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Grab yourself a late deal >Samaria gorge, Crete
Hiking down the Samaria gorge is the prime destination on Crete for visitors taking walking holidays.
Located in a National Park to the West of the island, it is one of the longest gorges in Europe, and is open for walkers this summer until October.
The 16-kilometre long gorge is carved into Crete's White Mountains, and wends its way down to the sea at Agia Roumeli. Hikers take the marked-out gorge walk through spectacular scenery.
Well-maintained and guarded, the path criscrosses the river which originally carved the gorge. The village of Samaria - a popular resting place for less-fit hikers - is found about half way along.
One of the area's most famous landmarks is the forbidding "Iron Gates" section, where the gorge narrows dramatically, the rocky walls appearing to close in on walkers as they pass through.
Park authorities advise that visitors will not need to carry much extra bottled water, because there are several natural springs along the way. Protection from the sun is strongly advised, however, as the gorge has little natural shade.
Entrance to the gorge walk costs €5, with under-15s getting in free.
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Views and opinions in this article are solely of the author and do not necessarily represent those of James Villa Holidays(JVH). JVH provides no assurances regarding the accuracy of the information and cannot accept liability for complaints, loss or damage resulting from the article. It does not form part of the contract made when a holiday is booked with JVH and the information provided is not intended to be a rider or replacement to the booking conditions. Reference to the service or product of a third party, is not an endorsement or recommendation and JVH accepts no liability as a result of complaints, loss or damage arising from their use.
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