Starting from Omalos and the plateau of the same name, the hike begins with a long staircase winding through the trees and leading down to the bottom of the gorge. After 2 km of walking, the difference in altitude already reaching 800 m, is the chapel of Agios Nikolaos surrounded by impressive cypress trees (almost 7 m in circumference). The nature has been preserved because of the difficulty of access: you may come across some endangered and protected species (vultures, eagles, kri-kri) in a landscape of pine trees and wild flowers. The next part is more gentle and crosses a rather wide gorge which leads to the village of Samaria and which, at 7 km from the starting point, marks the halfway point of the trip. Just after that is the chapel of Saint Mary the Egyptian, which gave its name to the gorge. From here, the landscape is more rocky and wild, the path passes and passes again through the riverbed, with spectacular vertical walls that gradually narrow to arrive, as an unexpected exit door to the Iron Gates (Sideroportes) barely 3 m wide. At this point, 12 km from the starting point, the vertical walls are 600 m high. Once past these gates, the gorge widens until the exit. The trail continues to the old village of Agia Roumeli where there are refreshment stands selling overpriced drinks. You will have to walk about 2 km on open ground before reaching the coast, the taverns and cafes of Agia Roumeli where cold drinks flow freely. Sea bathing recommended! The easy way to visit the gorge, less sensational, is to start from Agia Roumeli and go up to the Iron Gates.

Other hikes. To the top of Pachnes, the highest peak of Crete after Mount Psiloritis (2 453 m vs. 2 457 m). For the more adventurous, there is a 2-day hike to Anopolis or Hora Sfakion with a possible bivouac at the Kastivelis lodge (information: EOS in Hania or Kallergi), for the more athletic, the climb to mount Gingilos (2,080 m) from the Tourist Lodge (2h30 to 3h to the summit): a bit of a climb but nothing dramatic, follow the red signs From up there, you have more chance to observe wild species of birds than quadrupeds. Finally, the long walk from Omalos to Koustagerakos through the gorge of Saint Theodore, in 9 hours (it follows one of the E4 paths), is superb.

Or the walk from Omalos to Agia Irini by the other path E4, to be done in 5 or 6 hours.