Probably, everyone who had been in Crete, he heard of the Samaria gorge. Countless photos of the gorge and the efforts of the local hotel guides really make you want to visit this beautiful place. Such was the desire and I have even during the first trip to Crete, but then, we didn't plan it, although on the observation deck not far from the village of Omalos to visit was a success.
Standard, offer tourist excursions involve the delivery of buses to this viewpoint, the height of which above sea level about 1 km (!), which, in fact, begins the descent into the gorge and hike it all the way to the Libyan sea. All the way, no less – about 17 km. At the narrowest and therefore the most beautiful place where steep a few hundred meters of the walls converge at a distance of only 5 - 10 meters from each other, tourists get, only after passing along the bottom of the gorge is about 12-14 km. If the day is windless, at the bottom rather stuffy, and many travelers, those without any special skills, get here absolutely exhausted and with only one wish: "more to sea".
It is not up to the beauty around. When all the evening slowly reach the coast, where they picks up steam and takes in the port of Chora Sfakia (Chora Sfakion), where already waiting for the tour buses that carry tourists on hotels. A tour of the us, for example, offered hotel guides for 60 Euros (this is the "discount"!), and numerous local agencies for 45-50 Euros. It was informed that environmental fee at the entrance to the territory of this national Park, tourists will have to pay 7 Euros from the nose!
About how! We're psyched to be here on their own, however, penetrating into the details it turned out that the route we alone, apparently, is not organized. For example, we arrived by rental car to the beginning of the route, descended, passed on, even if not to the sea, up to the most beauty, the way back to the car? The path length 25-28 miles Yes, first with the descent, and on the way back with the rise of a kilometer, perhaps we, and not only us. If you go to the end and with all to go on the ferry, then get to the left of the car? With regular transport to her, perhaps, and not to get. What: "mission: impossible"?
Head almost broke. Even on the forum Vinsky many advised to buy the tour guides, and not to do stuff. We were quite resigned to the fact that not we get in the Samaria beauty, as still (can not remember exactly where) I've uncovered And declined alternative lightweight option visit Samaria gorge. That is what we adopted and it worked out very well! Tell. Immediately after Breakfast at 8 am, we jumped in the car and "rushed" to the port of Chora Sfakion, about 100 km, where they arrived about 9.40.
The car left at a Parking lot and a few hundred meters from the shore. I must say at this time of the machines there are pretty, but the seats were. We quickly found the ticket Desk for the ferry that departs from here DAILY at 10.30 am and got tickets to the point Roumeli Agia (Aghia Roumeli), where, in fact, goes to the sea Samaria gorge. This is the second in the course of following stop of the ferry, and the ferry goes even further, I do not remember where. Tickets cost is 11.5 Euros per person, if you take one way or 20.5 Euros, if you take there and back. We took in both ends, with the expectation to go back to 17.30 the same ferry. At 11.30 after a good hour of travel
along the very pretty coast
we several dozen of these, I may say "tourists", landed at this Agia Roumeli and immediately went to the entrance of the gorge.
We had about 6 hours to climb up the canyon at 5-6 km, you will see all most-most, and back. Turned out to be even more abundantly! I will not describe in detail what we saw in the beginning, it is better to insert a few pictures:
Here such goats of breed "Cree-Cree", they say, are found EXCLUSIVELY in Samaria gorge, of course, if this is not another wiring for tourists.) After about 2 km on a well maintained track entry point at the gorge itself. Here in the booth, which is very difficult to get around, take the fee for entrance to the national Park and not 7, but 5 Euros! (even the us agencies trying to "warm up"). Tickets should be kept until the exit of the gorge, if lost – will have to pay again. Further along the path, some on the stones over the Creek, lazily running across the bottom of the gorge,
some places,the bridges,
And the valley more closely, more beautiful
After a couple of hours of delight, the gorge widens again and began to catch tourists, coming to meet us at the top. Ask them what beauty and understand that the most narrow points of the gorge we have already walked. Before returning a snack, but I see some pretty colorful birds, nearly the size of a magpie, and instead of Platania sandwiches are chasing them with a camera. They are bright-eyed and skittish, but a few shots manage.
Then in an Internet dug, it was jays. )) Goes down and early in the fourth, pretty sweaty (gorge really bad blown), are on the beach of Agia Roumeli on the shores of the coveted Libyan sea, where you hoped to be bought.
And here is rose a fair wind and a fairly strong emotion.
Go to the far end is a wild sandy beach where the waves are a little less and still manage to splash about a bit, swing on the waves.
Comes to mind to paraphrase a line known songs: "All the girls are modest, I'm the only one..." ))) 17.30 To go to the pier, where a huge crowd of 500-600 people think, loaded on the ferry at 18.40 and we are back to Chora Sfakion. Tried to get off the boat first and ran, Jogging to his car. And should be running, because a few dozen great big tour buses waiting for their passengers and now begins to crawl, up long steep serpentine road on which to overtake them there will be no possibility!
For dinner we all drank together held very any all and all an easy walk! We really enjoyed it!
A little of Your attention about the possibility of a trip in a rented car to the beach of Balos.
Many hire firms fundamentally You will be discouraged from this trip, scaring the fact that the car supposedly only insured when driving on paved roads, what roads there at all, that you will go by terrible precipices, over the rocks as many as a half-day in one direction, and then two more kilometers on foot! Do not try to go there, otherwise you'll curse all the world! And the Navigator is not possible to specify the final destination Balos beach! Such are the tricks of the distributors, to not broke their machine. In fact the road there are they not so "lost", but it is a nothing according to our Russian standards. On the Navigator it is necessary to put the final destination Kaliviani. Out near the only tavern at the end of the pavement there is a sign on Balos, which is the only unpaved road. Impossible to get lost. At the entrance again, "custom",
the car goes for worker, count every head and every asked. That is, that it is I, the Euro, of course! And don't forget to keep the stubs. Seven kilometres of narrow rocky primer what is there that we drove back the Nissan Micra (loading as many as 5 adults!) around 40 minutes ahead of almost all drivers are not of Russian origin. Well, they do not know how to drive on such roads! By the way, the road is still quite picturesque.
At a large Parking lot on the mountain at the end of the road
You will definitely meet some goats and will offer a small treat to guard Your car.
Well, it's up to you. ))
From the Parking lot to the beach will have to go on the steep path of about 2.5 km, but it's not hard.
By the way, part of the way you can drive this taxi
or donkey, but all who tried to use it, then spat. )) On the beach great sand, including pink, not worse than in Elafonisi
and amazing aplusa greenish clear water!
So don't be afraid yourself to go to the Balos! It's worth it!