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Accessible
only by boat, or an extremely long walk, the village of Loutro is a waterside
retreat, perfect for anyone wishing to disappear into a time warp and enjoy a
truly carefree seaside holiday. Situated in the wild region of Sfakia, in the
south west of the island, the small bay that encloses Loutro borders the Libyan
Sea and is sheltered by the peaks of the White Mountains to the north, lending
it an altogether magical and enchanted setting.
The
jumble of white buildings that make up the village all face towards the sea and
make a very appealing sight when glimpsed from the approaching boat for the
first, or even the hundredth, time and after stepping down the gangplank
Loutro’s summer visitors are never disappointed, unless of course they are
seeking the tacky trappings of a commercialised resort.
Just
a handful of small hotels and apartments, a few tavernas and cafés and a few
small shops is the sum total of Loutro’s man-made attractions but its natural
assets are apparent everywhere. The sea is clear and full of different
varieties of fish, whilst the hillsides are covered in pathways shared with the
local goats and exposing more stunning views at each turn.
Many
guests choose to spend their days in indolent splendour reclining on a sunbed
by the pebbly shoreline, where the major entertainment is the arrival and
departure of the few daily ferries from Hora Sfakion and Agia Roumeli, at the
foot of the famous Samaria Gorge. The more energetic can walk to the
neighbouring bays of Sweetwater or Marmara or up to the old village of Aradena.
Alternatively, small canoes can be hired to paddle in the bay or a water taxi
taken to the neighbouring beaches, to Agia Roumeli or to Hora Sfakia. A longer
excursion to the island of Gavdos, the most southerly outpost of Europe, can
also be undertaken by the more adventurous.
In the evenings, the tavernas gradually fill and many new
friendships are forged over a sociable meal and a jug or two of wine. Laughter
and good conversation seem to be the most popular shared pursuits of Loutro’s
holidaymakers and the waterside setting, not to mention only the shortest of
strolls, or staggers, home to bed, certainly enhance these pleasures.
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