Samaria Gorge National Park Greece Postcard

Samaria Gorge National Park is one of the most magnificent natural wonders in Europe, carving its way through the White Mountains of western Crete. Stretching roughly 16 kilometres, this dramatic canyon starts at an altitude of over 1,200 metres and winds down to the shores of the Libyan Sea. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, celebrated for its soaring limestone cliffs, ancient pine and cypress forests, and as a vital sanctuary for the rare kri-kri, Crete's elusive wild goat. The most famous stretch of the gorge is the 'Iron Gates,' a breathtakingly narrow pass where the canyon walls shrink to just 3 metres wide while towering hundreds of metres overhead. Hikers from around the world descend upon this rugged terrain to experience its raw, untamed beauty. The journey offers a profound sense of isolation and grandeur, concluding at the peaceful, sun-bleached coastal village of Agia Roumeli.