Car Hire Crete: Samaria Gorge
Car Hire
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The Samaria Gorge is another of
Crete’s natural wonders, a product of river-flow between Mt
Volakias and the White Mountains. It is now the main feature of the
Samaria Gorge National Park and one of the most interesting days
out one can hope to have whilst holidaying on the beautiful island
of Crete. Although many tourists come by coach if you want the
quieter experience, then hire car on Crete.
Located in south-west Crete in the city of Chania, the Samaria Gorge hike is a sixteen kilometre trek that begins at the gorge’s origin, at an altitude of over one kilometre up in the White Mountains. By the end of the trek, visitors will find themselves in a town named Agia Roumeli on the shores of the Libyan Sea.
One of the most popular features of the gorge is a section known as the Iron Gates, where the sides of the gorge tower above visitor at a height of five hundred metres whilst the walls are reduced to a width sometimes as small as three metres. Parents, you needn’t let concerns of falling rocks cheat you out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience as the gorge is constantly monitored for unsafe protrusions and areas of erosion.
The national park offers fun information centres and activities for children whilst a selection of restaurants and gift shops help make the experience memorable. Founded only recently in 1962, the Samaria Gorge National Park’s creators had two main perogatives: the preservation of the breath-taking gorge and to help maintain the dwindling numbers of the endangered species that live amongst the gorge and the mountains. Tour guides will try to help visitors see these creatures – such as the ‘kri-kri’ (Cretan mountain goat) – whose incredibly agile ascents of the mountain will leave those lucky enough to see it awe-struck. A number of flower species that solely grow in these areas will also be highlighted by the outstanding guides.
Other lesser known gorges include the Kourtaliotiko and Kotsifou Gorges of Rethymnon, less than two kilometres apart. On the opposite side of the island in eastern Crete there is a famous gorge named the Valley of the Dead, due to the high number of Minoan graves that were discovered there. Whilst not as famous as the Samaria Gorge, many of the Cretan gorges have tours that operate daily. These gorges are just like the mountains that cast shadows upon them in that they are a real part of Cretan heritage and highly recommended for visitation.
Located in south-west Crete in the city of Chania, the Samaria Gorge hike is a sixteen kilometre trek that begins at the gorge’s origin, at an altitude of over one kilometre up in the White Mountains. By the end of the trek, visitors will find themselves in a town named Agia Roumeli on the shores of the Libyan Sea.
One of the most popular features of the gorge is a section known as the Iron Gates, where the sides of the gorge tower above visitor at a height of five hundred metres whilst the walls are reduced to a width sometimes as small as three metres. Parents, you needn’t let concerns of falling rocks cheat you out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience as the gorge is constantly monitored for unsafe protrusions and areas of erosion.
The national park offers fun information centres and activities for children whilst a selection of restaurants and gift shops help make the experience memorable. Founded only recently in 1962, the Samaria Gorge National Park’s creators had two main perogatives: the preservation of the breath-taking gorge and to help maintain the dwindling numbers of the endangered species that live amongst the gorge and the mountains. Tour guides will try to help visitors see these creatures – such as the ‘kri-kri’ (Cretan mountain goat) – whose incredibly agile ascents of the mountain will leave those lucky enough to see it awe-struck. A number of flower species that solely grow in these areas will also be highlighted by the outstanding guides.
Other lesser known gorges include the Kourtaliotiko and Kotsifou Gorges of Rethymnon, less than two kilometres apart. On the opposite side of the island in eastern Crete there is a famous gorge named the Valley of the Dead, due to the high number of Minoan graves that were discovered there. Whilst not as famous as the Samaria Gorge, many of the Cretan gorges have tours that operate daily. These gorges are just like the mountains that cast shadows upon them in that they are a real part of Cretan heritage and highly recommended for visitation.
