Discover the secrete treasures of Chania
Loutro
Loutro is a small fishing village located about 71 km south of Chania. You can stay in Loutro and use it as a base to go to the surrounding beaches, either by taxi (boat), canoe, or on foot. You can visit the enchanting beach of Sweet Water. In addition, you can visit the beaches of the nearby Lykos, Finikas and of course the enchanting Marmara. There are boats that leave every day for Marmara and Sweet Water beach. Loutro is a place for those who want something different and calm on their vacation. A small picturesque fishing village in southwestern Crete, which has not yet been altered by mass tourism.
Fragokastelo
Fragokastelo is one of the most famous beaches in Crete, known for the local Venetian castle of Frangokastelo, for its beautiful beach and the stories with the legendary Drosoulites, the ghosts of the soldiers who appear on the beach in the mornings at the beginning of summer. It is located 13km east of Chora Sfakion, 80km south of Chania, in a small plain southeast of the White Mountains.
Paleochora
Paleochora is a small town 77 km south of Chania. The city is located on an 11 km coastline that is bathed by the South Cretan Sea. The wider area has very well organized beaches and beautiful small anchorages. In Paleochora you can find many hotels, restaurants, taverns, cafes, bars, museums and nightclubs. Paleochora is connected by boat with Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Loutro, Chora Sfakion and Gavdos dock at the port.
Chora Sfakion
Chora Sfakion is a small town on the south coast of Crete. It has two small ports, where you can find the ferries for Agia Roumeli, from where the hikers of the Samaria gorge arrive in the summer to take the return bus. The same boat also passes through the picturesque Loutro and continues to the island of Gavdos, Paleochora and Sougia
Sweet water beach
Sweetwater beach is set in a stunning location 75km away from Chania and 4km from Chora Sfakion and is one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete. There are now umbrellas in some parts of the beach but otherwise, it is left fairly untouched. The beach is called Sweetwater (Glykanera) because spring water can be found just below the surface of the pebbles. You'll see that some spots have been dugout. It's perfectly good drinking water. Generally, the only way to get here is by boat from Chora Sfakion. However, for the most daring and sought, there is a tedious path from Sfakia (30 ′) and from Loutro (60 ′).
Agios Ioannis
Agios Ioannis is a village in the area of Sfakia, in southwestern Crete. Old churches are preserved in Agios Ioannis. The church of Panagia is decorated with 14th century frescoes which are preserved in good condition. Near Agios Ioannis, Koules (a fortified Turkish tower), which overlooked the southern coast of Crete, is preserved in a semi-ruined condition. Its tanks are saved. The church of Agios Pavlos, which is located near the sea, was built by Agios Ioannis the Hermit in the first half of the 11th century in memory of the passage of the apostle Paul from the spot and is hagiographed.
The beach is completely isolated from culture, as the only possible way to get here is by boat or hiking on a path from Agia Roumeli, Agios Ioannis or Loutro. The shortest hike is from Agia Roumeli and takes 50′-60 ′ on an easy path along the coastline that is part of the European path E4.
