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Platanias

You will remember your vacation in Platanias for a long time. Find information about fantastic routes, attractions and great offers in our Travel Guide, where there is also space available for your own content! Use the Route Planner to publish your best experiences so that they appear here.

4.2  (46 Ratings and reviews)

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Attractions in Platanias

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Maps and trails
Mountain Hike · Chania
Gingilos (Gigilos, Γκίγκιλος) and Volakias (Βολακιάς)
recommended route Difficulty T3 difficult
Distance 11.5 km
Duration 7:30 h
Ascent 1,394 m
Descent 1,394 m

A high alpine route that leads through easy climbing terrain in the upper section and offers a spectacular view of the surrounding "White Mountains ...

5
from Wolfgang Drexler,   alpenvereinaktiv.com
Hiking Trail · Chania
Koukoule start/end Omalos
recommended route Difficulty T2 moderate
Distance 12.4 km
Duration 4:30 h
Ascent 602 m
Descent 602 m

The easy afternoon route over Koukoule offers a good view of the Omalos plateau and the peaks of the surrounding "White Mountains".

No ratings (yet)
from Wolfgang Drexler,   alpenvereinaktiv.com
Hiking Trail · Chania
Samaria Gorge
recommended route Difficulty difficult
Distance 14.8 km
Duration 6:07 h
Ascent 300 m
Descent 1,530 m

Samaria Gorge The classic among gorge hikes in Crete. The entrance to the gorge is in Xyloskalo at 1,230 meters, and from here it goes downhill ...

5
from Uwe Stanke,   alpenvereinaktiv.com
Mountain Hike · Chania
Strifomadi 1921 m, Gingilos 1980 m, White Mountains-Crete
recommended route Difficulty T5 difficult
Distance 10.9 km
Duration 5:10 h
Ascent 1,310 m
Descent 1,310 m

Pathless ascent in an impressive mountain landscape to a scarcely visited summit for individualists. Before the descent, still to the "home summit ...

No ratings (yet)
from Karl Linecker,   alpenvereinaktiv.com
Hiking Trail · Chania
DESCENT INTO THE INTERIOR
recommended route Difficulty difficult
Distance 12.7 km
Duration 5:09 h
Ascent 703 m
Descent 1,912 m

The Grand Canyon of Crete is a delight for every hiker: the spectacular Samaria Gorge cuts deep into the coast, winding over 13 kilometers down ...

4
from Hans Christian Davidsen,   Community
Hiking Trail · Chania
Route through the Samaria Gorge
recommended route Difficulty difficult
Distance 17.7 km
Duration 5:30 h
Ascent 1,072 m
Descent 2,301 m

This route takes us over stony paths through the world-famous Samaria Gorge on Crete.

4.7
from Urs L.,   Community
Hiking Trail · Chania
Melindaou, 2,133 m
Premium content Difficulty T2 moderate
Distance 20.5 km
Duration 8:00 h
Ascent 1,273 m
Descent 1,273 m

Via the Kallergi Hut to the Heart of the White MountainsDon’t let the relatively long walking time and the significant elevation gain deter you!

4
from Rolf Goetz,   Rother Bergverlag
Hiking Trail · Platanias
Chania Trails - PLA 12 - Culture and History (K1)
recommended route Difficulty T1 easy
Distance 3 km
Duration 2:00 h
Ascent 133 m
Descent 108 m

4
from Vasilis Deligiannis,   Chania Trails
Hiking Trail · Chania
Hike through the spectacular Samaria Gorge
recommended route Difficulty difficult
Distance 17.5 km
Duration 6:15 h
Ascent 75 m
Descent 1,255 m

Hike through the longest gorge in Europe. From Omalos via the abandoned village of Samaria to the coast at Agia Roumeli.

No ratings (yet)
from Michael Geuthel,   Community
Mountain Hike · Chania
Crete 4: Hotel Neos Omalos - Koukule Summit - Kallergi Shelter - Xyloskalo Parking (Omalos)
recommended route Difficulty moderate
Distance 8.8 km
Duration 2:54 h
Ascent 589 m
Descent 386 m

Beautiful mountain route over the Koukule summit to the Kallergi Shelter Koukule - White Mountains National Park - Lefka Ori of Eastern Selino ...

No ratings (yet)
from Karl Heinz Loch,   Community
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Reviews

  • September 14, 2026
    Bianca S
    Community
    We really liked that hike, even though we 1) skipped the last peak due to our time constraints and 2) we usually prefer round trips. It was technical at times, but totally doable. I would assume it won't be easy when it has rained, as you have mostly rocky paths. At times we lost the track a bit, but overall it was well indicated!
    ...Show more
    Photo: Bianca S, Community
    Photo: Bianca S, Community
    Photo: Bianca S, Community
    Scenic Weather depandant
    Written September 14, 2026
    Mountain Hike
    Gingilos (Gigilos, Γκίγκιλος) and Volakias (Βολακιάς)
  • July 20, 2026
    Tim
    Community
    I did this walk in an evening in July and would be happy to recommend it, with a couple of reservations. The first reservation is that I wouldn't agree with the official classification of '1' Easy. It's not very long (6km there and back), but it is quite steep in parts and might be challenging for people who don't like heights. So somewhere between a 2 or a 3. My second reservation is that the walk takes you to within 100m of the monument to the fallen cadets, but then your path is blocked by a tall metal fence. So you can't actually visit the monument! My guess would be that the architects of the walk failed to check with the landowner of the final bit and he/she decided they didn't want hikers walking on it. All this said, the walk has plenty going for it.There are fine views over the bay beyond Kolimbari throughout, the early stretch passes a number of caves used by the German forces during WW11 for heavy artillery, and the final stretch above the Greek Orthodox theological college has some fine standing mosaics and mosaic paths. The walk is like most of this collection, in my experience: a plethora of signposts and red/white symbols early on, whose frequency dwindles as the walk progresses. However, there's no risk of getting lost, so just follow your nose. Overall, a very pleasant couple of hours.
    ...Show more
    Variety of paths Solitude Scenic
    Written July 20, 2026
    Hiking Trail
    Chania Trails - PLA 12 - Culture and History (K1)
  • May 09, 2026
    Manni Wanderfalke
    Community
    Beeindruckende Schlucht, danach Aufstieg mit vielen Stufen. Man kann nach ca. 1/3 der Strecke von der Schotterstraße rechts über einen kleinen Bach abbiegen und so die Strecke abkürzen (rot-weiß markiert). Danach wieder Aufstieg mit vielen Stufen. Rückweg auf der Straße mit Blick Richtung Meskia.
    ...Show more
    Written May 09, 2026
    Hiking Trail
    Hike through and around the Sarakina Gorge near Meskla
  • April 12, 2026
    Simon Roffe 
    Community
    Did this in April and the gorge was flooded, which made for a brilliant wet scramble through the beautiful clear snow-melt. Absolutely brilliant half a mile. The rest of the walk is pleasant but not thrilling.
    ...Show more
    Written April 12, 2026
    Hiking Trail
    Hike through and around the Sarakina Gorge near Meskla
  • August 02, 2025
    Helmut Forchtner 
    Community
    Wunderschöne Tour, absolut empfehlenswert. Bitte beachten, dass die angegebenen Höhenunterschiede nicht stimmen. Die Gehdistanz bis zur Fähre ist 17 km, der Abstieg ist ca. 1375 m und der Anstieg ist ca. 150 m.
    ...Show more
    Written August 02, 2025
    Hiking Trail
    Route through the Samaria Gorge
  • June 06, 2025
    Stefan
    Community
    June 06, 2025
    Wunderschöne Tour, eigentlich ein must-do, wenn man auf Kreta ist. Nur leider stimmen die Tourdaten hier überhaupt nicht....2 .000 Tm ist wohl um nahezu Faktor 10 falsch....
    ...Show more
    Photo: Stefan, Community
    Written June 06, 2025
    Hiking Trail
    Route through the Samaria Gorge
  • April 08, 2025
    Henning Kruse
    Community
    April 06, 2025
    Wir sind die Tour im Spiel gegangen, sehr aussichtsreich
    ...Show more
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Photo: Henning Kruse, Community
    Written April 08, 2025
    Hiking Trail
    Chania Trails - PLA 11 - The Panoramic Route of the Fountain (B2)
  • October 02, 2024
    Gregor Schiegl
    Community
    October 02, 2024
    Schön, bis auf das Mittelstück durchs Flussbett.
    ...Show more
    Written October 02, 2024
    Hiking Trail
    Karanou 4 sep. 2016
  • October 01, 2024
    Sabine Schenk
    Community
    Aufstieg nicht möglich, da der Weg gesperrt wurde.
    ...Show more
    Written October 01, 2024
    Hiking Trail
    Ravdoucha Circular Route
  • September 26, 2024
    Sabine Schenk
    Community
    Wunderschöne Küstenwanderung Gutes Schuhwerk und Trittsicherheit im Geröll erforderlich Weg ist außergewöhnlich gut markiert Rückweg vom Strand auf den Höhenweg gesperrt, so dass man ein Stück zurückgehen muss, was aber nicht so schlimm ist
    ...Show more
    Written September 26, 2024
    Hiking Trail
    Nopigia - Paralia - Nopigia - 2 sep. 2016
  • September 06, 2024
    Wayne Brown 
    Community
    walked the gorge a few times both the ascent and descent figures on this track are nonsense walking from Sea Level at Agia Roumeli it's about 16km with 1200m of ascent to Xyskalo,Omalos plateau. of course similar descent which is way most people walk it. If you want to enjoy without the crowds walk up the gorge or start downward later morning to avoid worst of the coach party walkers.
    ...Show more
    Written September 06, 2024
    Hiking Trail
    Route Samaria Gorge 20190922
  • May 22, 2024
    Claudia HC 
    Community
    May 20, 2024
    Wunderschöne, beeindruckende Schlucht! Die Wegführung immer wieder durch und über den Bachlauf machen Spaß. Auch jetzt im Mai viele Besucher, allerdings verläuft es sich gut. Und selbst an den Rastplätzen ist es nicht zu voll. Die Rastplätze sind super. Naturnah, ausschließlich Versorgung mit Wasser und für Notfälle.
    ...Show more
    Photo: Claudia HC, Community
    Written May 22, 2024
    Hiking Trail
    Route through the Samaria Gorge

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