Samaria Gorge statistics: 40 sourced facts (2026)
Official route distances, access fees and dated park figures.
Source: NECCA route and ticket reference, checked October 2026. The current closure overrides normal visiting rules.
NECCA gives approximately 15 km to Agia Roumeli; Visit Greece gives 16 km to the beach; the Ephorate gives roughly 16 km. No average is calculated from these descriptions.
Official route distances, by endpoint
Download CSV8 records. Distances are approximate and keep their named endpoints.
| What it measures | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Main path | 13 | NECCA | Controlled park route; approximate. |
| Southern entrance to Agia Roumeli | 2 | NECCA | Additional walk beyond the park entrance; approximate. |
| Xyloskalo to Agia Roumeli | 15 | NECCA | Full popular route; approximate. |
| Gorge itself | 12.5 | Greek National Tourism Organisation | Gorge extent in Visit Greece; not the whole day. |
| Xyloskalo to Agia Roumeli beach | 16 | Greek National Tourism Organisation | Whole route in Visit Greece. |
| Xyloskalo to Agia Roumeli | 16 | Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania | Roughly 16 km in the Ephorate’s description. |
| Xyloskalo to former Samaria village | 7 | Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania | Interior stage; approximate. |
| Agia Roumeli outpost to Portes | 1.5 | NECCA | From the park outpost, not the ferry; approximate. |
The shortest listed stage is the 1.5 km from the southern outpost to Portes. The longest full-route descriptions here are about 16 km. Those are different tasks, not easier and harder versions of the same walk.
Key takeaways
- NECCA describes the full Xyloskalo-to-Agia Roumeli route as approximately 15 km in its October 2026 route reference. (NECCA, October 2026)
- NECCA describes the walk from Samaria’s southern entrance to Agia Roumeli as approximately another 2 km in its October 2026 route reference. (NECCA, October 2026)
- NECCA lists an individual Samaria park ticket at €10 under the 2025 fee decision, as observed in October 2026; transport is separate. (NECCA, October 2026)
- UNESCO’s October 2026 directory gives the Gorge of Samaria biosphere reserve a total surface of 58,484 ha; this is wider than the original national park. (UNESCO, October 2026)
- The Samaria Management Body’s 2014 MEET report records 199 bird species for Samaria National Park, including migratory birds; it is not a count of individual birds. (Samaria Management Body, August 2014)
- The Greek Environment Ministry reported 130,000 visitors had crossed Samaria Gorge by 21 September 2022; this is a season-to-date count, not the final annual total. (Greek Environment Ministry, September 2022)
How long is the Samaria Gorge walk?
Distances describe different endpoints. The route table above preserves each authority’s wording.
| Measure | NECCA route reference |
|---|---|
| Main path | About 13 km |
| Additional coast walk | About 2 km |
| Full popular route | About 15 km |
| Starting altitude | 1,227 m above sea level |
- NECCA describes Samaria’s main path as approximately 13 km in its October 2026 route reference. (NECCA, October 2026)
- NECCA describes the walk from Samaria’s southern entrance to Agia Roumeli as approximately another 2 km in its October 2026 route reference. (NECCA, October 2026)
- NECCA describes the full Xyloskalo-to-Agia Roumeli route as approximately 15 km in its October 2026 route reference. (NECCA, October 2026)
- NECCA places Xyloskalo, the northern start of the Samaria route, at 1,227 m above sea level in its October 2026 route reference. (NECCA, October 2026)
- NECCA places Portes about 1.5 km from the Agia Roumeli outpost in its October 2026 route reference, rather than from the seafront. (NECCA, October 2026)
- Visit Greece describes Samaria Gorge itself as 12.5 km long in its October 2026 destination reference. (Greek National Tourism Organisation, October 2026)
- Visit Greece describes the entire Samaria route to Agia Roumeli beach as 16 km in its October 2026 destination reference. (Greek National Tourism Organisation, October 2026)
- Visit Greece describes the Samaria trail as 2–2.5 m wide in its October 2026 destination reference; this is not the width of the gorge walls. (Greek National Tourism Organisation, October 2026)
- The Ephorate places former Samaria village approximately 7 km into the route from Xyloskalo in its October 2026 park reference. (Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania, October 2026)
What are the published entry rules and return fares?
These are general rules and published fares, not permission to enter or confirmation of a sailing.
| Item | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Individual park admission | €10, transport excluded |
| Whole-route entry window | 07:00–13:00, only when permitted |
| Park exit deadline | 18:00 under NECCA’s general rules |
| Adult single ferry fares from Agia Roumeli | Loutro €14; Sfakia €17; Sougia €17; Palaiochora €25 |
- NECCA lists an individual Samaria park ticket at €10 under the 2025 fee decision, as observed in October 2026; transport is separate. (NECCA, October 2026)
- NECCA’s October 2026 general visiting rules require visitors to leave Samaria National Park by 18:00; a closure overrides those general hours. (NECCA, October 2026)
- NECCA’s October 2026 general rules give the whole-route entry window as 07:00–13:00 when the route is permitted; that window does not confirm current entry. (NECCA, October 2026)
- ANENDYK lists the adult single fare from Agia Roumeli to Hora Sfakion at €17 in its October 2026 price list; confirm the sailing separately. (ANENDYK, October 2026)
- ANENDYK lists the adult single fare from Agia Roumeli to Sougia at €17 in its October 2026 price list; confirm the sailing separately. (ANENDYK, October 2026)
- ANENDYK lists the adult single fare from Agia Roumeli to Loutro at €14 in its October 2026 price list; confirm the sailing separately. (ANENDYK, October 2026)
- ANENDYK lists the adult single fare from Agia Roumeli to Palaiochora at €25 in its October 2026 price list; confirm the sailing separately. (ANENDYK, October 2026)
How big is the park, and which boundary is being measured?
The biosphere reserve, historic Natura site and original park are different areas. Their elevations are not trail climbing totals.
| Record | Area | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| UNESCO directory, observed October 2026 | 58,484 ha | Biosphere reserve, including land and sea |
| NTUA NatureBank, May 2009 | 13,979.76 ha | Historical Samaria–Trypiti–Psilafi–Koustogerako Natura site |
- UNESCO’s October 2026 directory gives the Gorge of Samaria biosphere reserve a total surface of 58,484 ha; this is wider than the original national park. (UNESCO, October 2026)
- UNESCO’s October 2026 directory gives the Gorge of Samaria biosphere reserve a terrestrial area of 53,932 ha; it is not a walking-route area. (UNESCO, October 2026)
- UNESCO’s October 2026 directory gives the Gorge of Samaria biosphere reserve a marine area of 4,552 ha; this is part of the reserve’s wider boundary. (UNESCO, October 2026)
- UNESCO describes the Samaria reserve’s altitude range as sea level to 2,134 m in its October 2026 directory; this is not cumulative climbing on the trail. (UNESCO, October 2026)
- UNESCO describes 22 springs in the Samaria reserve in its October 2026 directory; that count does not establish drinking-water availability on a visit. (UNESCO, October 2026)
- UNESCO gives the Gorge of Samaria biosphere reserve’s nomination year as 1981 in its October 2026 directory. (UNESCO, October 2026)
- NTUA’s May 2009 NatureBank record gives the Samaria–Trypiti–Psilafi–Koustogerako Natura site an area of 13,979.76 ha; the historical site boundary differs from UNESCO’s reserve. (NTUA NatureBank, May 2009)
- NTUA’s May 2009 NatureBank record gives the Samaria–Trypiti–Psilafi–Koustogerako Natura site a perimeter of 55.5 km; that is a boundary length, not a hiking distance. (NTUA NatureBank, May 2009)
- NTUA’s May 2009 NatureBank record gives the Samaria–Trypiti–Psilafi–Koustogerako Natura site a maximum elevation of 2,105 m; it is a historical site-record value, not trail ascent. (NTUA NatureBank, May 2009)
- NTUA’s May 2009 NatureBank description identifies 4 peaks exceeding 2,000 m within the Samaria–Trypiti–Psilafi–Koustogerako site. (NTUA NatureBank, May 2009)
- The Region of Crete’s October 2026 ecotourism description says Samaria’s vertical rocks reach 700 m high in some parts; this is not the height of every passage. (Region of Crete, October 2026)
How many wildlife species have been recorded?
The 2014 management report is a historical inventory. Species totals do not say how many animals live here now or what a walker will see.
| Inventory group | 2014 report |
|---|---|
| Bird species | 199, including migration records |
| Mammal species | 32, including 11 bat species |
| Amphibian species | 3 |
| Reptile species | 12 |
| Annex I habitat types | 14 across the White Mountains |
- The Samaria Management Body’s 2014 MEET report records 199 bird species for Samaria National Park, including migratory birds; it is not a count of individual birds. (Samaria Management Body, August 2014)
- The Samaria Management Body’s 2014 MEET report records 32 mammal species for the Samaria protected area; this is a historical species inventory. (Samaria Management Body, August 2014)
- The Samaria Management Body’s 2014 MEET report includes 11 bat species within its Samaria mammal inventory, rather than in addition to that total. (Samaria Management Body, August 2014)
- The Samaria Management Body’s 2014 MEET report records 3 amphibian species for the Samaria protected area; it does not estimate population sizes. (Samaria Management Body, August 2014)
- The Samaria Management Body’s 2014 MEET report records 12 reptile species for the Samaria protected area; it is not a new census. (Samaria Management Body, August 2014)
- The Samaria Management Body’s 2014 MEET report identifies 14 Annex I habitat types in the White Mountains, a wider ecological setting than the walking path. (Samaria Management Body, August 2014)
When did Samaria gain protection, and how old are its sites?
Protection dates, archaeological discoveries and building dates describe different events.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| National park designation | 1962 |
| Biosphere reserve nomination | 1981 |
| European Diploma award | 13 September 1979 |
| Agios Nikolaos sanctuary traces discovered | 1991 |
| Hosia Maria church built | 14th century |
- The Ephorate’s October 2026 park reference dates Samaria’s national park designation to 1962; biosphere reserve recognition is a separate designation. (Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania, October 2026)
- The Ephorate’s October 2026 archaeological account dates the discovery of Samaria’s Agios Nikolaos open-air sanctuary traces to 1991; this is a discovery date, not the sanctuary’s construction date. (Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania, October 2026)
- The Ephorate’s October 2026 account dates the construction of Samaria’s frescoed Hosia Maria church to the 14th century; it presents the link with the gorge’s name as a belief. (Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania, October 2026)
- The Council of Europe directory records the Samaria White Mountains park’s European Diploma award on 13 September 1979 in its October 2026 listing. (Council of Europe, October 2026)
- The Council of Europe’s October 2026 directory lists the next visit for the Samaria White Mountains park in 2028; this is a planned review, not a visitor opening date. (Council of Europe, October 2026)
What do official visitor and staffing figures actually count?
The verified ministry figures are historical. A partial-season count cannot establish an annual trend or current crowding.
| Measure | Figure | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Visitors who had crossed the gorge | 130,000 | Season to 21 September 2022 |
| Park service workers | 35 | September 2022 |
- The Greek Environment Ministry reported 130,000 visitors had crossed Samaria Gorge by 21 September 2022; this is a season-to-date count, not the final annual total. (Greek Environment Ministry, September 2022)
- The Greek Environment Ministry reported 35 workers managing and operating Samaria park services in September 2022; this is a historical staffing figure. (Greek Environment Ministry, September 2022)
Methods and limitations
We checked 44 candidate figures and kept 40. We opened the primary records, preserved the stated units and boundaries, and excluded a population without a census period, a conflicting exit time, an unclear area unit and a distance without matching endpoints.
The CSV is our transcription of eight official route descriptions. It is not a GPS survey or an annual series; prior-year changes are unavailable for these reference values. NECCA’s approximate 13 km main path plus approximately 2 km to the village explains its approximate 15 km total. We do not average this with other authorities’ totals, infer a measured track, or use boundary elevations to calculate trail climbing.
For undated official pages, source tags give the month we observed the record, October 2026, rather than an invented publication date. Dated records retain their own dates: May 2009 for NatureBank, August 2014 for the management report and September 2022 for the ministry release. Historical figures are not presented as 2026 census results.
The management report describes protected-area wildlife rather than only the path. Bats are included in the mammal total. UNESCO’s biosphere reserve and the historical Natura site have different boundaries. No growth rate is inferred from those areas or from the partial-season visitor count.
Next full review: 16 January 2027. Check NECCA and the carriers again for every trip. Report a correction through Contact, naming the figure and a replacement primary source; we update the sentence, table and CSV together when a record changes.
Cite this page
Samaria Gorge National Park guide. Samaria Gorge statistics: 40 sourced facts (2026). Published 16 October 2026. https://samariagorgenationalpark.com/hike/samaria-gorge-statistics/
Primary sources
- NECCA: Undated General Description and Entrance Tickets panels, observed 16 October 2026.
- UNESCO: Undated biosphere reserve directory, observed 16 October 2026; not the original park boundary.
- Greek National Tourism Organisation: Undated Visit Greece description, observed 16 October 2026.
- Ephorate of Antiquities of Chania: Undated park and archaeological description, observed 16 October 2026.
- Samaria Management Body: MEET first report by Dimitris Poursanidis for the former Management Body; PDF creation date 25 August 2014; pages 24-25. Historical inventory, not a new census.
- ANENDYK: Undated fare list, observed 16 October 2026. Adult single fares, route direction as listed; not sailing availability.
- NTUA NatureBank: National Technical University of Athens historical Natura catalogue record GR4340014; last updated 1 May 2009. Not the current biosphere reserve.
- Council of Europe: European Diploma holder directory, observed 16 October 2026; award date and next visit field.
- Greek Environment Ministry: Ministry of Environment and Energy announcement published 21 September 2022; season-to-date visitors, not a full-year count.
- Region of Crete: Undated regional ecotourism description, observed 16 October 2026. Cliff height describes parts of the gorge, not trail descent.
For a visit, use the admission checklist and return-chain planner to keep entry and transport separate.