From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Agia Roumeli from the ferry.

Agia Roumeli (Greek: Αγιά Ρουμέλη) is a small village in southwest Crete, Greece and is popular with tourists. Located a few kilometres above the town is the southern entrance to the Samaria Gorge. For most walkers, this is the exit, as the usual route through the gorge is to descend from the north. The gorge is a popular tourist destination in Crete, the longest gorge in Greece, and one of the longest in Europe, measuring 18km. The village has several hotels and a few rooms for rent and also some tavernas. Agia Roumeli has a large beach and a ferry slipway where the ferry to and from Hora Sfakion via Loutro, arrives, mainly used by walkers who have completed the Samaria walk. The village is not accessible by road.

According to one local (unconfirmed) source the origin of the name Agia Roumeli comes from the Arabic words 'Maya' meaning water and 'Roumi' meaning Greek, meaning 'Greek Water'.

Agia Roumeli from surrounding mountains.

Coordinates: 35°13′47.70″N 23°57′36.70″E / 35.229917°N 23.960194°E / 35.229917; 23.960194

From Wikitravel

The Samaria Gorge

Agia Roumeli is a coastal village in southwestern Crete near the southern end of the Samaria Gorge.

Get in

There only two or three realistic way's to get here. The village is not accessible by road.

By foot

Walking along the coast from Sfakia or down through the Samariá Gorge from Omalos. Get in Sfakia or Omalos by bus from Chania.

By sea

By ferry from Sfakia.

Get around

The village is not big, so everything is within walking distance.

• Samariá Gorge (National Park). A 14km gorge that descends 1250 meters to sea level through some of Europe's most spectacular natural scenery. The walk up the gorge from south to north is pleasant for the main part but the last 3km, up the Xyloskala ('wooden staircase') is extremely tiring. Sensible shoes are essential. Most people take an organised tour or approach the top of the gorge by public bus from Chania and begin their walk from there, but there are also buses from nearer towns and ferries from the mouth of the gorge. Some people walk from the southern entrance just as far as the narrowest part of the gorge - the Iron Gates - then return to the sea. There is an entrance fee, payable at either end of the gorge, with tickets checked on on exit to ensure that no one remains in the park overnight.

• Most tourists rest here after the walk though the gorge and eat something before they leave by ferry toSfakia. So in the end of the afternoon, it can get crowded here,

Sleep

There is a small 'wild camping' area (no facilities) by the riverside on the coast.