We would like to inform you that due to recent landslides along the riverbed that affected the access to part of the main path and forecasts for rain in the coming days, the Gorge of Samaria will remain accessible only from Agia Roumeli (southern entrance) for the first 2 km of the path, until Thursday 05 May.
From Friday, May 06, the National Park of Samaria is expected to be accessible from both entrances for the entire route, provided that there are no further issues related to accessibility and safety, where there will be new and timely information to the public.
In addition, for the best possible visitors convenience, the visiting hours of the National Park of Samaria for the year 2022, are modified as follows. Entry is allowed, during:
a. 07:00-13:00, for visitors who will cross the entire route (Xyloskalo-Agia Roumeli or Agia Roumeli-Xyloscalo) or a part of it.
b. 13:00 – 15:00, only for visitors who will move exclusively in the first two (2) kilometers from the northern entrance and specifically in the route “Xyloskalo – rest area Neroutsiko”
c. 13:00 – 16:00, only for visitors who will move exclusively in the first two (2) kilometers from the southern entrance and specifically in the route “Agia Roumeli – rest area “Christos”.
d. in any case the visitors must exit the National Park by 18:00 at the latest.
New options for ticket issuing
From this year it is expected to be possible to buy tickets using a debit / credit card, but also online through a special electronic platform. Within the next few days, the technical work for this will be completed and there will be a new announcement. Also, different ticket prices already apply for different categories of guests. The cost of the individual ticket remains at 5 euros, however, it will be possible to buy a group ticket (4 euros / person for groups of more than 10 people), family ticket (3 euros / person), educational ticket (3 euros / person), annual individual ticket Tickets (10 euros), while categories of guests such as children under 18 and adults over 65, parents and children from large families, students and educational attendants are not required to pay a ticket.
According to the Joint Ministerial Decision no. ΥΠΕΝ/ΓΔΠΠ/26828/406 (Government Gazette, issue Β’ 1414/24.03.2022) the tickets revenues, from now on, will constitute resources of NECCA, as well as of the adjacent Municipalities, in order to be used for the implementation of basic works in the Gorge of Samaria, such as the cleaning-maintenance of the main path, the maintenance & improvement of infrastructure, and the supervision of the area along the main path.
The Management Unit of Samaria National Park & the Protected Areas of Western Crete continues to implement every day and continuously the necessary infrastructure maintenance (path restoration, replacement of infrastructure destroyed due to weather conditions), while upgrading work of the route in both infrastructure as well as environmental interpretation facilities will continue throughout the period.
