Imbros Gorge – Φαράγγι Ίμπρου – Faraggi Imbrou – is a stunning, rocky gorge, less crowded than Samaria Gorge, a shorter walk and just as beautiful.

Start your walk at the village of Imbros in the region of Chania in western Crete. The location is 57 km south-east of the town of Chania. If driving, park on the south side of the village and begin your walk, you will see a wooden sign post.

Pay a small entrance fee to enter the gorge. The entrance is called ‘porafarago‘ in local dialect and was heavily fought over when defending Sfakia from the Turkish troops. The track leads to the village of Komitades which is an 8 km hike. The path is quite rocky and all downhill. Take good walking shoes and your own water.

There is plenty of shade along the way from the trees and the sides of the canyon. Keep your eye out for raptors high above you and in the rocky cliffs. You will see many, many caves in the cliffs and rocky canyon.

This track is accessible all year, it is actually not closed, because it is not a national park, but care should still be taken in autumn, winter and spring months as rains will mean water… and water wants to flow down the gorge. Do not hike if there has been recent rain.

In the middle of the gorge, the ‘mesofarago‘ is a historic Venetian water cistern.

Depending on your fitness and experience levels, you will come to the end of the walk at Komitades in 1.5 or 2.5 hours. Enjoy the narrow part of the canyon, where the narrowest point is only 2 metres wide and rumour has it that echoes of horse hoof steps…

The best times to walk are spring and autumn when temperatures are not too high or low.

Tour groups do visit the gorge, so if you want to avoid them, start your walk a little later in the day.

Along the way, you will see stunning rock formations in the weathered limestone rock and at some points, very close dramatic canyon walls.

Listen out to the history of this place and imagine the allied soldiers being saved from the invading Germans during WWII. Or listen out for the echoes in the rocks. Do take all your rubbish with you and don’t build any of those silly piles of rocks. Enjoy the gorge.

Then you will continue south to the village of Komitades.

Experienced walkers will join this walk with other White Mountain walks and walks from the Askifou Plateau. The E4 European Walking Path through Crete includes the Imbros Gorge.