Stressed out, tired, sick of cars or just want to escape to the sound of goat bells and the wind. The solution: go to Loutro on Crete’s south coast.
No, it’s not undiscovered and yes, all those shining white buildings lining the cove are hotels, but who cares? The peaceful atmosphere envelopes even the most stressed soul and persuades him to relax and forget.
At sunset, the sea reflects the colours of the surrounding mountains, replacing the blue Libyan sea with various shades of orange fighting for dominance in the viewer’s eye. Roads don’t exist, only alleys. Old, deserted of crusader forts and lookout towers remind us of past pirate invasions. Only the goats occupy them today, feasting on coarse grass, pretending to protect the inhabitants.
Hiking presents the best option. Exercise is relaxation. Trails lead in both directions. Phoenix lies to the west, with its few hotels making Loutro look like a metropolis. Glyka Nera or Sweet Water Beach, is a one-hour hike east or 15-minute boat ride away. Dramatic towering cliffs rise 200m above the beach. Goats compete for food on the slopes. Fresh water springs lie everywhere. No cars reach this here, only the bells of forging goats.
Without stress, without noise, only relaxation exists. This is Loutro’s strength. Hotels and restaurants lay around the curved bay. Accommodation is simple, no five stars here, like it must be to enjoy Loutro. One comes for revival. Some hotels have great views across the bay.
Loutro is only accessible by ferry or on foot from Hora Sfakion or Palaiochora.
Loutro’s little secret
Goat bells in the surrounding desert brown and light orange mountains replace the car noise in most places. Roads don’t exist, only alleys. Old ruins of crusader forts lie just outside the village. At sunset, the sea reflects the colours of the surrounding mountains, replacing the blue Libyan sea with various shades of orange fighting for dominance in the viewer’s eye.
People come here to escape. Loutro is the enemy of stress and the friend of relaxation. Beaches lie a boat ride or an easy hike away. Sweet water beach lies below a cliff wall, where goats climb the almost vertical cliffs. Fresh water springs provide water for campers.
Nights are quiet here. One forgets life as we know it and steps back into a place quietly rebelling against the noise and pressures of our world.
Hotels and restaurants lay around the curved bay. Accommodation is simple, no five stars here, like it must be to enjoy Loutro. One comes for revival. Some hotels have great views across the bay.
If you plan to come here, take a bus from Chania to Chora Sfakion and then a short ferry to Loutro. Book your hotel in advance between July and early October. For great views, book Loutro Bay. For cheaper rooms, book the places in the back alleys.
