Schinaria, also written Schoinaria, is a wide bay on the south coast of Crete in the Rethymno district, a short drive south-east of the resort of Plakias and the beach of Damnoni. Coarse pale sand and fine pebble run down to clear deep water on the open Libyan Sea, and low hills scattered with tamarisk … Read more
Rodakino is a quiet coastal area in the Rethymno district on the south coast of Crete, resting between the resort of Plakias and the Venetian castle of Frangokastello. Its name means peach, a soft word for a soft place. Long sandy and pebble beaches line the shore below two hillside villages, washed by the clear … Read more
Marmara Beach sits at the point where the Aradena Gorge spills into the Libyan Sea on Crete’s remote south coast. Smooth, pale marble rocks polished by waves frame this small cove in the Sfakia region of the Chania district, giving the beach its name and creating a striking contrast with the turquoise water. The roadless … Read more
Ligres is a long, quiet beach on the south coast of Crete, set in the Rethymno district below the mountains between Agios Pavlos and Triopetra on the Libyan Sea. Grey-and-golden sand, low dunes and a stream mouth back a small line of tavernas and rooms, with no resort development along the shore. A rough road … Read more
Tsoutsouros sits at the end of a winding mountain road on the remote south coast of Crete, far from the crowds and resorts that line the northern shore. This quiet fishing village rests below the Asterousia mountains at the mouth of a gorge, where a long curve of pebble and grey sand beach meets clear … Read more
Sweet Water beach, known locally as Glyka Nera, hides beneath towering grey cliffs on Crete’s remote southern shore between Loutro and Chora Sfakion. Cold freshwater springs bubble up through the pebbles at the shoreline, creating small pools where swimmers cool off after the cliff-path hike or boat ride that brings them here. The beach has … Read more
Kali Limenes sits on the far southern coast of Crete, in the Heraklion region. It lies below the barren Asterousia mountains and faces the open Libyan Sea. The name translates as Fair Havens, and the settlement earns it. A string of pebbly coves, very clear water and a sheltered harbour define the shore. A long, … Read more
Agia Roumeli is a tiny village on the south-west coast of Crete, in the Chania region, where the Samaria Gorge meets the Libyan Sea. The settlement has no road link to the rest of the island. Travellers reach it on foot after walking down the gorge, or by ferry along the coast from Sougia, Loutro … Read more
Myrtos is a small whitewashed seaside village on the south coast of Crete, set in the Lasithi region west of Ierapetra. A long grey-sand and pebble beach fronts the village, and narrow flower-filled lanes climb the slope behind the shore. Low-key tavernas, cafes and rooms line the seafront, and the village keeps a relaxed, alternative … Read more
Crete has emerged as a leading destination for yoga and wellness retreats, combining the island’s warm climate, quiet coastlines and calm mountain settings with programmes designed for rest and renewal. The south coast offers particular appeal, where remote beaches and hillside villages provide seclusion, sea views and clean air ideal for daily practice. Retreat programmes … Read more