Crete Island Guide
Samaria Gorge tickets are not one product. The park authority sells the gate fee directly, and the real planning problem is the two transport legs around it, the coach up to Xyloskalo and the boat out of Agia Roumeli, since there is no road out of the gorge's south end. This page prices every leg so you can compare doing it yourself against an all-inclusive package, part of our guide to the Samaria Gorge hike on our Crete Island Guide.
Quick answer Which Samaria Gorge option to book
Samaria Gorge tickets really mean three separate costs: the park's own $5.61 (€5) gate fee, the coach to the Xyloskalo trailhead, and the boat out of Agia Roumeli once you finish, since the gorge has no road exit at its southern end. Doing it yourself, a KTEL bus toward Omalos plus the gate fee plus an ANENDYK boat and a bus back from Hora Sfakion adds up leg by leg. An all-inclusive card like the GetYourGuide package folds the coach, the fee and the ferry into one $59.09 booking. The cheapest headline price, a Viator coach and guide at $33.26, does not include the park fee or the boat, which add roughly $28.27 more on the day for an all-in total close to $61.53.
Key takeaways
- Want everything covered in one price? The all-inclusive coach, fee and ferry package at $59.09 is the simplest option.
- Want a guide without the full bundle? The guided coach at $31.75 covers transport and a hiking guide, with the fee and boat paid separately.
- Comparing the cheapest headline price? The Viator option lists at $33.26 but carries roughly $28.27 in mandatory extras on the day.
- Doing it yourself? See the boat fares out of Agia Roumeli and the bus legs below before you commit to a DIY day.
Key facts
Planning it
- Book ahead
- Recommended — a few days
- Address
- North gate Xyloskalo, Omalos plateau. South gate and boat departure at Agia Roumeli.
Photo: Duja (uploader, assumed from copyright claims), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Samaria Gorge: Gate Fee vs All-Inclusive Transport
The park sets one gate fee for everyone. The three cards below are not alternative sellers of that fee, since nobody resells it, but different ways to bundle the coach and the boat around it, priced in US dollars against the park's own euro gate price.
Do you want the lowest headline price and pay the fee and boat separately on the day, or one booking that already includes them?
| Option | Price | Includes | Best For | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park gate feeFully independent planners | $5.61 (€5), free under 15 | Entry only, paid at Xyloskalo or Agia Roumeli. No transport included | Hikers arranging every leg themselves | Official site |
| All-inclusive coach, fee and ferryOne-price simplicity | $59.09 | Coach from the Chania area to Xyloskalo, the park fee and the Agia Roumeli to Sfakia ferry, all in one price | Travelers who want zero extra costs on the day | Check Availability |
| Guided coach, fee and boat separateGuided hikers on a budget | $31.75 | Coach to Xyloskalo and a professional hiking guide; the park fee and the ferry are paid on the day | Hikers who want a guide but will pay the fee and boat themselves | Check Availability |
| Lowest headline price, extras on topBudget comparisons done properly | $33.26 (about $61.53 all-in) | Coach and guide only; the park fee and ferry add roughly $28.27 more on the day, per the listing's own mandatory extras | Travelers comparing the true lowest price, not just the sticker price | Check Availability |
Prices are each platform's own listed figure in US dollars. The park's own gate fee is $5.61 (€5), free under 15, paid directly at either gate and not resold by any of the cards above. Figures current for Q4 2026.
Book the Samaria Gorge Day
Three ways to cover the coach, the fee and the ferry, ready to book. Each listing's own page states its exact meeting point and pickup window.
from $59.09
Samaria Gorge All-Inclusive (Ferry & Entry Fee)
Samaria Gorge with the park entry fee and the Agia Roumeli ferry already in the price, coach from the Chania area to Omalos and back from Sfakia.
Check Availability
from $31.75
Samaria Gorge with Professional Hiking Guide
Samaria with a professional hiking guide walking the 16 km with the group, for hikers who want pacing and a guide at the Iron Gates.
Check Availability
from $33.26
Full-Day Samaria Gorge Chania Guided Tour
The lowest headline price for Samaria transport and a guide; the park fee and the Agia Roumeli ferry are paid on top on the day.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.
How the Whole Day Actually Works
Every Samaria Gorge day has the same three-part shape, whether you book one all-inclusive card or arrange each leg yourself.
Up: Getting to Xyloskalo
The day starts with transport to Xyloskalo on the Omalos plateau, the gorge's north gate. KTEL's printed timetable lists departures from Chania toward Omalos at 05:00, 06:15, 07:45 and 08:45 in season, though we could not confirm a current fare for that specific route from an official page. All-inclusive and guided coach options both cover this leg as part of their price, which is the main reason most visitors book a package rather than catching an early bus alone.
Through: The Gate Fee
The park charges $5.61 (€5) per adult at the gate, free for anyone under 15, the same fee regardless of how far into the gorge you walk. This is paid directly to the park authority. None of the tour cards on this page resell that fee as their own product, they simply include or exclude it from their total price, which is the key difference to check before comparing headline numbers.
Down: The Boat Out of Agia Roumeli
There is no road out of Agia Roumeli. Every hiker leaves by boat, run by ANENDYK, either east toward Hora Sfakion or west toward Loutro, each connecting onward to a KTEL bus back to Chania. The fares for this leg are the cost independent hikers most often forget to budget for, covered in full below.
The Boat Out: ANENDYK Fares From Agia Roumeli
ANENDYK is the official operator running the south-coast boats that every Samaria hiker depends on for the final leg out of the gorge, with fixed one-way and return adult fares.
These are ANENDYK's own published one-way and return adult fares, converted to US dollars at the site's fixed rate. Student and child fares are lower on some routes, and children under 5 travel free on all ANENDYK routes.
| Route | One-Way | Return | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agia Roumeli to Hora Sfakion | $19.08 (€17) | $28.10 (€25) | The main eastbound exit, connecting to a KTEL bus toward Chania |
| Agia Roumeli to Loutro | $15.71 (€14) | $28.10 (€25) | A quieter alternative stop before continuing to Hora Sfakion |
| Hora Sfakion to Loutro | $12.35 (€11) | $17.96 (€16) | A short hop if you are based around Sfakia rather than returning to Chania directly |
Confirm the Connection Each Season
ANENDYK's own routes page states that for the current season, bus connections with KTEL Chania should be confirmed by phone, since the boat timetable is built to meet specific buses and that pairing is reconfirmed every year rather than guaranteed to repeat. If your plan depends on catching a specific onward bus from Hora Sfakion, confirm the sailing time directly with ANENDYK rather than assuming last year's schedule still holds.
Fares from ANENDYK's official routes and prices page (anendyk.gr), read 2026-10-02.
The Bus Legs: Chania to the Trailhead and Back From Sfakia
KTEL covers both bus legs of the day, though only one of them currently publishes a fare.
Chania to Hora Sfakion
KTEL runs this route three times a day in both directions, departing Chania at 08:15, 11:00 and 14:00, a journey of about 1 hour 40 minutes, at a fare of $10.21 (€9.10) one-way per e-ktel.com's online booking tool. This is the bus most independent hikers use after their ANENDYK boat lands at Hora Sfakion.
Chania Toward Omalos
The printed KTEL timetable lists morning departures toward Omalos at 05:00, 06:15, 07:45 and 08:45, but the live booking tool returned no fare for this route when we checked, consistent with the gorge's current weather closure rather than proof the route has been cancelled for the season. Confirm both the fare and that the service is running before relying on it.
Fares and timetables from e-ktel.com, read 2026-10-02.
Doing It Yourself vs Booking a Package
The honest comparison is not the sticker price on each option, it is what you still have to pay once you are standing at the gate or the jetty.
The DIY Total
Arranging every leg yourself costs the $5.61 (€5) gate fee plus a KTEL bus toward Omalos (fare not stated on an official page) plus an ANENDYK boat from Agia Roumeli, $19.08 (€17) to Hora Sfakion being the most common choice, plus the $10.21 (€9.10) KTEL bus back to Chania. Even leaving out the unstated Omalos fare, that is already over $34.90 in fixed costs before you count a single euro of food or water along the way.
Where the Packages Land
The all-inclusive card at $59.09 covers the same chain for a price close to the DIY total once the Omalos bus fare is added in, with none of the planning risk of missing a connection. The cheapest-looking card at $33.26 looks like the bargain until its own $28.27 in mandatory extras brings the real total to about $61.53, making it more expensive than the all-inclusive option once every cost is counted, not less.
Our Read
If avoiding a missed connection matters more than a few dollars, the all-inclusive package removes the single biggest risk in the day, a late boat or bus that leaves you stranded on the south coast. If you are comfortable managing your own timing and want the lowest true cost, the DIY route plus the park fee is close to the all-inclusive price anyway once every leg is counted honestly.
Five Things the Headline Prices Don't Tell You
Quick, sourced facts before you book.
- The park's $5.61 (€5) gate fee is identical whether you walk 1 km or the full 16 km, so there is no partial-distance discount (samaria.gr).
- The cheapest-looking tour card on this page is not the cheapest once its own listed mandatory extras are added, a gap of roughly $28.27 on the Viator coach and guide listing (read 2026-10-02).
- ANENDYK's boat timetable is rebuilt to match specific KTEL bus connections every season, so a connection that worked last year is reconfirmed, not guaranteed, before each new season (anendyk.gr).
- Children under 5 travel free on every ANENDYK south-coast route, not just the Samaria connection (anendyk.gr).
- The KTEL route toward Omalos publishes departure times but not a fare on its own booking tool, so independent hikers cannot get an official price for that leg online (e-ktel.com).
Dos and Don'ts When Booking
The mistakes that cost the most are timing mistakes, not price mistakes.
Do
- Add up a tour's mandatory extras before comparing its headline price against the all-inclusive card. The Viator coach and guide adds roughly $28.27 on top of its $33.26 sticker price.
- Confirm the ANENDYK boat and KTEL bus connection times directly before relying on last season's schedule.
- Book the all-inclusive package if a missed connection stranding you on the south coast is a real worry for your trip.
- Check the park's live status the morning you travel. A weather closure cancels the whole chain, transport included.
Don't
- Don't assume the park fee is bundled into every tour card. The guided coach and the Viator coach and guide both charge it, or the boat, separately on the day.
- Don't book a late boat out of Agia Roumeli without a buffer. Afternoon sailings fill with the day's whole hiking crowd at once, by our observation.
- Don't rely on an unofficial fare figure for the Chania to Omalos bus. No official page we reached states a current price for that leg.
- Don't plan a same-day return trip north through the gorge. The only way out of Agia Roumeli is the boat, in either direction along the coast.
Samaria Gorge Ticket Questions
How much does it cost to enter the Samaria Gorge?
The park charges $5.61 (€5) per adult, free for anyone under 15, paid directly at either gate. That fee is separate from any transport you book to reach the trailhead or leave Agia Roumeli.
How long does it take to walk the Samaria Gorge?
Our routing is 5 hours at a fast pace or 6 to 7 hours average for the 16 km descent. Add the coach up and the boat and bus back, and the full door-to-door day runs 10 to 13 hours, detailed on our Samaria Gorge guide.
Is Samaria Gorge worth it?
For hikers who want Crete's longest and most dramatic canyon walk, yes, though it is a demanding full day with a hard exit logistics chain. Our full worth-it breakdown is on the Samaria Gorge page.
Is Samaria Gorge closed to visitors?
The park operates 1 May to 15 October, sometimes to 31 October in good conditions, and can close both gates without notice during weather alerts. Check the park authority's own live status page before travelling, since a closure can last several days.
Do I need to book Samaria Gorge tickets in advance?
The gate fee itself is paid on arrival, not booked ahead. The transport around it is worth booking in advance in peak season, since coach seats and boat capacity are limited and a missed connection leaves you stranded on the south coast.
What is the cheapest way to do Samaria Gorge?
The lowest sticker price on this page is the Viator coach and guide at $33.26, but its own listing adds roughly $28.27 in mandatory extras for the park fee and the ferry, bringing the real total close to $61.53, similar to the all-inclusive card.
Samaria Gorge Tickets on Video
Hiking Through Samaria Gorge | Crete's Must-Visit National Park
What the gate, the trail and the exit boat actually look like on the day.
Video: Ben RobsonHiking The Beautiful Samaria Gorge In Crete Greece
A first-hand account of the fee, the hike and the transport connections.
Video: THE FOOD-DEEHiking the Samaria Gorge in Crete Greece: Information, Tips and Review
Practical tips on timing the day around the boat and bus connections.
Video: Leonard SheaWe may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure