Sfakia-Loutro
This is our best selling kayak day trip! It takes place in one of the most protected areas in Crete, very close to the famous Samaria gorge. Previous experience is not required. The starting point (Ilingas beach) is about an hour driving from the town of Chania and is suitable for those staying in west Crete and or near Rethymno town. Many sea caves, high cliffs and impressive beaches not accessible by road included! Many times we are also able to see the amazing griffon vultures as there are plenty in the area.
Overview of the trip
Paddling distance: We will paddle around 15km and there will be plenty of time for swimming and snorkelling on remote beaches not accessible by cars. Experienced paddlers are welcome to join; if there are experienced in the group we can extend the trip to cover an extra 6km. All paddling equipment is provided for the trip plus of course the guide.
Equipment: Single or tandem (double) kayaks are available. People with no experience will be given a tandem kayak as those are easier to paddle unless you want to try a single. Experienced paddlers can get superb boats from Nigel Dennis, Valley, North Shore, P&H and 3kymia sea kayaks.
We use mainly composite kayaks in our trips. If you do prefer a tandem or single kayak please mention this while you are filling the booking form.
Plan of the trip: There will be a short introduction to paddling for those that have no experience and afterwards we will start paddling towards Loutro.
On our way we will make stops for both; swimming and snorkelling. All stops will be on different beaches.
There are sea caves and wonderful beaches for swimming and snorkelling along our way to the small village of Loutro where we will stop for lunch. You can either eat in a taverna or you can pack your own.
The food in the village is excellent and there is a wide variety including many recipes for vegetarians.
For those that like hiking there is a short (45-60 minutes) but very beautiful hike in the hills near Loutro with amazing views.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
If you don't want to have lunch in the taverna be sure you pack your lunch. Other than that you will need 1.5lt of water (ideally in small bottles),sun glasses, hat, sunscreen, swimsuit, lycra shirt or any t-shirt ideally with UV protection. You will also need shoes that you do not mind getting soaked as you will get your feet wet. Ideally a light neoprene shoe will work great. It is not required to wear shoes but they will help as the majority of the beaches are with small pebbles.
We do provide dry bags to put your phone etc.
Where do we meet?
Check out the following link for the exact meeting point. it is at Ilingas beach, just 2.5km west from Chora Sfakion. When you arrive park your car (there is a free parking) and meet us down to the beach.
Google map link:
https://goo.gl/maps/SrZsjh69hdCGTKxS9
If you travel by bus let us know in advance and we will arrange a pick up from the bus station.
Ilingas beach is roughly an hour and 10 minutes driving from Chania city & a few minutes more from Rethymno.
How do I book?
Use the "BOOK NOW" link located on the top of this page as the booking form has extra details that we need. After submitting the form you will get an email within 1-2 days (usually the same day) with a confirmation. The payment can be done either by cash when we meet or via credit card payment two days prior to the starting date as we need the funds to have cleared by the date of the trip. Please don't forget to read our terms about booking which are listed in the footer of every page.
If you wish to pay with credit card please mention this to your booking in order to send you the payment link once confirmed the trip.
What time do we meet & finish?
We start by 10 am and finish between 4-5pm. If time change for any reason you will be notified by email. You will have to be on the beach a few minutes before 10 am.
Do you provide transfer?
Transfer is not available for this trip. You will need to meet us at our base in Ilingas beach. From Chania with the bus you will arrive on time.
Do you run this trip all year long?
For a minimum of 4 participants we can run the trip all year long. For less than 4 only during April to October.
Is there a limitation on weight?
Regarding our single kayaks, the maximum paddler weight is at 105kg. Sometimes a heavier paddler can fit (up to 110kg) but needs to be experienced as the balance is getting poor due to the hull characteristics.
In a tandem (double) kayak the weight can go up to 115kg but the main limit is the design of the cockpit which the majority of the times doesn't fit properly paddlers above 105kg.
If your weight is above 105kg you will need to try the kayak as you might end up not being able to paddle at all or be so uncomfortable (due to pressure to the tights) which will lead to other problems.
I'm currently in the process of designing & then building a tandem kayak to solve that issue but won't be available until most likely early 2025.
PS: For those that they are not aware I am designing and building sea kayaks for a couple of years so far (more at https://www.3kymia.gr)
