Sougia
The small village of Sougia lies in the south west coast of Crete, 70km south of Chania town , at the mouth of the Agia Irini gorge.
It is part of the municipal unit of East Selino with approximately 110 inhabitants.
The village has attracted visitors who were looking for a relaxing holiday away from mass-tourism, ever since the 1970s.
In modern times Sougia still remains unaffected by the growth of tourism in Crete, providing a gorgeous large beach with crystal clear deep waters, beautiful scenery with impressive mountains, interesting remains of an ancient city, old Byzantine churches and, above all, a peaceful, carefree atmosphere.
Plenty of good accommodation is offered in mostly self catering apartments, studios and small hotels, whereas the food quality catered by numerous beach front fish restaurants and traditional taverns, is at reasonable prices, below those found in most places in Crete.
There are also plenty of cafeterias and bars by the sea, two open-air clubs, an Internet café, minimarkets and a kiosk.
However there are no banks, ATMs, pharmacies or a petrol station in the village.
A small harbour, located at the west end of the long beach, offers shelter to small boats and anchor to the ferry boat which connects Sougia with Agia Roumeli, Sfakia, Plaeochora and the beautiful island of Gavdos.
A place for sheer relaxation but also a great hiking territory as it is close to the Samaria and Agia Irini gorges, Sougia provides a laid back atmosphere and the genuine Cretan hospitality.
Sougia beach
One of the major attractions of Sougia is its almost 1,5 kilometers long curve pebble beach, stretching from east to west, with a width that in some points reaches 70 meters.
The beach beautifully combines its crystal clear blue waters with pebbles of different size and colors.
It starts in the west, near the little harbour and then runs in front of the cafés where it is equipped with umbrellas, sun beds, several showers and a lifeguard.
The further east you go, the fewer people you will meet, as the east end of the beach is the nudist and campers hangout, especially towards the tiny, rock-enclosed inlet which is probably the loveliest beach in Sougia.
Nataural shade is provided by several tamarisk trees, found on that side which may be completely unorganised but still all the necessary amenities are easy to find within the village of Sougia, just a stone’s throw away.
The sea is one of the cleanest in the island and quite safe, with no currents, although it shelves quite abruptly.
During the summer season the westerly winds may sometimes get strong and on those days short or longer hikes in the surrounding area are recommended.
Because of its size, Sougia beach never gets crowded and, overall, its crystal clear waters constitute one of the best swimming and snorkeling experiences in the Libyan sea.
