The gorges of West Crete

One of the most visited attractions of Crete is the gorge of Samaria. It has become a must for visitors who are fit enough to walk and over a quarter of a million people trudge through it each year. Needless to say, the natural beauty and the magical atmosphere are somewhat marred by the crowds. There are over 50 other gorges in the White Mountains, none as long (although the gorge of Tripiti comes a very close second) as Samaria but each with its own "personality" and few or no other people to disturb the peace. Give them a try.
Some of these gorges are short and easy walks, some are very difficult and dangerous. Inform yourself about the level of difficulty before venturing in them. One rule applies to all the gorges: do not walk in a gorge after heavy rains (or whilst it is raining of course), not so much because there is a danger of floods but because of stones falling.

Back to photos index