We did Agia Irini Gorge in May 2015 as part of a bicycling tour. Agia Irini is located in Western Crete, about 45km south of Chania. The gorge ends to a little fishing village of Sougia. Although Agia Irini is not as grandstanding as Samaria, it is also less crowded. The trees and bushes, cuts on the White Mountains, narrow parts of the (partly) rocky path and ups and downs during the hike were all very similar to Samaria. Agia Irini was really like a little sister of Samaria, except that Agia Irini is open all year when Samaria is only open from May to October.
Agia Irini is (only) 7,5km long and thus it takes about 2-2,5 hours to walk. It is easier than Samaria also because there's only about 500m of descent. Therefore it was very suitable hike as part of our cycling tour. I will tell more about the two biking tours we did with Hellas Tours on our recent trip to Crete on another post. During high season there's a small entrance fee of 2 euros to the gorge. This helps the locals to maintain the path and clean the rubbish tourists leave behind.
You can start the hike either from the village Sougia or from the other. The public bus stops at the entrance of the gorge and there's a bus from Sougia as well as from Hania to Agia Irini. At least during the tourist season. IF I remember correctly, there's also a car park close to the entrance of the gorge. I would still advice to take the bus so you don't have to walk back just for the car. Although I'm sure there are willing locals in the village of Sougia to take you back to your car for a few euros.
Few hundred meters into the gorge (from the entrance) is a small hut. I strongly recommend to buy your daily vitamin C for 2 euros from this guy.
To read more about Agia Irini gorge, check these resources:
Walk through the gorge of Agia Irini
The gorge of Agia Irini
Agia Irini is (only) 7,5km long and thus it takes about 2-2,5 hours to walk. It is easier than Samaria also because there's only about 500m of descent. Therefore it was very suitable hike as part of our cycling tour. I will tell more about the two biking tours we did with Hellas Tours on our recent trip to Crete on another post. During high season there's a small entrance fee of 2 euros to the gorge. This helps the locals to maintain the path and clean the rubbish tourists leave behind.
You can start the hike either from the village Sougia or from the other. The public bus stops at the entrance of the gorge and there's a bus from Sougia as well as from Hania to Agia Irini. At least during the tourist season. IF I remember correctly, there's also a car park close to the entrance of the gorge. I would still advice to take the bus so you don't have to walk back just for the car. Although I'm sure there are willing locals in the village of Sougia to take you back to your car for a few euros.
Few hundred meters into the gorge (from the entrance) is a small hut. I strongly recommend to buy your daily vitamin C for 2 euros from this guy.
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| Freshly squeezed orange juice. Is there anything better on hot day? |
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| Art of nature |
Walk through the gorge of Agia Irini
The gorge of Agia Irini
In my next post I will talk about the last of the three gorges I've been to so far; Zakros Gorge or the Valley of the Death.
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