Imbros Gorge

Imbros Gorge is an 8 kilometre walk through one of the narrowest canyons in Crete, descending about 600 metres from the mountain village of Imbros to the village of Komitades on the south coast. Most walkers finish it in 2.5 to 3 hours. It is almost entirely downhill, well signposted and, unlike Samaria, open all year round, which makes it the gorge most visitors to Chania can actually manage.

It sits in the Sfakia region of southern Chania and forms part of the European E4 long distance path. In places the limestone walls rise up to 300 metres while the passage narrows to barely two metres. This guide covers how long it takes, how it compares to Samaria, how to get there and, the part most people underestimate, how to get back. Crete it! runs guided hikes in Crete from Kalyves in Apokoronas, about an hour from the gorge.

Key takeaways

• 8 km, about 600 m of descent, 2.5 to 3 hours of walking, easy to moderate.
• Open all year, so it is the spring and autumn alternative while Samaria is closed.
• The walk ends 8 km from your car in Komitades, plan the return before you start.
• Less than half the length of Samaria, far fewer people, no ferry and no timetable.

The route at a glance

How long does the Imbros Gorge hike take?

Allow 2.5 to 3 hours to walk the gorge itself. Fit walkers who do not stop often can do it in about 2 hours. Families with young children should plan for 3.5 hours. The path is downhill for almost its entire length, so the limiting factor is footing on loose rock rather than fitness.

Add time at the end for a drink in Komitades and for arranging your transport back. If you are starting from Chania, count a full half day door to door: about an hour of driving each way plus the walk.

Is Imbros Gorge worth it?

If you want the drama of a Cretan gorge without committing a full day to it, yes. Imbros gives you the narrow passages, the towering walls and the wild vegetation of Samaria in a walk less than half as long, with far fewer people on the path, and without the fixed timetable and ferry connection that Samaria demands.

It is also the realistic choice if you are travelling with children, if you are short on time, or if you are visiting outside the Samaria season. Along the way you pass cypress shade, a natural rock arch and the narrowest point of the canyon, where the walls almost touch above you.

What it is not is a wilderness expedition. It is a well trodden, well marked route, and that is exactly why it suits most visitors. If you want something harder on the same coast, look at the Sougia to Agia Roumeli section of the E4.

Imbros Gorge vs Samaria Gorge

Both are worth doing. If you only have time for one and you are not a regular hiker, take Imbros. If you are set on the classic crossing, read our Samaria Gorge guide first, because the logistics are very different.

How to get to Imbros Gorge and how to get back

The top entrance is in Imbros village, on the road from Vrises to Chora Sfakion. It is roughly an hour’s drive from Chania and a little over an hour from Rethymno. There are cafes and tavernas in the village with parking, but spaces near the trailhead fill up in high season, so arriving early matters. Yes, you can drive to the entrance. What you cannot do is drive out of the bottom.

The part most people underestimate is the return. The walk ends in Komitades, 8 kilometres and 600 vertical metres below where you left your car, and there is no easy way back. Your options are:

• Walk back up through the gorge, which roughly doubles the day and is hard in summer heat.
• Take a shared taxi from Komitades back up to Imbros, the usual choice, paid per person.
• Time the infrequent public bus on the Chania to Chora Sfakion route, which stops near Komitades.

This is the single most common thing that goes wrong on a self organised Imbros hike. A guided tour with transport removes the problem entirely.

When to go

The gorge is open all year, which is its main practical advantage over Samaria. Spring and autumn are the best times to walk it. The temperature is manageable and the light in the narrow sections is at its best. April is a particularly good month, because Samaria is usually still closed and the vegetation is green.

In midsummer, start early. The lower half of the gorge holds heat and there is little shade once the walls open out. Avoid the route on rainy days and immediately after heavy rain, because of the risk of falling rock and slippery stones.

What to bring

• Water (1.5l)
• Hiking shoes with grip, the ground is rocky
• Backpack
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Light snack
• Camera
• Sunglasses

Hiking Imbros Gorge with Crete it!

We are based in Kalyves, Apokoronas, about an hour from the gorge, and we organise guided nature hikes across Crete, from gorge crossings to coastal E4 walks. Going with a guide removes the two things that catch people out: transport, so the car and the taxi from Komitades stop being a problem, and route knowledge, so you walk at the right time of day with someone who knows the region. We keep groups small.

What is included

• An experienced mountain guide who stays with the group for the whole hike
• Transport, with pick up from Chania town and its suburbs, Stalos, Agia Marina, Platanias and the whole Apokoronas area
• The Imbros Gorge entrance ticket (5 euros per person)
• Hiking equipment: safety helmets where required and trekking poles

All of this at no extra charge. There is no fixed price: we quote per group, depending on group size, season, any extras you want to add and the difficulty of the route.