Self-Guided Day Trip to Seitan Limani Beach, Chania

Experience one of Crete's best-kept secrets with a visit to Seitan Limania on the Akrotiri Peninsula. Located just 35 minutes from Chania, this beach is known for its white limestone cliffs, S-shaped inlet, and clear blue waters that are perfect for cliff diving. Seitan Limani is a wild beach with no services, so be prepared to bring your own refreshments, which you'll need after driving a winding mountain road and taking a short but steep hike down to the small pebbly shore of this picturesque cove.

One of the hidden treasures of northwest Crete, Seitan Limania is a rugged paradise that feels far removed from the modern world but is actually just a 35-minute drive from Chania. The name means Devil's Port, a reference to the dangerous waves and tides in the bay that make this a suitable site for strong swimmers only, when the water is calm.

Seitan Limania gets full sun from the late morning until the late afternoon, so you may want to get there in the morning or early evening. It's best to drive yourself or take a taxi; just be prepared for an intense winding road of hairpin turns for the last mile or so. Once you arrive in the parking area, you'll have to hike down to the beach. It's about 980 to 1,640 feet (300-500 m) down, depending on which trail you pick, and both trails are quite steep, taking 15 to 20 minutes to navigate.

This is a wild beach, meaning there are no services like food or drink stands or sunbeds, so you'll have to bring everything you need. There's a canteen at the top of the road that offers sandwiches and tasty homemade dishes like souvlaki (grilled meat skewers) and moussaka (eggplant with minced meat and bechamel) made from the owners' livestock and produce. You can stop at the canteen before or after the beach or if you're feeling really peckish, call in a delivery to the beach.

Just be mindful of the friendly and stubborn mountain goats, who love to come down to the beach to pose for a selfie and steal your food. The water of Seitan Limania is deep, so perhaps you'll want to snorkel, or if you're feeling adventurous, you can indulge in some cliff jumping.