WALKS AROUND LOUTRO (Second Edition)

(Keith Linton & Danny Staples)

1. PHOENIX CIRCULAR

Degree of Difficulty:  1 - 2  Walking Time: 30 mins.  – 1  hour

This is a pleasant little walk that allows you to poke your nose around the headland and see what lies immediately beyond Loutro. There is a taverna and small beach at Phoenix which can break up your trip if you so choose. Alternatively, it is just about right as an early evening, non-stop stroll before dinner.

2.  CIRCLE ABOVE LOUTRO

Degree of Difficulty:  2-3    Walking Time:   45 mins. - 1 hour.

A short circular (anti-clockse) walk above Loutro. A lovely walk, especially in the early evening. The first 20 minutes are a steep zigzagging climb followed by a flattish section. You contour around the little hidden gorge behind the village. This is called Xylo Pharago, ‘the Wood Gorge’. Emerging from this gorge you walk on the high plateau before descending back to Loutro via the Venetian tower. It takes about an hour.

3.COASTAL WALK to SFAKIA via SWEETWATER BEACH

(Ferry Return). Degree of Difficulty: 3-4           Walking Time: 1½  - 2½  hours.

A straightforward coastal route that allows for several swims, a taverna, and the opportunity to drink the pure water at Sweetwater Beach . The walk is best thought of in two distinct stages, each taking about the same amount of time: Loutro to Sweetwater and Sweetwater to Sfakia.

4. LIVANIANA & ARADENA GORGE

(Optional ‘ferry’ return from Marmara Beach )Degree of Difficulty:  4-5.

Walking Time: 2-3 hours (add 45 mins. if ferry option NOT taken). A reasonably straightforward, albeit quite strenuous walk that offers at least two tavernas, a gorge walk, and a sea swim. The Aradena Gorge stands favourable comparison with its more illustrious neighbour, The Samaria Gorge. It is altogether more manageable  and you are able to appreciate its awesome splendour in glorious isolation (on more than one occasion we have walked the whole length of the gorge - 2/3 hours - and not seen a soul).

5. ANOPOLIS/ LIVANIANA / LOUTRO.

Degree of Difficulty: 7-8.       Walking Time: 4½ - 6 hours

A  steep, strenuous, but spectacular walk up the towering escarpment from Loutro to Anopolis, a reasonable sized village, where breakfast can be taken, if an early morning start (to be recommended) is made.

Ahead of you lies 2000 feet of climbing on a 2000 year old mule track, which you must take very easily, one foot in front of the other, sticking to the zigzag path, taking regular stops, especially if you are not walking   in the shade (i.e. if you happen to start after the sun has risen over the cliff tops at about 7.00

Allow just under two hours up to Anopolis where there is  a choice of tavernas.

6. ANOPOLIS and SFAKIA via ILINGAS GORGE  (optional ferry return)

Degree of Difficulty  7 - 8.    Walking Time 4 – 6 hours.

It is a little deceptive to call this a gorge walk, as the bulk of it is along an unnamed ravine that comes down from Anopolis, and joins the Ilingas Gorge just a few hundred yards before it comes out onto the tar road.

7. LOUTRO to AGIA ROUMELIvia MARMARA & COASTAL PATH (Ferry Return)

Degree of Difficulty: 7-8    Walking Time: 4½ - 6    hours.

This is a long walk, which follows the E4 Coastal Route . It offers several opportunities for a swim and/or a taverna stop, but between Marmara and the small church on the beach at Agia Pavlos (2½ - 3 hours walking), there is neither! It is not the most arduous walk, inasmuch as there are no major climbs out of a gorge or up a mountain side. But that said, apart from some shade as you pass through the pine forest for 15-20 minutes, you will have the sun beating down on you for the whole trip. A hat, water and sun cream are essential.

8. LOUTRO to AGIA ROUMELIvia  IOANNIS & HIGH LEVEL FOREST ROUTE (Ferry Return)

Degree of Difficulty:  10   Walking Time:  6 - 8 hours.

This is the most demanding of the walks in this booklet, and you will need to be reasonably fit, and allow the best part of the day to cover it in comfort. Alone amongst these walks, this is one that stands healthy comparison with any walk you may find in a trekking guide for the White Mountains . It is not the obvious route to Roumeli (walk 7 is). It is far more varied, however, and not only will you  see some  woodland (very rare  this far south) as you leave Aradena, but you will  benefit from the shade it offers, and be rewarded by some of the most breathtaking views from the cliff tops at the end of the Plain of Salouda, across the Libyan Sea to Gavdos in the south, and Agia Roumeli to the west.

9 & 10  ‘EXCURSIONS to AGIA ROUMELI & LOWER  SAMARIA GORGE’

OR  ‘ IMBROS GORGE’

Degree of Difficulty:  1 - 4;   Walking Time   1 – 4 hours

"WALKS AROUND LOUTRO"     (Second Edition)

The new, updated second edition will be available in Loutro from June, 2005. It is available now,  but only by mail order, at a cost of £6.00 (inc. P&P) from:

Danny Staples

103 South Croxted Road

LONDON      SE21 8BA

Please make cheques or postal orders payable to Danny.

For those living outside the UK who might be interested in buyng a copy, please e-mail Danny   on  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it