No matter how you are going to walk through the gorge of Agia Irini, because it is not a circular walk, you will need to get yourself back to your starting point. This is unless you choose to walk through the gorge and return by the same route. It is quite a feasible option for a fit walker (15km, 5 hours walk, no more than walking through the gorge of Samaria) and is definitely not boring as you will have a different view of the walk going back.
If you decide not to do this here are a few options:
If you are coming from the North by car the best is to leave your car at the upper entrance of the gorge, walk down and get a transport back to your car from the exit of the gorge. The owners of the Oasis Taverna (at the exit of the gorge) can call a taxi or may be able to arrange another form of transport back to your car if none is available.
If you are coming from Sougia by car you could start at the bottom of the gorge, walk up to the northern exit and catch the bus that goes down to Sougia at around 15.30 (see the link to the KTEL public buses on the links page for an up-to-date time-table). Get off at the junction to Livadha and Koustogerako and walk back to your car (around 4km). Alternatively, walk up the gorge and back down to your car.
If you are coming from Sougia without a car either get a taxi to the southern entrance, walk up and pick up the bus back to Sougia (at around 15.30 on week days) or take the early bus from Sougia (it generally leaves Sougia at 7.00) to the northern entrance, walk down the gorge and either carry on walking to Sougia (around 8km) or get the owners of Oasis Taverna to call for a taxi or arrange another transport.
If you are coming from the North without a car you can take the public bus from Chania to Sougia that gets to the northern entrance of the gorge at around 15.30, walk down and either carry on down to Sougia where you can spend the night or...take a taxi back because there is generally no public transport back to Chania in the evening.
Of course your whole trip can be done by taxi either from Sougia or from the North. It makes the logistics easier but costs more.
If you choose to walk from the exit of the gorge to Sougia it is best to stick to the road. There is very little traffic and the going is a lot easier than trying to stay in the river bed. The distance is 8km so it takes around 90 minutes. You may try to hitch-hike but there is so little traffic that you should not count on getting a lift.
Avoid walking in the mid-day heat in summer, there isn't much shade on the road.
For more information on the walk through the gorge follow the links below
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