gorge Walk). The bus trip takes 45 mins and costs about €7.
Walk the gorge – leave plenty of time and get through it early – allow 6 hours for the walk which is 13 km
Stay Agia Roumeli
Stay Gigilos Hotel

Wed 1 Oct
Stay in Agia Roumeli or walk to Loutro 13 km and stay in Loutro

Thurs 2 Oct
Morning ferry Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion 8.30am 11.30am and 5.30 (or ferry from Loutro to Chora Sfakion). Take the local bus from Chora Sfakion to Chania. These leave at 7.00am, 11am, 1.30pm and 6.30pm (the evening bus departs after the boat from Agia Roumeli arrives). The trip takes an hour and 40 mins and costs about €8.

From Agia Roumeli, in the south of Chania prefecture, ferries link to the beautiful coastal villages of Loutro, Sfakia, also known as Chora Sfakion, Sougia, and Palaiohora and the beach at Elafonisi. Sfakia can be reached by bus from Chania. See the KTEL Bus timetables for times and routes. Services are reduced in autumn and shoulder seasons such as September and October, so you need to work out the schedule in early October please email or phone KTEL directly.

Anendyk Maritime S.A. runs three ferries on the south coast of Chania and bookings are generally not required, but which you can do from ticket offices in Agia Roumeli. Services are reduced in autumn and shoulder seasons such as September and October, so you need to work out the schedule in early October, please email or phone Anendyk directly.

When travelling in Crete by ferry, remember that the sea has the final word on all ferry and boat departures and scheduled ferries may be cancelled due to weather conditions.

We would suggest you choose a small family run hotel in Chania and email them before booking to ask them if you could please leave your luggage whilst you do the gorge and south coast trip. We are sure this will be fine and many hotels will easily accommodate this request.

See our suggestions for small hotels here, the Madonna Studios will offer wonderful friendly service and they have a luggage storage option.

Bon Voyage! Kalo Taxidi!