Imbros Gorge: The Shorter Alternative to Samaria, and Which Tour to Book
Updated October 8, 2026 · 5 min read
The short answer: Imbros is the gorge to choose if you want the big-walls experience without the 16 km and the ferry of Samaria. It is roughly half the length, takes about three hours on foot and ends near the south coast, where the tour descriptions add a swim and lunch. It is not easy, but it is a morning rather than a campaign.
What the walk is
The path runs from the village of Imbros down to Komitades, close to Chora Sfakion. Travel sources give the length as 8 to 9 km, depending on who measured it, and the walking time as about three hours at a comfortable pace, with a descent of roughly 580 m. The narrowest point is about 1.5 metres across, with limestone walls rising to around 300 m. In summer the path is dry and unpaved.
There is a small fee at the gate in Imbros, quoted as €2 to €3 per person. Whether your tour includes it varies, so check the booking page. The gorge is open in the walking season, from about April to October, and is closed over the winter because of the risk of flash floods.
Imbros against Samaria
| Imbros | Samaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | about 8–9 km | 16 km |
| Walking time | about 3 hours | 5–7 hours |
| Ferry needed | no | yes, from Agia Roumeli |
| Gate fee | a few euros | about €5 |
| Crowds | smaller | larger |
| Character | easy to moderate | moderately challenging |
Samaria is the famous one, with the Iron Gates and a long, steady descent through a national park. Imbros is quicker to finish and easier to fit around the rest of your holiday. If your question is “which one is prettier”, the honest answer is that both are impressive, and the difference is in the day around them. Our guide to Samaria Gorge from Chania describes the longer option.
Four guided tours from Chania
The tours differ mostly in what comes after the walk.
- The Imbros Gorge hike from Rethymno or Chania is €27 per person for 10 hours, with 4.5 stars from 500 reviews. It ends with a swim and lunch by the Libyan Sea in Sfakia.
- The Imbros Gorge guided hike and village visit from Chania is €27 for 8 hours, with 4.5 stars from 348 reviews. The description also promises a swim and lunch at a beach on the south coast.
- The Imbros Gorge hike and Sfakia coastal experience from Chania is €28 for 10 hours, with 4.7 stars from 286 reviews, the best rating of the three bigger tours.
- The Imbros Gorge hike with pickup and return transfer from Chania is €28.70 for 8 hours, with 4.8 stars from only 26 reviews, which is too few to rank it with the others.
The differences in price are a euro or two. What separates the tours is the length of the day, the number of stops and how many people are in the group; read those on the booking page.
Going on your own
It is possible to do Imbros without a tour. Travel guides mention a daily bus from Chania towards Chora Sfakion in season, with a stop at Imbros, and a taxi from Komitades back to Chora Sfakion for roughly €10, but timetables change, so confirm them locally before you rely on them. The sums only work if you are comfortable with that planning; for most visitors the guided day at around €27 is simpler than coordinating buses.
Who should choose it
Imbros suits anyone who wants a gorge, who is reasonably fit and who has one day to spare rather than two. It also suits those who tried to book Samaria and found it too long. It is not a stroll: wear shoes with grip, carry at least two litres of water and a hat, and, if you can choose, go in May, June, September or October, the months guides recommend. For most visitors the best-rated of the three full tours, the 4.7-star one with the Sfakia coastal day, is the one to book.
More shorter gorges and the full Samaria option are on the Samaria Gorge tours page.
