You will be accompanied on the 20 minute ferry journey to Loutro by crowds of walkers heading for the Samaria Gorge – to walk the “lazy way” i.e. up the gorge a short way then back to the coast (you will do this later in the week).
From the ferry you can see the coastal footpath and take note of and photograph key landscape features.
Once in Loutro, to find the coastal footpath walk across the front of the tavernas. At the small kiosk in the middle of the beach go left. Keep going upwards and to the right. All the village paths lead to a metal stock control gate. Go through, and up behind the derelict house. After a few paces keep on the coastal path, ignoring the branch to the left, which goes zigzagging upwards to Anopolis. You now cannot get lost, following the undulating coastal path (marked in yellow and black) to a church on a headland and then down to Sweetwater beach.
The ongoing path from Sweetwater is marked in the usual yellow and black from the eastern end of the beach, climbing after a few minutes over a huge rockfall. Then comes the headland and a brief series of zigzags up to join the Anopolis road. Turn right and walk on the road to Chora Sfakion. You will pass the entrance to Ilingas beach on the right. Just before you reach the first house in Chora Sfakion take the steps down on the right. The path leads down to the harbour.
