Hike through the Imbros Gorge

The Imbros Gorge is the most visited gorge on Crete after the Samaria Gorge and is visited by hundreds of tourists every day during the summer months. Compared to the Samaria Gorge, the hike is relatively easy and can be completed in 2-3 hours.

The trail begins in the village of Imbros, which is located at an altitude of around 700 metres near the Askifou plateau, and ends in Komitades on the Libyan Sea. The bus that drops you off at the top picks you up again at the bottom.

The first half hour is a slow descent, after which the gorge becomes narrower and narrower. After about 75 minutes you reach the narrowest point, where the Imbros Gorge is only about 2 metres wide. The cliffs to the left and right are up to 300 metres high. Another highlight on your way is the peat rock, probably the most popular photo motif. The gorge opens up shortly before Komitades. The first tavernas await you here. From here it is another 5-10 minutes to Komitades, where you will find more tavernas as well as small supermarkets.

In contrast to the Samaria Gorge, the Imbros Gorge is open all year round. However, it is not advisable to cross it, especially in winter or spring and after rainfall. 

Important: In spring or autumn, it is advisable to bring warm clothing as it can be cool at the top. In summer, on the other hand, it is very hot. As the stream in the gorge has no water in summer, there is no opportunity to refill water bottles on the way. The right footwear is also very important: as you are constantly walking over scree with stones the size of footballs (riverbed!), hiking boots are highly recommended.