Hike Through the Imbros Gorge on Crete
Besides the well-known Samaria trail, there are more gorges to visit in Crete. We decided to visit the Imbros gorge (1) during our stay on Crete at the end of October 2022. We went through the gorge from top to bottom (shuttle bus return). With just under 6 km and 500 altimeters, the hike is not that heavy. In this article you will find out more about the hike through Imbros gorge on Crete. We also added the hike to our free Google-Maps travel guide Crete.
Hike Imbros Gorge Crete
There are plenty of (free) parking spaces at the starting point at the top (see the start point in our free Google Maps Crete). After a short descent we arrived at the entrance of the gorge. The passage is not free, you will find some kind of control point, where you have to pay entrance fee (not that expensive, we had to pay €2,50 each in 2022). Take exact cash if you want to be sure to enter, paying by card was not possible during our visit. After entrance, the hike is a more or less continuous trail with loose pebbles, descending gradually through the gorge. The first part is quite wide, but after a few kilometers the passage becomes narrower, with the narrowest parts being about one and a half meters wide. This is the most beautiful part of the trail.
There is a small cabin about halfway, where you can take a break. They also sell some cold drinks and snacks. We are used to hiking more challenging routes, so we only used the (outdated) toilets here. After a few kilometers and some more narrow passages we reached the end point and found someone standing behind a simple table asking for our tickets. This is the end point of the hike.
Back to the Starting Point of the Imbros Gorge
A shuttle bus was waiting just after the checkpoint. We did not make any reservation, but simply could join some other tourists waiting to return to the starting point. If you are in bad luck, you might have to wait some minutes for the next shuttle to arrive (or at least at our visit during autumn break). The shuttle was €5,- each. Back at the starting point there is a restaurant, but we would actually recommend driving a little further and make a stop at the Panorama taverna, with a beautiful view over the gorge. Driving southwards, we found this little cafe at the left side next to the third small road tunnel. Check out the location here!
So is the Hike to the Imbros Gorge Worth it?
That depends. The Imbros Gorge is a short walk of about 6 km, most of which is very easy to walk and only in downward direction. There are no steep sections anywhere and there is a possibility to return by shuttle. This makes it accesible for most people, especially families with children. If you are more experienced in hiking, you might want to check out the Samaria Gorge. This full-day hike is Cretes most popular gorge, but also more demanding. It requires some proper planning, as it includes a ferry and shuttle retour. Unfortunately, we did not visit this trail, as it was getting dark too early late October for this long hike.
Looking for another fun hike on Crete? be sure to check out the hike to the highest mountain of the island: Psiloritis!
