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Crete, northern part

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edward_baldwin
(@edward_baldwin)
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Hi all,

I'll be in the summer in Chania and looking for naturist/secluded beaches in the northern part of Crete, preferably north-west.

Any recommendations?

I know that the southern part is more interesting and has more options, but my hotel is near Chania. I'll have a car, so I can reach secluded beaches.

Thanks in advance, Ed.

 
Posted : February 4, 2019 10:13 am
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CretanBeaches.com is a pretty comprehensive guide with a good search / filter facility.  Doesn't look like there's too much on the north coast but it's well worth the ninety minute drive to Paleochora, Sougia or Kedrodasos (if you can find it  😉 )
Otherwise if it's not high season you might strike lucky on any quiet beach if you keep walking away from the most popular part.
Many years ago we spotted a beautiful pristine white beach on the west coast with not a soul on it. Couldn't believe our luck until we got down there to find our ankles being sandblasted to shreds. I Think it must have been Falasara beach which has since succumbed to the regimented sunbeds (as have many other beaches in Crete)

 
Posted : February 5, 2019 12:07 am
edward_baldwin
(@edward_baldwin)
Posts: 731
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CretanBeaches.com is a pretty comprehensive guide with a good search / filter facility.  Doesn't look like there's too much on the north coast but it's well worth the ninety minute drive to Paleochora, Sougia or
(if you can find it  😉 )
Otherwise if it's not high season you might strike lucky on any quiet beach if you keep walking away from the most popular part.
Many years ago we spotted a beautiful pristine white beach on the west coast with not a soul on it. Couldn't believe our luck until we got down there to find our ankles being sandblasted to shreds. I Think it must have been Falasara beach which has since succumbed to the regimented sunbeds (as have many other beaches in Crete)

Thanks a lot!

I googled the various beaches and got interested especially in Kedrodasos.
It looks like what I am looking for: secluded, not too far from where I will be staying, beautiful and probably not too crowded.

I came across this nice video by a person called Jonny. Is it you?  😉

https://vimeo.com/233570890

 
Posted : February 5, 2019 6:00 pm
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Yes that was me - taken September 2017, glad you enjoyed the video.

Kedrodasos is a fantastic beach and as far as I know still free from sunbeds - it's mixed textile / nude and perhaps more textile in peak season and weekends.
Hundreds of beachgoers visit the nearby beach Elafonisi, and as it's only a kilometer walk along a rocky shore to get to Kedrodasos, a few folk discover the beach by accident. To get there by car, follow signs to Elafonisi and then about 800m before you arrive, turn left and weave your way through a maze of plastic greenhouses along a mile of very bumpy track. After that it's a 400m scramble down to the beach.

Sougia is also a lovely location, (naturist at the east end and a lovely secluded area with caves at the very far end) It's a 60km scenic drive from Chania and would make a great day trip. Mini market, couple of tavernas and a handful of bars - I could happily hole myself in there for an entire summer (as do some of the people free-camping at the back of the beach)  🙂

 
Posted : February 5, 2019 8:09 pm
edward_baldwin
(@edward_baldwin)
Posts: 731
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Yes that was me - taken September 2017, glad you enjoyed the video.

Kedrodasos is a fantastic beach and as far as I know still free from sunbeds - it's mixed textile / nude and perhaps more textile in peak season and weekends.
Hundreds of beachgoers visit the nearby beach Elafonisi, and as it's only a kilometer walk along a rocky shore to get to Kedrodasos, a few folk discover the beach by accident. To get there by car, follow signs to Elafonisi and then about 800m before you arrive, turn left and weave your way through a maze of plastic greenhouses along a mile of very bumpy track. After that it's a 400m scramble down to the beach.

Sougia is also a lovely location, (naturist at the east end and a lovely secluded area with caves at the very far end) It's a 60km scenic drive from Chania and would make a great day trip. Mini market, couple of tavernas and a handful of bars - I could happily hole myself in there for an entire summer (as do some of the people free-camping at the back of the beach)  🙂

Thanks a lot. May I ask you a question?

I found on google maps a car park near Kedrodasos.
Please check the attached map.

Is it a good place to park?

Cheers, Ed

 
Posted : February 5, 2019 9:35 pm
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Yes, it's probably the best option for parking although it's a rough old track (despite starting off paved)  as is typical of Crete. I've attached a map. You could also park at Elafonissi car park and pick your way through the rocks along the coast - there's a path of sorts and it would take 20-30 minutes.

Take care if you have a hire car - I grounded our Punto on a huge pothole and ripped the front bumper loose. Luckily we used a local rental company and paid cash up front, cost me an extra 60 euro for the damage which I thought was very fair.

There a quite a few excursions to Elafonissi from all over the island, so go early to avoid getting stuck behind a coach on the winding roads.

 
Posted : February 5, 2019 11:41 pm
edward_baldwin
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Posts: 731
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Topic starter
 

Yes, it's probably the best option for parking although it's a rough old track (despite starting off paved)  as is typical of Crete. I've attached a map. You could also park at Elafonissi car park and pick your way through the rocks along the coast - there's a path of sorts and it would take 20-30 minutes.

Take care if you have a hire car - I grounded our Punto on a huge pothole and ripped the front bumper loose. Luckily we used a local rental company and paid cash up front, cost me an extra 60 euro for the damage which I thought was very fair.

There a quite a few excursions to Elafonissi from all over the island, so go early to avoid getting stuck behind a coach on the winding roads.

This is very very useful. Thanks for the help, Jonny!

 
Posted : February 6, 2019 7:11 am
alanrp
(@alanrp)
Posts: 63
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You could look at Captain Barefoot's guide http://www.capnbarefoot.info/crete:northcrete

 
Posted : November 5, 2019 2:32 pm
rainman
(@rainman)
Posts: 341
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This topic popped up and reminded me that me and my now wife drove to Elefonisis in a hired mini-moke in 1988. The place was deserted, and there was no car park as such. The only people on the island (it's a walk through shallow water to get there) were naked, so we followed suit! Sadly, it's the only time my wife has participated in anything slightly naturist, although her motivation was more as an exciting adventure.
We returned about 10 years later to be horrified (we shouldn't have been surprised) by the number of people and cars  - and the tarmac road going almost to the beach.

 
Posted : November 5, 2019 2:56 pm
baz8749
(@baz8749)
Posts: 168
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If you download the app for Beach-inspector it will tell you all about the beaches on Crete, tells you if its good for nudists, parking, food etc also pics & a video. The best app for beaches i have seen

Wish someone would invent a body iron

 
Posted : November 5, 2019 3:43 pm