Crete tourist guide

Samaria is ready and open from Tuesday 19/05.

2026-05-18 19:50:22

After several weeks of uncertainty and bureaucratic wrangling, OFYPEKA (Operational Organization for the Protection of the Environment and Climate Change) has officially announced the start of the tourist season in Samaria National Park. Starting Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Europe's longest gorge will be fully accessible to visitors from both sides: the northern entrance at Xyloskalo on the Omalos plateau, and the southern entrance at Agia Roumeli.

As OFYPEKA announced today, all required maintenance work on the trail, infrastructure and other functions related to park traffic and visitor safety has been completed.

The official announcement of the Samaria Gorge's opening date puts an end to speculation, although the manner in which the decision was made perfectly fits the specifics of Greek bureaucracy. As recently as late last week, official announcements stated that a report on the trail's technical condition would not be submitted to the relevant ministry until early this week. However, the decision to open the trail was clearly accelerated – likely due to growing frustration from the tourism industry and local communities, for whom the closed gorge means real financial losses.

Mountaineers say "we're checking!"

This sudden acceleration of procedures coincided with the traditional Sunday crossing of the gorge by the Chania Mountaineering Association. Around 200 members of this organization, traveling the route with a special permit related to the celebration of the feast of St. Mary of Egypt, completed the entire route yesterday. Significantly, the group also included 35 schoolchildren. After completing the trek through Samaria, the climbers unequivocally confirmed that no infrastructure damage was detected on the trail, and the entire route was fully cleared and ready to accommodate mass traffic.

Samaria at your own risk

When visiting the gorge, it's also worth being aware of Samaria's new safety policy. OFYPEKA has taken an extremely pragmatic approach to this matter, protecting itself against potential legal claims. The park's new operating regulations clearly state that everyone enters the gorge at their own risk. Officials have explicitly stated that visitors accept the risk of emergency and unforeseen situations.

To support the regulations, free helmets will be available for hikers at both entrances to the gorge. However, their use is optional, although, as OFYPEKA emphasizes, "strongly recommended." Time will tell how many hikers will choose to walk for several hours in full sun wearing such a helmet, but from a formal perspective, officials have protected themselves against potential claims from injured parties.

Medical personnel back in Samaria

On the positive side, it's worth mentioning the implementation of a weather forecast system two hours in advance. The app will analyze weather conditions for sudden and extreme weather events at key, most vulnerable points in the canyon. In theory, this will prevent tourists from becoming trapped inside the gorge during sudden downpours, which has led to tragic rock slides in the past. Additionally, medical personnel will be constantly present on the trail from the first day of opening.

The regulations also clearly state that in the event of unfavorable weather forecasts, the gorge's operations may be suspended overnight. Therefore, if you're planning a solo trip to Samaria in the coming months, be sure to stay up-to-date with the latest news.

Entrance tickets

Tickets can be purchased both at the ticket offices at the entrances and via the website https://samaria-tickets.necca.gov.gr/checkout

This time, the platform is expected to be working properly. Last week, Greek media reported that people had purchased tickets for dates when the gorge was still closed to visitors.

The cost of an adult ticket is €10.

Gosia,  2026-05-18 19:50:22

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