A (18km) Walk to Remember... Samarian Gorge (27/07/07)

This day, I totally understood the meaning of 自找 and 自作自受. But at the same time, I'm glad I did this cause I probably would not want to do something like this again in future and it was a nice challenge for myself. So what happened?

I decided to go for a nice walk, or rather, hike down the Samarian Gorge, Europe's longest gorge at 18km. I saw a picture of it in a guidebook, and decided I should go check it out.


Pretty impressive huh?

So, I signed up with a tour, where the bus picked me up at 5.35 in the morning!!! I was deciding whether I should go for it after hearing about the early morning call and after reading reviews on it being a rather strenous walk. When I woke up at 5am, I was contemplating whether I should just go back to sleep... and forget about the insanity of it... But I didn't.


So, I found myself at the National Ppark of Samaria at about 8.20am. This is the starting point, some 1000m above sea level where I would then begin my descent into the gorge.


Descend right? Sounds easier than climbing up I guess. But at the same time, the paths are so threaded by visitors to the gorge that a lot of the rocks were smoothened out, hence increasing the chances of me slipping.

Initially, it was rather harrowing as I prodded each rock before I stepped on it to ensure that I would not slip. And that was when I was kinda regretting doing it. But when you are halfway down the gorge, there was no way I would want to climb UP the steps again. So, it was do or die... I had to continue.


I was rather amused at these scattered signs around the gorge cause there would be nothing I could do if a rockfall suddenly appeared. Like maybe put my backpack over my head? But not as if that could cushion the impact of the rocks.


This was what bulk of the paths I had to walk on look like...

The rock formations and the gorge itself is impressive. But there is a certain limit that fascination can reach. After that, it becomes indifference and acceptance.


But I did enjoy the experience of walking in the valley between the gorges.


Huge rock pile. and I actually slid down that huge rock which was taller than me.


There is a river/stream running through the gorge with clear water. See the rocks! At certian junctions, we would have to cross the stream by stepping on rock paths. And for a while, I felt like I was in the Fedex?/DHL? advertisement where the delivery guy was 'walking on water'. =)


At other times, I felt like I was doing an obstacle course by having to cross wooden bridges or logs placed across the river.


Finally, I reached the highlight of the gorge. The Iron Gates, named so because the with between the rocks at that point is only 3m. This was about 4km away from the end?


I was glad to see the check out sign! They do have a exit control so that they can keep track of the people still in the gorge.


And a random photo of a 'hugging' plant.

Overall, it wasn't as magnificant as I thought it would be. (Nothing beats the scenary of Switzerland. Ha! I'm biased!) But I think it also had to do in part because of the temperate of Greece. It was very dry, so it was rather sandy with little greenery. Like I said, I was amazed at the rock formations. But at the same time, because I was watching my step so guardedly, I saw the pebbles/rocks on the ground in front of me probably more than what was around me. The good thing was it was shady in the gorge due to the shadow cast by one side and it was pretty windy which was a good thing.

So... a good workout for me and a memorable experience!