Loutro Crete

If you think that in 2021 man could have arrived everywhere by urbanizing and automating everything, you are wrong!

With this article we want to introduce you to a place on the Crete island where there are no cars but above all there are no roads to reach it, only and exclusively by sea or if you are good walkers on foot.A small road on the seafront, no motorcycles, no cars, no trucks, no mechanical means, just your legs.

No it's not a Salgari story or an imaginary place, it's pure reality, it's Loutro Village.

Loutro is wedged in a small bay between the Lefka Ori, the mountain range in the west of Crete in Chania prefecture, halfway from Chora Sfakion to Agia Roumeli, where the Samaria gorge ends. An authentic pearl, romantic and peaceful where everything flows naturally and nothing has been and you want to change.

A simple beauty made up of some low white house that leans curiously above the sea, some taverns where the flavors are still genuine and traditional, some rooms for rent for the lucky ones, a small supermarket where you can find everything and cafes where sit down admiring the horizon and get lost in your own thoughts.

A unique place in the world, a different emotion to savor where silence is king and at night the only sound is that of the sea waves. It is also an excellent base for excursions to the beautiful surrounding gorges, virgin beaches and archaeological sites.

In the past Loutro was called Phoenix and was the port of the ancient cities of Anapolis and Aradena. The Hellenistic, late Byzantine and Roman periods were the time when Phoenix prospered most due to its favorable position as a well protected natural port on the peninsula that dominated the southwestern part of Crete. In Phoenix, Zeus and Apollo were revered. In the pirate era, the Saracens adopted it as a base to attack ships in transit on the coast, while under the Venetian domination the Saracens were driven out and the town fortified with a small stronghold.

Besides lazily lounging on the beach, Loutro offers a wide choice of alternatives. You could go for a visit to the Turkish fortress and the ruins of the Venetian castle with a nice walk, or always on foot in half an hour to reach the old city of Anapolis where there are the finds of the settlement, where you can taste the famous cheese cake of goat sprinkled with thyme honey called Sfakian and enjoy the wonderful views.

And still explore the Aradena gorge arriving at the now uninhabited village by crossing the iron bridge 138 meters above the ground built in the 80 'where lovers of bungee jumping can delight in spectacular jumps. A walk that varies according to where you go up and then down (we speak from 1 to 3 hours) between narrow spaces, wide paths, huge boulders, the bed of a river and the canyon that narrows and widens in an almost lunar landscape and then reappear luxuriant and verdant. Obviously you need to be a bit trained for a walk like this and have the right equipment. Then arrive at the uninhabited Livaniana village where in the summer there is a small tavern to rest and refresh.

Or take a stroll around the town, with its few narrow, almost claustrophobic alleys and walk the 500 meters of the seafront, and then settle down in a tavern or a café where you can order a nice cold beer and taste the local delicacies.

Let's say that the sea is amazing everywhere and there are beaches to visit. We list the ones that certainly deserve a puree.

The main beach, which is located in the middle of the bay right in the center of the village. A shoreline of pebbles with an extremely transparent sea and slowly descending seabed. It is equipped with sun beds and umbrellas and behind it taverns and bars for something to drink and eat.

Also near the village we find another beach exactly at the end on the left end, Keramos beach. Very quiet and organized with sun beds and umbrellas, it is the ideal place for those who love peace. A great tavern where you can enjoy local delicacies is located right on the beach. To know more:https://akrogiali-lykos.gr/en/component/content/featured.

After about twenty minutes of rigorous walking eight hundred meters west of Loutro, you arrive at Finikas beach. The name comes from the ancient city of Phoenix where it is now possible to admire the ruins and is connected by a path to the Marmara beach the natural exit of the Aradena Gorges. A large rock separates the port from the beach which presents itself with a beach of clear stones with a crystalline and blue sea. It is equipped with some sun beds and umbrellas. For sports lovers it is possible to rent a canoe and explore the surroundings. A picturesque tavern where fresh fish is always served with a few rooms to stay, all facing the sea. Finikas beach can also be reached by boat from Chora Sfakion or from Loutro itself.

Lykos beach nine hundred meters west of the village of Loutro very close to the abandoned of Livaniana village, is a small rocky coast perhaps not the best for a day at sea, but certainly perfect for those who love snorkeling thanks to the rich seabed. and in any case from the fantastic sea with its clear waters and changing colors. It has a small dock and some traditional tavernas which also have rooms for rent. Definitely an ideal place for those who want absolute peace. Its position makes it vulnerable when the wind blows. It can be reached by boat or on foot.

After Lykos beach, we find Marmara beach also called Dialiskari. A small cove of stones with a calm and turquoise sea. Marmara beach is the arrival point from the walk through the Aradena gorges. Surrounded by rocks and sea caves, it is a paradise for snorkelers. Equipped with sunbeds, umbrellas and a small tavern where to drink or eat something. It can be reached either by boat, or on foot from Loutro in about an hour.

Finally, if you are staying directly in Loutro, one of the beaches considered among the 20 best in Europe is Glyka Nera beach. Its name means fresh water (glyka dolce, black water) for the fresh water that flows from the natural spring, which is also drinkable. A long pebble beach with clean turquoise and deep blue waters with fast-descending seabeds. A small tavern where you can find food and drinks, sunbeds and parasols while for nature lovers, tamarisk trees that provide natural shade. It can be reached either by boat from Loutro or Chora Sfakion or on foot through paths with travel times from Sfakion in about half an hour while from Loutro in an hour. We recommend that you be very careful if you venture on foot as the road is not exactly easy, you need to have a minimum of experience. A fairytale scenario will be reserved for you by the black Glyka beach!

We sincerely think that Loutro and its wonders are a must on the list of things to see in Crete and if you need to completely unplug, Loutro will surely be the place to be.