Plakias to Sweetwater Beach ?

[triton]

Thinking of a day trip, how long would it take to get to Horo Sfakion to catch the ferry?
Has anybody been, is it worth the trip etc? Thankyou

[John R]

Assuming you take a car then you can get to Sfakia in an hour. Maybe less - cant remember exactly despite having done it multiple times. No problem with your excellent day trip and catching a boat to Loutro and/or walking to sweetwater bay all very possible. A superb day out with many options en route and at Sfakia.

[Stuart & Hilary]

I think the car journey to Sfakia is about an 1hr. From there a small boat will take you to Sweetwater, maybe 10 minutes. Sweetwater has little shelter from the sun but does have its own taverna. I suppose everywhere is worth visiting once. I would be inclined to tie my visit in with the ferry departures and go to Loutro the other side of Sweetwater. Loutro is definitely worth a visit with some pleasant coves just beyond. A chocolate box village & there you can walk or boat to Sweetwater. Just to be warned that the boats don’t always run if it is a rough sea. Two years ago we arrived in Sfakia on our way to Loutro to find that it was too rough for the boats so we ended up walking.

[Voloudakis]

What everybody else said. you can walk and park the car near the bend where the path starts from above Chora Sfakion.
If feeling lazy take the water taxi and then either walk back, catch the water taxi or walk on to Loutro and have a drink and a bite to eat and catch the Ferry back.
Phoenix bay beyond Loutro is also a nice little spot, you can either walk over the ridge and well defined path above Loutro or walk around the flatter but longer headland.
Both are interesting walks. Must say that Phoenix bay is small has a pebble, sheltered beach, resident turtles and the hotel a nice spot for lunch,
Never seen any naturists here due to the family hotel.
The Mermaid Cafe and bar at Glyka Nera (Sweetwater ) is an experience not to be missed.
Photographs of the walk between Loutro, Sweetwater and Chora Sfakion here.
http://www.sfakia-crete.com/sfakia-crete/public-gallery26.html
Thanks to Sfakia.com.
 
 

[triton]

Thank's for the replies, Loutro sounds interesting so we will probably visit there too.
I guess the ferries run on a regular basis ? ( weather permitting ).We would aim to get there early as possible to make a day of it.

[Hugo V]

You can find the ferry timetable here http://www.anendyk.gr/pages/en/timetable.php?lang=EN
We drove to Sfakia last October.  It will take you about an hour.  From Loutro you can take a small boat to Sweetwater Beach, but it only runs once or twice in the morning and once or twice in the afternoon back to Loutro.  Of course, you can walk from either Loutro or Sfakia.  Goog luck!
Hugo

[Voloudakis]

Here are main ferry timetables http://www.sfakia-crete.com/sfakia-crete/ferries.html
Sorry but do not yet know running times of Water taxi, last year we caught one at 9.30am and the return around about 4pm
Loutro.
http://www.loutro.gr/
 
 
 
Phoenix bay.
http://www.old-phoenix.com/
 
Video of water taxi from Loutro to Phoenix bay.
 http://youtu.be/lhc3McTln2M
 

[Stuart & Hilary]

And just beyond Phoenix is another small bay with Taverna. Another interesting way of visiting these small bays & Sweetwater is by hiring a kayak in Loutro.

Stuart

[triton]

Thank's again, Pictures look fantastic. !!

Dave and Jackie

[Voloudakis]

Yes Lycos and Marmara beaches deserve mentions too. Water taxi from Loutro or Kayak rental.
You can also walk the path from Loutro to all these beaches, Marmara is quite a trek but Phoenix and Lycos claim it is twenty minutes (I seriously doubt that).
Lycos photos (has two Tavernas)
 
 
Website of Akrogiali Hotel and Taverna Lycos (with Video)
 http://akrogiali-lykos.loutro.gr/
Another video here, probably not one for vegetarians but really shows how things are done in rural Sfakia.
Done by visitors to the hotel who are keen walkers.
Linking does not work on forum, copy address and paste into new tab in your browser.

Code: [Select]

http://vimeo.com/17358423Marmara Beach which is at the end of the Aradena gorge.
Video here http://youtu.be/EfERrHUzO6k
Photos.
 
 
 
Above Marmara beach is the Village of Livaniana, reached by a very steep and partially mettled road from the Chora Sfakion to Aradena road.
Is possible in a small car but a 4x4 is much better, or you can take the steep path up from Marmara beach.
Interesting Taverna in the village. Update April 2016 THE LIVIANA TAVERNA HAS REOPENED, Under new management but still the same incredible setting and views.
 
 
 

[Voloudakis]

I updated my above posts in this topic with more photos and links. Hope it will be useful to people visiting the area.

[wanderer]

some beautiful photos of the beach.. might have to head over myself