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Plakias Holidays Travel Guide

Plakias is located on the south side of the island almost opposite the town of Rethymnon on the north. A traditional Cretan villages its not overwhelmed by tourists every year but is popular with visitors who want a quiet and traditional Cretan holiday and also naturist holidaymaker's looking for quiet secluded beaches.

Plakias is about 40 km away from Rethymnon and the small village is built around the small cove of Plakias and has just over 300 permanent residents. The town itself runs along 1 main street which runs parallel to the sandy beach of Plakias.

There is plenty to do in the area of Plakias including leisurely walks, boat trips, scuba diving and exploring the many gorges and covers in the area.

Plakias - General Information

The first thing you will notice about Plakias after getting there is the lovely sandy beaches and crystal clear waters that the beaches of this area are famous for. The beach has a few beach side cafes and Tavernas making sure you can stay fed and watered throughout the day.

Popular with couples and families alike the beach stretches right around the cove and you can easily find a secluded part of the beach to relax in, be aware though that Plakias also attracts a number of naturists throughout the year and some areas of the beach are usually reserved for nudist sunbathers.

If you don’t fancy just sitting on the beach for your two week holiday then there is plenty to do in the area of Plakias. Firstly you can catch the daily boat trips that run from the harbour at Plakias and visit the surrounding villages like Sfakia and Loutro. If you want to keep active on holiday then you can partake in the water sports available in the area, including water skiing, snorkelling, windsurfing and canoeing.

If water sports and sunbathing aren’t your thing then these is plenty of activities to keep you entertained on dry land. Firstly the shopping within Plakias is pretty low key, with a handful of tourist style shops to browse, although moving to Rethymnon and Chania you will find a wealth of local produce shops, jewellers and of course the famous Agora cross shaped market in Chania.

Plakias Gorge

Plakias Gorge or Kotsifou Gorge is best seen during the months of April and May when the island receives a large proportion of rainfall, but with enough sunny spells to allow you to go out and walk about.

Also more commonly known as Kotsyfou gorge starting off the small village of Kanevos, which sits 5 km north of Plakias village. The gorge measures about 1800 meters with a narrow entrance. Within the gorge you will see some excellent examples of past times in Crete including abandoned windmills and houses. The gorge in April or May is filled with assorted flora and fauna and a paradise for anyone interested in seeing the flowers of Crete.

Also within the gorge you will find a small church in the name of Agios Nicolaos.

For the more adventurous try walking the many mountain or coastline trails, the best time to do this is in May when the local flora and fauna is at its best.

If your passion is for the local landscapes and countryside then partaking in a little bird watching is definitely for you.

Rethymnon Daytime Plakias Bali Hotels

Holidays2Crete.com > Guides to Crete > Rethymnon > Plakias

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Useful resort details

Nearest Airport : Chania (CHQ)
ATM/Cash Machines: Yes
Post Office: No
Card/Coin Phones: Yes
Mini-Markets: Yes

The resort is best suited to:
Couples, Independent Travellers and Families.

Location
West of Crete