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Things to do in Omalos

Our most recommended things to do in Omalos

From Chania: Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion

1. From Chania: Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion

Embark on a full-day guided trip to the Samaria Gorge from Chania. Arrive in Omalos in the heart of the White Mountains, and enjoy breakfast before trekking along the longest gorge in Europe — 4,000 feet above sea level.  After breakfast, enter the Samaria Gorge. Walk at your own pace with your English speaking guide at the end of the group to help out if you need them. Hike over rocks and stones, through a forest of thousand-year-old trees and along a river, passing by fresh-water springs along the way. Enjoy views of Crete’s most beautiful mountain range and see mountain goats roaming in the wild. Feel the exhilaration of challenging yourself with a long hike. At the end of the trek, visit the village of Agia Roumeli, where you’ll find a number of taverns, bars, and shops. Enjoy some free time to take a swim or have some lunch. A meeting point will be arranged so you can collect your ferry tickets from your guide. Late in the afternoon you’ll board a boat that will take you from Agia Roumeli to Sougia, where the bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the starting point about 730 PM.

From Rethymno: Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek with Pickup

2. From Rethymno: Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek with Pickup

Take a day trip from Rethymno to set out on an outdoor adventure into Samaria Gorge National Park. Hike at your own pace with a guide over rocks and stones, through a forest of thousand-year-old trees, along a river, and by fresh-water springs. Keep an eye out for mountain goats roaming in the wild. Begin your full-day excursion to Samaria Gorge with pickup and a drive to Omalos, in the heart of the White Mountains, where you can enjoy breakfast before you start the hike. Challenge yourself with 17 kilometers of walking over rocky terrain. Be accompanied by a mountain escort who speaks English, German and French. Get briefed about your hike and get your tickets for the entrance and ferry boat from your escort. These fees have to be paid to the guide upon arrival. After breakfast, enter the Samaria Gorge. Walk at your own pace as your guide will be at the end of the group to help out if you need them. At the end of the trek, visit the village of Agia Roumeli, where you’ll find a number of taverns, bars, and shops. Enjoy some free time to take a swim or have some lunch. A meeting point will be arranged so you can collect your ferry tickets from your guide. Late in the afternoon, board a boat to go from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia, where the bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the pickup point.

From Chania or Rethymno: Samariá Gorge Guided Hike

3. From Chania or Rethymno: Samariá Gorge Guided Hike

Embark on a guided hike in the Samariá Gorge on a day trip from Rethymno or Chania. Get your daily dose of exercise, enjoy the panoramic views and take a swim.  Discover the longest gorge in Europe, an area of stunning natural beauty. See its many flowers and herbs and the crystal-clear spring waters that flow from the mountains. Following an early morning pickup from the nearest point to your accommodation in Rethymno or Chania, travel through the mountains passing the plateau of Omalos. Arrive at some wooden stairs at the start of Samariá Gorge. You can opt to start the walk straight away or get some breakfast at the taverna before you begin. Hike for approximately 6-7 hours and experience the magnificent landscape on a 16-kilometer walk. Once you have finished the hike, there will be ample time for a swim and lunch at a taverna in Agia Roumeli.

Explore the White Mountains of Crete

4. Explore the White Mountains of Crete

Combine a unique safari tour in the White Mountains of Crete and take in the most incredible panoramic views, visit traditional Cretan villages, learn the history and the traditions of the island, and find out all about the lifestyle of a Cretan shepherd while exploring an original shepherd’s hut. Enjoy the unique view of Chania from an altitude of 1350m and discover the wildlife of Crete with the help of our premium off road vehicles, driven by specialised multilingual escorts. Our amazing off-road adventure begins by crossing a valley full of orange and avocado trees, and many vegetables gardens. Climbing up the foothills of the White Mountains where we make our coffee stop at Deres to enjoy our morning break. Continuing we drive through the Cretan villages of Vatolakos, Alikianos, Fournes, Meskla, Zourva and Therisso getting a taste of the mountainous Crete in the foot of the White Mountains, following an off road route up to the shepherd’s hut called “Mitato” far away from tourist areas. We are traveling on uncharted routes where only a four wheel drive can approach and we enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of northern Crete and, if lucky ... to marvel some wild eagles and goats from up close giving us a good reason to stop and capture the moment. A small rocky road will lead us up to our trip’s highest point of 1350 meters altitude in the heart of the White Mountains of Crete, where you will find out all about the lifestyle of a shepherd. We will learn where the famous Cretan “Graviera” cheese was produced and explore an original Shepherd's hut called "Mitato". On our way back we will enjoy the best panoramic view of Chania from above, until we arrive at Therisso village for a short walk in the historic village and a visit in a small Cretan family tavern for our lunch. After our lunch we will follow the road through the amazing gorge of Therisso that will lead us back to the city of Chania. **Please note that from December to March we travel with snow in the mountains and the route may be altered according to weather conditions **During low season till 31.03.2023 minimum pax per booking should be at least 2 pax or the price for it. **The prices are for group participation with minimum of 4 pax to start.

Private Tour to The White Mountains & Samaria from Above

5. Private Tour to The White Mountains & Samaria from Above

Our day starts from Chania moving south to reach the big orange valley. In a few minutes we will be inside the valley moving southwest through orange trees and farming areas, full of aromas and tastes. Crossing the valley we will encounter the villages of Varipetros, Agia, Alikianos, Fournes and start climbing on altitude through an off-road route, with dense vegetation and the best panoramic view of Chania, we reach Lakoi village for our coffee break. Reaching an altitude of 1000m our adrenaline will raise while we continue our off-road route through the heart of the White Mountains, crossing the unknown shepherd's paths, filling ourselves with the fresh air and magical scenery of the wild vegetation, livestock and breathtaking landscapes. At the end of our adventure route we will reach the Kallergi Refuge at 1680m altitude above sea level. The view just above Samaria Gorge is unique. Looking towards the south you will get a glimpse of the Libyan Sea and the highest tops of the White Mountains surrounding you. Reaching Omalos Plateau we stop for lunch with local platters in a traditional Cretan tavern. After lunch as we follow the way back we pass by the beautiful and historical village of Lakkoi, where we stop for some photos and information about the village and then we continue our route back to Chania filled with the essence of Crete. *Please note that during winter (December-March) the Kallergi refuge may be inaccessible due to dense snow. In that case, we reach Xiloskalo (the entrance of Samaria Gorge) and then we follow alternative off-road routes through mountains and villages. **Please note that from December to March we travel with snow in the mountains and the route may be altered according to weather conditions…

Chania: Private Herbs and Wine Guided Tour

6. Chania: Private Herbs and Wine Guided Tour

The tour’s first stop is the incredible botanical garden of Chania. In the herbal garden of the park, you will discover the secrets of the herbs and all their benefits. You will be encouraged to try and smell the plants with your private wine guide who will use this opportunity to enrich your olfactive memory and wine tasting skills. After a relaxing and magical wandering among the plants and trees, it’s now time for you to enjoy a quality label Cretan Cuisine meal prepared with ingredients coming from the vegetable garden as well as herbs and fruit coming from the park. The lunch will be accompanied by two of our own exclusive wines. With the aromas and tastes of herbs still in your minds, it is now time to discover their influence in the wine. The next stop is the famous Manousakis winery where you will enjoy a commented wine tasting of 7 different labels. The grapes, both indigenous and international varieties, are organically grown in the Manousakis vineyards.

From Heraklion: Samaria Gorge Private Full-Day Hiking Trip

7. From Heraklion: Samaria Gorge Private Full-Day Hiking Trip

On a privately chauffeured basis day tour, hike through Samaria alongside our expert guide by tailoring the route at your own pace. Start at Omalos plateau and finish at the fishing village of Agia Roumeli overlooking the spectacular views of the Libyan Sea. In between? Hiking downriver in the footsteps of the mythological Cretan Titan who stabbed earth descending 18 km on the Southside of White Mountains by creating the geological masterpiece of Samaria canyon. Agia Roumeli is the place where the great canyon meets the sea. It is the seaside fishing village where you are going to take a vitalizing dip in the azure warm waters of the South Crete and then taste the delicious cuisine at the family restaurants. It is also the place where you will take the boat for the Hora Sfakion where your private driver will meet and take you back in the comfort of a luxury chauffeured vehicle. There are some bespoke ways to do it if you’re in the know. And our Travel Designers most definitely are.

From Chania or Rethymno: Samaria Gorge Full-Day Hiking Trip

8. From Chania or Rethymno: Samaria Gorge Full-Day Hiking Trip

Embark on a guided hike through the Samaria Gorge from Chania or Rethymno and soak up the dramatic views across the canyon. Continue to a seaside village to explore and unwind in the sea, before being chauffeured back to your hotel. After being picked up early in the morning from your hotel in Chania or Rethymno, meet your expert guide and journey to Xyloskalo on the Omalos Plateau. From there, together you will start the 18-kilometer hiking tour. As you hike through the Samaria Gorge, admire the ever-changing, dramatic landscapes and scenery. Head downriver on the south side of the White Mountains for incredible photos. At the end of the canyon, find yourself in the small village of Agia Roumeli, where the great canyon meets the Libyan Sea. Explore this seaside fishing village and enjoy a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters. Get recommendations from your guide on where to have lunch. Take the boat to the Hora Sfakion, where your private driver will meet you and take you back. Travel in comfort after your hike as you relax in a modern, chauffeured vehicle.

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What people are saying about Omalos

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 2,659 reviews

Wow this trek will forever stay in our memories! This is a very challenging hike (saying this as 27/30 year old couple who regularly go to the gym) with a very early wake up call (4:30am), quite a long bus journey there and back to the hotel, then 70% of the hike is just going down rather than on a flat surface so you'll feel your knees and ankles will be swollen. You need lots of snacks, sandwiches and water (though there are water fountains on the way). I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with little fitness or little children, also the heat gets to you (in September 31 degrees). You need to keep up with the pace, the guide tells everyone what time they should reach each station (don't expect any cafes etc) as you also want to dip in the water (a must!!) before getting on a ferry back. The guide was very nice and made sure everyone was okay though you loose track of him if you don't keep up with the pace. I wouldn't do it again but it's a great lifetime experience!

- The views are amazing and you will also find a small city at the end of the hike. - The route is not that hard to walk. Walk at your pace because there is enough time. - Make sure you have food and water with you. Before starting the hike, you will stop at a small place that have sandwiches and some pastry, but they are average.

We loved this tour and cannot recommend it enough! Our guide, Aris, was super informative, patient and showed us so many places and things about the island that we wouldn't have discovered without a guided tour. Highly recommended!

great and thorough guide, incredible scenery, you feel like you've really accomplished something at the end, but isn't for the faint hearted, it is a tough but rewarding day, make sure the rest up the day after!

Make sure you are up for this!!! needs fitness..it'll hurt the next day..