Hiking, Skip Loire, in Samaria Gorge

Samaria Gorge is the main goal of my visit Chania, one of the major cities on the island of Crete, Greece.

Correction. Actually, the main purpose Samaria Gorge Chania Diyan selecting destinations, and I was dragged into it.

I had hesitated to join the trekking there for fear of my knees crashed. 13 km route along the contour up and down and rocky, rather make me jiper. But there seems beautiful scenery really, based on the photos I saw on the internet. Plus, this unique destination, I have never been trekking in the valley. So, beat alone!

Departing the bus ride from the city of Chania dawn, we then start trekking about 7 am. There have been many others in the location named Omalos, which will travel the same with us. Burly young men to the elderly lean but well-built, all seemed to be prepared with supplies respectively; trekking shoes, a light jacket, water bottles, to trekking pole. After breakfast sandwich perfunctory in the tavern near the entrance gate, we joined the 'ranks' trekking.

Samaria Gorge is a canyon between Lefka Ori (White Mountains) and Mount Volakia. This area is uninhabited since it was established as a National Park in 1962, and the reason dijadikannya national park is to protect kri kri, mountain goats endemic to the island of Crete. I hope to meet kri kri there, but unfortunately it does not look catch anything along the trekking route.

There are two choices of routes trekking in Samaria Gorge, which is down a ravine on the plains of Omalos towards the shore Agia Roumelli overlooking the Libyan Sea (part of the Mediterranean Sea), or vice versa. Both are within the same, and equally up and down its contours. I was going to choose a route lazy trekkers, which departs from Sougia to Agia Roumelli, then trekking piece of it and return to Sougia. But how it feels responsibility, so I'm desperate to just route length.

Apparently, trekking in the Samaria Gorge is fun! This activity we did before climbing Mount Olympus, so then we do not know that these trekking already common in Greece jauuuuh more convenient than trekking in Indonesia were mild. Almost every kilometer there is a rest area that provides wooden benches and tables to rest and shower fresh spring water to drink straight. Trekker can also fill the bottle to drink there. The toilet is also available and tolerable maintained clean.

When searching for information about the Samaria Gorge on the internet, Diyan find the services of a guide for trekking in the Samaria Gorge. A hefty price, 28 euros per person. Fortunately we Airbnb hosts in Chania trekking assured us that there does not need a guide. Sure enough! Directions are clearly visible, the track was open and not need a machete to cut the tree branches or reeds. In fact, most of the track has been shaped stairs and given a wooden fence.

Several times I had to traverse shallow enough time to cross through rocks that are composed of one side to the other. Although superficially, I still need to be careful not to slip. Not infrequently fellow travelers to help each other across the river though not know each other. The wooden bridge is also available on the river deep enough and flowing.

Approximately at km 11, the cliffs that flank the canyon narrows to 3.5 m just wide, having previously can reach a width of 150 m, with high cliffs up to 350 m. Part of this narrow canyon called The Iron Gate. incredibly magnificent! Humans just visible as small as fleas nearby.

Iron Gate length is approximately 2 km and almost all that we had to walk melipir on the edge to avoid the flow of the river. The stone wall along the Iron Gate - instead of iron as the name suggests - has a layered strokes. Whenever you see the rocks with strokes like this, I think I'd love to walk accompanied by a geologist in order to explain the story behind the ridges. If only!

Finished down the Iron Gate, we arrived at the exit gate of the national park. A simple shop offers fresh food and drink, of course, is not free. Here usually trekkers rest before continuing the trip to the beach Agia Roumelli within 3 km from there.

Eits, just calm down. A distance of 3 km is not to be reached by foot. There are shuttle car that can deliver the tourists with little costs, I think it was 2 Euro per person. Perhaps predictably, this is the option I chose.

In the small port of Agia Roumelli, several ferries are scheduled every 17.30 to deliver the tourists - and locals - to Sougia. Then from travelers Sougia public bus drove back to the city of Chania. While waiting for the ferry to come, we relax for a moment at the beach. Diyan ventured to swim in the cold sea water, while I - because it does not bring a bathing suit and a change of clothes - just wait while eating pizza at a beachside restaurant. Pizza, anyway, not bad, but the view overlooking the Mediterranean Sea was really good. Overlay shades of blue bordered by black volcanic sand, dotted lines of white froth and little colorful bathing suits travelers.

As someone who rarely trekking, I was quite overwhelmed with the terrain Samaria Gorge. But look at the number of parents, aged up to 70-years, which is still in good shape and able to run faster and more stable, my spirit was burning to keep going and not complain. In addition, the beautiful landscape and gurgling streams that accompany the journey was very refreshing eye and heart, as if encouraging me to keep going and see the beauty of what lies ahead there. Indeed sore foot, foot feels a little blister, skin sunburn and tired backs carrying a backpack containing a camera, drinking water, and jackets that are no longer needed since midmorning. But it all paid off with the satisfaction of having conquered the Samaria Gorge, the longest and most beautiful trekking routes I have ever passed.

that was my experience

thanks u very much