The Aradena Gorge is situated in the south west of Crete in the Sfakia area close to the coastal village of Loutro and the mountain village of Anopolis. From Anopolis the road leads to the Aradena Gorge with its iron bridge hanging over it. Close to the bridge there are several paths leading you downstairs, giving you the opportunity to make a walk in the gorge, which leads from the village of Aradena and the White mountains all the way to the sea (about 7 kilometer) where it ends at the sea of Marmara, a small beach near Loutro. Immediately after the bridge on the right side there is the small and allmost abanboned settlement of Aradena with a small Byzantine chapel. This chapel dates from the 14th century and is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It contains wallpaintings and icons, but as you might have expected: we found it closed, so if you are coming here becuase you want to admire these beautiful wallpaintings and icons than there is a big chance that you are going to be disappointed. The steel bridge dates back to 1986 and was a gift to the nearby village of Agios Ioannis of four brothers from a rich (oil) family who come from the region. Sometimes you can bungee jump from the bridge.

Since 1947 no one lives in the village of Aradena after two boys in the village had a fight over a goat bell, which ultimately resulted in a vendetta and the death of nearly all residents. The few people who survived moved to nearby Anopolis. Gradually there are a number of descendants that claim their old property back with the aim to move back to Aradena. At the edge of the village at the end of the bridge there is a small kantina where you can get something to drink. The entrance to the abandoned village is free, but it might not be instantly clear where the entrance is (walk along the kantina and go in a straight line - not to the left or the right - there is some sort of gate that you have to push open).

Aradena is the site of the ancient Greek city that was called Aradin. It was a settlement in the Roman, Byzantine and Venetian period. Both Anopolis and Aradin were destroyed by the Ottoman Turks. Ruins of the ancient Aradin are to be found near the village of Aradena. The road from Aradena leads on the the mountain village of Agios Ioannis where there are two more Byzantine churches.

In the harbourfront of Chora Sfakion there are a lot of tavernas and some rooms for rent. Most accomodation is pretty basic, and the regional food tastes great. A tip for a good restaurant would be the Samaria Taverna on the corner, where you can have a big variety of dishes including (of course) fish, okra's and artichokes :). Besides the boat that will take you to Agia Roumeli, Loutro, Sougia and Paleochora, there is also a ferry that sets sail for the island of Gavdos a couple of times a week (two hours trip, usually in the weekends). Chora Sfakion is really a very nice place to stay. The people may seem a bit stubborn at first, but this is gone after 10 minutes and then...they are superfriendly, well...most of them. A big thumbs up for this village.

The village of Chora Sfakion is situated in the south of Crete at a distance of 60 kilometer from Chania. The village has about 400 to 500 inhabitants but it used to be much larger (about 3000 inhabitants that traded with Africa). It was a place of resistance in Venetian and Turkish times, and also during the German occupation. There is a village beach and there is another sandy beach where you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds not too far away. On the west side of the village you can also reach more quiet beaches after a 30 to 60 minutes walk. The road after Chora Sfakion becomes very steep and winding. After 2 kilometer there is a small cove with a beach and a taverna. Late in the afternoon it can get quite busy in Chora Sfakion when the ferries sail in with the tourists that made the walk through the Samaria Gorge. They don't linger around very long, but instead they go to their coaches and then go back to their hotels.

This lovely pebble beach is situated in the south of the island of Crete at the end of the Ilingas gorge, at a distance of approximately 2 kilometer from Chora Sfakion. On the beach there is a taverna where you can get something to drink. Ilingas is a quiet beach and on the east side of the beach there is a cave where you can find some shade. There is space here on the beach for naturists as well.

The village of Rodakino is situated in the south of Crete on the road between Frangokastelo and Plakias. Frangokastelo is 13 kilometers away and Plakias 15 kilometers. There is a bus connection with Rethymnon twice a day. The village is divided into Ano (high) Rodakino and Kato (lower) Rodakino. Both of the villages are quiet and traditional and seem to sleep in their green surroundings. There are a couple of Kafenions here, but not much more. From Kato Rodakino there is a road, about 2 kilometer long, to the beaches of Rodakino that lie in the Bay of Korakas. There are several beaches with names like Sunrise Beach, Polirizio Beach and Korakas Beach.

All the roads in this area are curvy, sometimes a bit narrow, on small parts still unpaved (2012), but they are good. A kind of ravine (riverbed) divides the village into two, and there are bridges to connect the two parts of Rodakino to eachother. The beaches of Rodakino / Korakas / Koraka are one of the last hidden - undiscovered - treasures in the south of Crete. There are some accommodations offering rooms and there are a couple of tavernas but it remains very quiet. The beaches are beautiful and sandy with some pebbles. The large beach in the east has some sunbeds and umbrellas for rent and two tavernas nearby. Then west of this beach there are more beaches, some of them as good as empty and one with some people on it (this is the beach closest to most of the accommodations).

A further walk of about ten minutes over the headland will bring you to the next beach which are pristine and practically undiscovered. Behind that there are two more beautiful beaches that are usually empty. These beaches are situated behind a low hill at the west side of the accommodations and there are no facilities here. For this reason and because it is more difficult to get to it these are good beaches for nudists. Behind the largest of the beaches continue to drive upwards until you see the sign "akropolis 1,4 km" on your right hand side. Leave your car at the parking nearby and walk up the hill, than take the first path on the right leading down or walk on to the next path leading down for the second beach etc. I really wanted to keep these beaches a secret, but okay, now I told you... Don't forget to bring water and a good sunscreen if you want to go and visit.