Spend a day hiking and admiring the dramatic landscape of Samariá Gorge, a stunning part of Crete's national park. Complete your trek at a charming fishing village to enjoy some free time; then relax on a boat trip to Hora Sfakion and gaze upon the jagged coastline as your day ends.

Carved out of a limestone plateau, the spectacular river gorge of Samariá is renowned across Europe as one of the largest. Begin at a height of over 4,000 feet (1,219 m) and ease your way along an 11-mile (18-km) trail down to sea level. En route, encounter the Iron Gates, a point at which the path narrows to 10 feet (3 m) across and the cliffs rise up to 100 feet (30 m).

Your 5- to 6-hour journey is nearly complete at Agia Roumeli, on the shores of the Libyan Sea. Rest up during some free time; perhaps enjoy lunch in a local taverna or refresh yourself with a dip in the water. All that remains is a scenic boat trip to Hora Sfakion as your Crete adventure concludes.