Imbros Gorge Guided Hike with Sfakia Swim Stop from Chania

The drive into the White Mountains

The day begins with hotel pickup in the Chania area and a drive south across the island into the White Mountains, the great limestone range of western Crete whose peaks keep snow well into spring. The road climbs through olive groves and villages to the high plateau of Askyfou before reaching Imbros village at the top of the gorge.

Here there is time for breakfast before the walk, a good chance to try a Cretan pie or yogurt with honey. The guide gives a short briefing on the route, the terrain and safety. If you wonder how to get to Imbros Gorge without a car, this is the easiest way: the coach drops you at the start and waits for you at the end.

Imbros Gorge: the hike

Imbros Gorge is about 8 km long and runs downhill from Imbros village to Komitades near the south coast. It is the second best-known gorge of Crete after Samaria but much shorter and easier, with a gentle slope on a path of stones and gravel, so the Imbros Gorge hike usually takes about two and a half hours at a relaxed pace.

Along the way the walls rise high above you and close in to narrows less than two metres wide. Your guide points out landmarks such as the Stenada narrows, the rock formation locals call the Airplane, Mesofarango in the middle of the gorge, and the impressive natural Xepitira arch. Wild cypresses, fig trees and herbs grow from the rock, and the shade of the walls keeps the walk pleasant even on warm days.

History of the gorge

For centuries Imbros Gorge was the main road between the proud mountain region of Sfakia and the north coast of Chania, used by shepherds, traders and mule trains. The old cobbled path can still be seen in places, and stone shelters and walls recall the people who used it.

The gorge also has a strong place in modern history. In May 1941, during the Battle of Crete, Allied soldiers retreated through it towards the south coast, from where they were evacuated by sea at Sfakia. Your guide tells this story as you walk, adding meaning to one of the best day trips from Chania for nature and history lovers. Memorials in the area still honour those events.

Chora Sfakion and the Libyan Sea

At the end of the gorge the coach takes you to Chora Sfakion, the small harbour village that serves as the centre of Sfakia, set between steep bare mountains and the deep-blue Libyan Sea. Here you have free time to swim from the pebbly beaches, relax by the water and have lunch in a seaside taverna.

Try local specialities such as the Sfakian pie, a thin pancake filled with soft cheese and drizzled with honey, or fresh fish. Depending on the day, the free time may also be spent near Frangokastello, where a 14th-century Venetian castle stands by a long sandy beach. After a well-earned rest, the coach drives you back across the mountains to your hotel.