Agia Irini Gorge Hike, Crete – Everything You Need to Know

Crete, with its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history, is a paradise for holiday-makers and adventure-seekers alike.

Among its plethora of stunning hikes and breathtaking landscapes, the Agia Irini Gorge offers one of the most beautiful and diverse hikes in Crete. 

So there’s no wonder that hiking the Agia Irini Gorge is one of the top things to do in Crete.

Located in the Sougia region just an hour away from Chania, this hidden gem impresses with its diverse flora and fauna, and dramatic cliffs. 

It’s a great alternative trek to the famous Samaria Gorge hike, offering an easier route with shorter distance and fewer crowds. Agia Irini Gorge is 7.5 km long with a 500m descent, making it much easier to handle while still offering incredible views along the way. 

So if you’re ready to explore this lesser-known gem in Crete, grab your hiking shoes and keep on reading. 

This guide will provide you with all the details you need for an unforgettable hike through the serene and scenic trails of Agia Irini Gorge. Let’s dive straight in! 

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Overview of Agia Irini Gorge Hike

Hike distance: 7.5 km 

Descent: 500 m

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Time: 2.5 – 3 hours one way.

Type: One-way and come back by taxi. Alternatively, you can go there and back; or just go half-way down and back. 

Opening times: 7:30am – 8pm

Entrance fee: €2 – bring cash

Starting point – click here.

Finishing point: click here.

Agia Irini Gorge Hike Map

Agia Irini Gorge Hike – What to expect from the hike

The gorge of Agia Irini is a beautiful representation of Crete’s nature with lush vegetation and impressive cliffs forming plenty of jaw-dropping scenic spots. 

The landscape of the gorge is quite diverse, fluctuating from dense forest foliage to rocky terrain, crossing the river at multiple points and offering a full wilderness experience with its pure and rugged nature. 

The hike starts off in a seemingly dense forest of towering pines and cypresses. As you ascend, the foliage clears up intermittently to reveal breathtaking viewpoints. 

The elevated platforms are fantastic spots to pause, take in the stunning views of the gorge, and capture some beautiful photos. We loved enjoying our lunch on one of the rocks on the way, opening a grand panorama over the gorge. Couldn’t think of a better lunch spot!

About halfway into the trail, after descending down into the gorge you’ll find a rest area with benches where you can catch your breath, refuel and use the toilet facilities. 

Throughout the hike, there are numerous beautiful viewpoints, scaling rocks and exciting terrain changes that keep the hike diverse and interesting the whole way through. 

The landscape accompanied by the peaceful sounds of chirping birds, blooming wildflowers and the occasional sight of the Cretan wild goats, makes the Agia Irini gorge a captivating hike for any nature lover.

 

When is the best time to do the Agia Irini Gorge hike?

The Agia Irini Gorge hike is suitable for any time of the day. Most of the hike is in the shade, with plenty of pine trees and oleander bushes so it’s okay to do even on a warm sunny day. 

However, the best time to do the Agia Irini Gorge hike is in the morning / before noon. This way you’ll not only avoid the majority of other visitors but you’ll also have plenty of time at the end to enjoy a delicious lunch or drive down to Sougia for a swim in the beautiful sea.

The Agia Irini Gorge is open year-round but the best months to visit are between April and October when the temperatures are warmer and more enjoyable. Avoid doing this hike if it’s raining as it may get slippery.

How to get to Agia Irini Gorge

The best way to get to Agia Irini Gorge is by car. You can find the best deals on rental cars on RentalCar.com and DiscoverCars.

The starting point of the hike is located here.

For a stress and hassle-free day, you can also book a private Agia Irini Gorge tour which includes transport to and from the hike, as well as lunch and a visit to Sougia. It’s a great option if it’s a few of you and you don’t want to worry about transportation. 

There aren’t any public bus connections that go directly to the gorge and so I’d highly recommend going there by car to avoid having too much hassle with the logistics. 

Parking at Agia Irini Gorge hike

Once you reach the starting point of the hike, there are a couple of restaurants by the entrance of the gorge where you can park your car.

The premise is that the parking is free if you buy a drink or go back there for lunch. Otherwise, they’re likely to ask you for a small parking fee around €5.

You can also drive a little bit further up the road from the entrance where there is an open space and you can park your car there (see map above). This is what we did and there were a couple of other cars in the same spot as well.

Crete is a very safe island so there usually isn’t any need to worry about leaving your car by the side of the road. However, I’d still recommend not leaving any valuables in sight as a precaution – although we’ve never had a problem! 

Agia Irini Gorge Hike – Trail Options

From the entrance of the gorge of Agia Irini (location linked here) to the exit of the gorge at the Oasis Taverna the walk is 7.5 km long with a descent of 500 m. It takes around 2.5 – 3 hours to walk through the gorge. 

Walking up the gorge from the exit up to the top is also possible if you prefer an uphill hike instead. 

From either end of the hike, you can order yourself a taxi to go back to where you started from and pick up your car. 

You could also choose to do the hike half-way and walk back to where you started. This is what we opted for and what most people that we came across on the hike did as well. We walked for about 1.5 – 2 hours through the gorge before returning, made a turn around this point.

You still get to see the most beautiful parts of the hike and enjoy the walk without worrying about finding transport when you get to the end.

If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you could also opt for a round trip (thereby extending the hike to double its length). 

It will take you approximately 5-6 hours of walking time to cover the distance of 15km. This equates to the length of a trek through the Samaria Gorge and is quite feasible if you’re relatively fit.

How to come back from the end of the hike to the starting point

If you decide to do the full hike from start to finish, you’d have to get back to the entrance of the gorge either by taxi or by walking back up. 

There’s a number of different taxi companies running transport services back to the start. You’ll find their fliers and numbers around the entrance of the gorge. 

Once you get down to the Oasis Taverna at the end of the hike you could also ask them if they can call a taxi for you. Keep in mind the tavern is only open between April and October. 

So if you’re going outside the main tourist season (April – October) it’s best to either pre-arrange a taxi or call one of the taxi numbers once you get to the gorge to make sure they’re available.

The price I was told in May was €25 per car but this may change in the high summer season so confirm with the driver before booking. 

Hiking from Agia Irini Gorge to Sougia

If you’re looking for a full hiking day and want to get all the way down to Sougia, that’s also possible. Once you finish the hike and you reach the exit of the gorge, you can walk all the way down to the seaside village of Sougia. 

It’s a further 7 km walk down a car road, which supposedly doesn’t have too much traffic. However, I haven’t personally done this and so I can’t advise about the safety of the road.

If you wish to combine the hike with going down to Sougia, I’d recommend driving to Sougia after you finish the hike and have picked up your car. 

Agia Irini Gorge Hike difficulty 

Agia Irini Gorge is a relatively easy hike in comparison to other gorge hikes in Crete. 

It starts off with a mild decline and it’s fairly flat for most of the way. It’s only when you reach half-way through the hike that you descend down into the gorge on well-built stairs, which accounts for most of the descent of the hike. 

Due to this, it’s not very taxing on the knees making it a suitable hike for people of all ages. In fact, we ran into multiple elderly couples as well as a group of kids while hiking through the gorge. 

There are a few points further into the gorge where you may have to climb over rocks. These are also quite easy to navigate and shouldn’t be a problem for most.

If you decide to do the hike just half-way and then go back, then you’ll only have about 10-15 minutes of going uphill as you go back up the stairs to get to the entrance.

Otherwise, the full hike + taxi back up option doesn’t involve too much of an incline hike apart from the occasional climbing over rocks.

Facilities at Agia Irini Gorge

The Agia Irini Gorge is one of the most popular and visited gorges in Crete, therefore it’s also quite well-maintained and organised in comparison to more wild hikes. 

There are some limited parking spots at the entrance as well as a spot alongside the road a bit further up from the entrance where you can also leave your car.

There is a restaurant at the beginning of the hike where you can grab a drink or some food before / after the hike.

Half-way through the hike there is a resting area with a couple of benches to relax on, where there are also toilet facilities that you can use free of charge. 

There are a few places along the way where you can refill your bottle with drinking water but they don’t always work year round. Therefore, it’s best to bring enough water with you for the hike just in case.

What to prepare for your Agia Irini Gorge hike

• Sturdy hiking shoes or trainers
• Refillable water bottle and enough water for the hike
• Snacks and / or packed lunch
• Sunscreen for the hot summer days
• Light jacket in case of sudden temperature changes
• Decide in advance whether you’ll go there and back; or require a taxi service to bring you back to the start of the hike. Pre-booking a taxi is advisable especially in the off-peak months 

Agia Irini Gorge Tour & Guided Hikes

Doing the hike as part of an organised private Agia Irini day trip is also an option. This one is perfect for a group of up to 6 people and it takes away the hassle of organising your own transport and logistics.

The tour includes transport from Chania to the start of the hiking trail and then pick up at the end of the hike. 

After the hike the tour takes you to the charming seaside village of Sougia where you will have a delicious local lunch and can enjoy a swim in the crystal clear waters of the sea. 

You can book the private Agia Irini Gorge tour here. 

Where to stay near Agia Irini Gorge

There are only a couple of places to stay near the Agia Irini gorge, the closest ones being the Porofarago guest house and Villa Aeolos which has a private pool with amazing views.

Staying near the gorge will allow you to fully enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the Cretan mountains. For a more luxurious stay, check out the stunning Monastery Estate Retreat, a secluded haven overlooking the gorgeous nature of the island. 

If you prefer to stay closer to the sea, you can also book your accommodation in Sougia, a charming seaside village not too far from the Agia Irini gorge.

Here you’ll find multiple cute boutique hotels and guest houses perfect for a relaxing and quiet stay by the sea. 

Having Sougia as your base is a great way to also explore some other nearby hikes and beaches, such as the Samaria Gorge, Lissos Gorge and coastal hike to Paleochora. 

Final thoughts 

Hiking through Agia Irini Gorge gives a unique perspective of the Cretan nature with its diverse landscapes, thriving biodiversity, and peaceful ambiance, providing a refreshing detour from Crete's more frequented paths.

Even on a gloomy day, this hike offers serene beauty and exceptional views that will make you fall even more in love with the island. 

Dedicating a full day to exploring the gorge and then having lunch and a swim in the nearby seaside village of Sougia is the best way to make the most of this stunning part of Crete. 

So pack your hiking shoes and your swimsuit and let the adventure begin! 

If you're looking for other hikes in Crete, make sure to check out the lesser-known Kourtaliotiko Gorge hike as well as the beautiful palm forrest and hikes at Preveli Beach.