Loutro

Loutro, which is situated on Chania's southern coast, is one of the most distinctive towns in Crete. Only on foot or by boat can you get to this special location. Because there are frequent boats to Loutro, many tourists choose to travel there following their journey through the Samaria Gorge.

Only one truck is used in Loutro to bring supplies to the hotels; there are no automobiles or motorcycles there. Its white homes with blue windows are distinctive to Crete and resemble the Cyclades. These homes are a short distance from a sea that is never rough.

The residents of Sfakia once built ships on the Gulf of Loutro, and the local sailors used to sail from Loutro all over the Mediterranean and as far as Russia. Sailing, navigation, and shipbuilding all boosted the regional economy. Ioannis Vlachos, also known as Daskalogiannis, was one of the prosperous shipbuilders and shipowners. He was a prosperous shipbuilder with four huge three-mast vessels that cruised between Mediterranean locations.

• Location: Crete