Samaria Gorge Hike

Checkin Creta picked us up on time from the location provided, initial instructions given before the trip were very informative. Make sure you bring cash as the guide will collect this for the entrance fee and ferry when you board the coach. You are left to do the walk yourselves with guide staying with the last person of the group throughout the walk. Samaria Gorge itself was absolutely beautiful with spectacular views, this is hard walk though due to the terrain. So be prepared as steep declines on very uneven surfaces with slippery rocks. Good grip shoes are a must for this! At the end there is a tavern where you meet the guide to get your ferry tickets and then wait for the ferry to arrive. Instructions for when getting off the ferry to find the coach were very limited from the guide, as pretty much our whole group got off found one another and were then clueless as to where we were suppose to be meeting the coach. When you get off the ferry turn left and walk up the steps on the right and this is where the coach/bus car park is, where the coach will be waiting for you. Overall experience was definitely one to tick off and very glad we completed it as the gorge is incredible!

Wow, what an experience!! From booking the tour online all the way through to dropping us off at the hotel, I can safely say it was a breathtaking day. We booked online with absolute ease, and were given the choice to pay upfront or cash on arrival. Cash on arrival easier for us. Organised pickup over WhatsApp, and we're told 5:35am from our hotel. No problem for us, but then we met another couple and they wanted to go so added them on to our booking with ease. Coach pulled up 5 mins early and we were greeted by an absolute gentleman Koustas who welcomed us and once we paid gave us our tickets for the Samaria Gorge national park. Koustas was an outstanding tour guide, speaking multiple languages who made it his mission to make sure everyone understood the days itinerary. Once we arrived at the Gorge he allowed everyone to crack on at their own pace and he stayed with the last people all the way down the Gorge. Once we had reached the end, Koustas came and sat down with us and we had a lengthy chat about home, life in crete over refreshments. We then got on the ferry from Agia Roumelli which is an experience in itself, and Koustas was the last man on board making sure everyone was on. We then sat down and we chatted some more about his Marathons and family. Koustas then out of nowhere gave myself and my new fiance a gift to celebrate our engagement which happened whilst in the Gorge. I don't think I've ever come across a tour guide so welcoming, so happy to make sure everyone else was enjoying themselves. His customer service was something special. As for the tour itself, the Gorge is difficult for any hiker but well worth it.

Thanks to Chekin Creta and Costas it was unforgettable travel and excellent adventure! Highly recommended!