Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
isolated beaches
, such as Finix, Marmara Bay and Sweetwater. Ask locally for direc-
tions or get here by canoe, available for hire from the Hotel Porto Loutro for €16 per day.
€50-70; )
, which has squeaky clean rooms with sea-facing balconies (Nos 5 and 10
are best). Don't leave without trying owner Cristina's famous cheesecake. Breakfast is
8am-midnight)
for some excellent
mayirefta
(ready-cooked meals) and fish, and
Pavlos
(
28250 91336;
www.pavlos.loutro.gr
;
mains €6-10)
for grilled meats.
Note that there is no ATM in Loutro.
Up to five boats daily make the 20-minute trip from Hora Sfakion (€4.50) en route to
Agia Roumeli.
TOP OF CHAPTER
SougiaΣούγια
POP 100
Sougia (
soo
-yah), 67km south of Hania and on the Hora Sfakion-Paleohora ferry route,
is one of the most laid-back and refreshingly undeveloped southern beach resorts. Cafes,
bars and tavernas line a tamarisk-shaded waterfront promenade while most lodging op-
tions enjoy a quieter inland setting.
Activities
Sougia has a lovely 1km-long grey sand-and-pebble
beach
. Like most south coast vil-
lages, it's also great
hiking
territory. A taxi to the Samaria Gorge trailhead is €60, but
with a day or two advance notice, staff at the taxi kiosk can put together a pool of hikers
to share the cost.
If you don't like the Samaria crowds, head for the
Agia Irini Gorge
(admission €1.50;
all year)
instead, which cuts deep through the mountains some 14km north of Sougia.
The bus to Hania can drop you off near the trailhead in the eponymous village, from
where a 7km mostly shaded hike (with a 500m elevation drop) takes you down to the ex-
cellent
Taverna Oasis
( 28230 51121)
. From here, it's another 7km walk via a quiet,
paved road (or a €15 taxi ride) back to Sougia. Of course, it's also possible to do the hike
in reverse.
Sleeping
