Samaria: Gorge closed all day Tuesday

The Samaria Gorge remained closed from both entrances, Omalos and Agia Roumeli, all day Tuesday August 18, 2026. The decision was taken by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, which manages the National Park. According to the announcement, the decision was based on indicators from the nowcasting application and the updated morning forecast bulletin of the National Meteorological Service. For the Xyloskalo area, rainfall of up to 9 millimeters was forecast, values exceeding the safe operating limits established by the Chania Regional Authority. The agency announces the decision early in the morning to prevent bus departures from Chania and Rethymno towards Omalos.

In practice, however, the weather at Xyloskalo was clear, as recorded by the live camera of the area and confirmed by visitors who arrived early in the morning at the entrance. Several protested, as they had planned the hike from days in advance, in many cases with boat reservations for the return from Agia Roumeli. The contradiction between forecast and on-site reality is the central point of friction, which local media highlighted. Many visitors had already paid transportation tickets and had departed before dawn, explaining the intensity of the reaction at the Xyloskalo entrance.

The rationale for management differs from that of the visitor looking at the sky above the entrance. The route is approximately sixteen kilometers long and takes five to seven hours, proceeding within a narrow gorge where water flow can rise abruptly from rain falling at higher elevations of Mount Leukos, many kilometers away. Evacuation of hikers from inside the gorge is extremely difficult and at certain points feasible only with aerial means, explaining why limits are conservative. In practice, limits account for the total drainage basin and not only conditions at the entrance, where the camera is located.

The gorge was also closed on Monday August 17 for the same reason, the second consecutive day during the height of the tourism season. Samaria is one of the most visited natural destinations in Crete and its closure directly affects agencies, KTEL buses operating transfers to Omalos and ships on the Agia Roumeli-Hora Sfakion route. No decision was announced for Wednesday August 19, as evaluation is performed daily in early morning hours. Previous years the gorge has repeatedly closed during season for weather reasons, but also for landslides requiring trail maintenance work.