If we were to ask a painter, an illustrator or why not an artificial intelligence to create the perfect Greek or Cretan fishing village landscape, maybe it would look like Loutro! Once a small isolated port of Crete, Loutro is today a real curiosity for tourists. Be careful though, because depending on the time of the year, you can quickly feel cramped… When to go there? What to do on site? Crete Autrement tells you everything!
Loutro: welcome to the small Cretan fishing village!
The village of Loutro in Crete is a small fishing port without cars and whose main activity is reasonably oriented towards tourism in season. Loutro is a typical postcard village of Crete where the terraces of small hotels and taverns are dotted in blue and white all along the small bay. Don’t hesitate to get lost here and there in the charming labyrinth of the small streets of Loutro, which go up and down from one beach, from one terrace to another.
We will not lie, the village of Loutro is super instagrammable for those who like to take beautiful pictures for their social networks.
Loutro is a magical place in Crete: only composed of small white and blue taverns, small restaurants typically Cretan and Greek (or a little more international for the many tourists) and a small beach: Marmara Beach. It is a real pleasure to enjoy a raki in the shade of a canvas terrace, while watching the unreal clarity of the water.
The very charming and picturesque village of Loutro in Crete is isolated at the foot of the surrounding mountains. Loutro is a kind of large cove, located in an incredible bay with blue waters.
How to get to Loutro?
This small village is only accessible by boat or on foot.
1. Hike to Loutro
For the most courageous, there is the E4 trail from Chora Sfakion which will require a 2 hour walk to finally reach Loutro!
From Agia Roumeli, it will take you more than 6 hours of hiking to reach the bay and its fishing village.
Some shopkeepers of the village wish the construction of a road to open it up, we will keep you informed of the progress of this project!
2. Go to Loutro by boat
For families, vacations with small children, senior holidaymakers or simply for those who do not want to embark on a sporting adventure to earn their arrival in Loutro, there is of course a ferry service!
4 ports with ferries serve the Greek and Cretan fishing village:
- Hora Sfakion,
- Paleochora
- Sougia
- and Agia Roumeli
For more information on the schedule and fares for boat trips to Loutro, click on the link!
What to do in Loutro? Top 6
1. Go hiking!
Loutro is really an exceptional place which, in spite of its current vocation essentially linked to tourism, has managed to preserve a certain Cretan style.
The site is also ideal for superb hikes, long or short:
- Aradena Gorge,
- Marmara beach,
- Hamlet of Finikas…
With a superb coastal path, dug in the cliff to reach the beach of Marmara (equip yourself with good shoes for the occasion of course!).
Loutro has the advantage that the loop hikes in the area are very very very numerous, splendid and really very pleasant. Moreover, when you return to Loutro in the evening, don’t forget to take a refreshing dip in the sunset: great moment guaranteed!
It should be noted that Loutro is not extensible, the crowd is still limited by access and geography.
2. Canoeing
In fact, it is possible to rent canoes in Loutro to go to Marmara Beach and Livaniana (the village near the beach).
3. Swimming in Glyka Nera, one of the most beautiful beaches of Crete
Further on, you can notice a small beach with some trees. This is Glyka Nera also called Sweet Water Beach.
A small boat of another company can take you to this beach from Chora Sfakion.
The particularity is that the fresh water flows towards the beach and then through the pebbles.
4. The Aradena Gorge
Behind the beach, we found a treasure: a part of the impressive Aradena Gorge, smaller than the Samaria Gorge, but free of tourists and just as spectacular! We just did a small part of it, the time to take a picture or two!
5. Agia Roumeli
You can continue further with the ferries from Anendyk and reach Agia Roumeli. It is a small village with a large pebble beach.
But it is especially famous for being the arrival point of the long hike of the Samaria Gorge, the most famous of the island.
6. Chora Sfakion
At about 6 hours of walking, you will find Chora Sfakion which has some similarities with Loutro. Its geographical situation in particular: surrounded by mountains and feet in a bay with many shades of blue.
There is plenty to do on site for a wonderful family or romantic vacation: taverns, charming pensions for rent, coves, beaches, diving and hiking.
Weather Loutro : what is the yearly climate ?
Loutrois one of those villages in Crete that is far from the population and has a dreamlike landscape. Its climate also seems idyllic, with 12 months of incredible mildness during the year.
By the way, here is the climate and weather of Loutro all year round:
Loutro : a small paradise in Crete ?
This is for the best face presented by Loutro.
Many people nevertheless agree to describe the Greek village as a bit of a trap for tourists in high season. Relatively small, Loutro and its coastline are today littered with restaurants and other terraces. When the streets and the waterfront are crowded, it becomes quite difficult to move around and make your way through tables and chairs.
For many, the village has probably lost its charm of yesteryear: that of the authentic fishing village without much tourist pretension. Obviously, this impression must be even stronger in the middle of summer, with hordes of boats arriving all day and holidaymakers crowding in.
So our advice : GO IN LOW SEASON!