Imbros Gorge, from Imbros to Komitades

The route

The Imbros Gorge is a ravine on the southern side of the White Mountains that drops from the Askifou plateau towards the coast of Sfakia. It is the short alternative to Samaria: half the distance, no boat back and open almost all year.

You start in the village of Imbros (or Nimbros), at about 780 m, at the southern end of the Askifou plateau. The entrance to the gorge is next to the road, and that is where you pay. From there the path goes down the dry bed of the torrent, between walls that gradually close in, to the village of Komitades, near the sea. It is about 8 km on foot and 650 m of continuous descent, gentle almost all the way.

The most spectacular part is the middle stretch, where the walls come together leaving a passage 1.60 m wide. Further down the valley opens out, olive trees appear and you will see the Libyan Sea in the distance before you reach Komitades.

The gorge's mule track was for centuries the only way between Chania and Hora Sfakion before the road, and in 1941 thousands of British soldiers used it to reach the coast and be evacuated to Egypt.

Distance, time and difficulty

• Distance: about 8 km from Imbros to Komitades.
• Elevation: 650 m of descent, almost no climbs.
• Time: between 2 and 3 and a half hours, depending on pace and stops.
• Difficulty: moderate. The ground is loose stone and boulders for a good part of the way: it tires ankles and knees more than legs.

You don't need mountain experience, but you do need to be used to walking and wear thick-soled shoes with good grip. It is a route that children from about ten years old who are used to walking manage well.

Admission and season

Admission cost €5 in 2026 and is paid at the start. The gorge is passable all year, except in heavy rain or snow: the torrent bed becomes a watercourse. If it has rained a lot or there is a storm warning, don't go in. In high summer start first thing, because the walls only give shade in the narrow stretch and the last third is in the sun.

How to get there and how to get back

Imbros is an hour by car from Chania, along the Vrysses road and the Askifou plateau towards Hora Sfakion. You can park next to the entrance at Imbros.

As it is a linear route, the return is the problem. At Komitades taxis wait to take walkers up to Imbros to collect their car. Another option is to leave your car at Komitades, take a taxi to Imbros and walk down to it. Without a car, the KTEL buses from Chania to Hora Sfakion pass through Imbros: check timetables at the bus station, because in low season there are few departures.

Water, shade and what to bring

Don't count on springs along the way: carry at least a litre and a half of water per person. Hat, sun cream and something to eat. When you finish, a few kilometres from Komitades is Hora Sfakion, with a beach and the port for the south-coast boats.

You can take a dog down, but bring water for it and watch out for hot stones in summer.