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Everyone seems to know these beaches as the Anidri beaches, although the Captain is advised that their correct name is Gialiskari, and that is what the sign near the beach says. On the way to Gialsikari there is also an unofficial sign saying Anidri Beaches with Taverna and Massage though. Anidri is the village to the north of this beach. From there you can reach this beach by walking down through the riverbed. Of course most visitors use the dirt track from Paleochora.
There are three very wild and beautiful beaches in the local guide book, 50 minutes but really about 1 hour 15 minutes brisk walk from the centre of the town. These are east of Paleochora on the E4 long distance footpath to Sougia via Lissos. This path has now been upgraded and has the status of a rough track - driveable with care. There are signs asking people not to drive on to the beaches themselves. The approach is along a rugged stretch of coast under clay cliffs which eventually goes round a promontory with an unfenced drop of about 60 ft. It is safe enough but the local guide does emphasise the exposure. Young children would need special attention, apart from the fatigue of walking on a south facing coast in hot weather. A long beach of coarse shingle runs parallel to the path, and is unoccupied apart from the occasional nude couple but it is not so good for bathing.
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The three Anidri beaches are really worth visiting. The nearest two are pebbly (but better than the long beach nearer town). The farthest beach is much the nicest. It is fine shingle and sand and is more sheltered, with large rocks on the western end offering some protection and privacy. A natural spring feeds into the sea here. All my correspondents seem to have really liked these beaches as they were usually nearly deserted during the week and other users were generally all families and nude. However, at weekends during August, families of textiles apparently arrive by boats in large numbers - although co-existence seems OK.
Only the last beach on Gialiskari is used by nudists and then only half of it. Both parts have their own shower and are divided by the hut of the massage lady. The Captain hears she gives great massages. Very good after a long walk over the E4.
The most easterly beach is of sand blown up into a dune, with a bowl of shrubs and bushes behind giving shade, then a backdrop of the same cliffs. The ten yards before the sea are fine (0.5 - 1cm) shingle, which is ideal for swimming. The water shelves steeply to more than 2m about 5m out, but this did not pose problems for average swimmers. A swimming 'length' is about 200m, although the beach being curved is longer than this. There is a current which flows out of the ends of the beach when waves are driving on to it (it is easy to drift out when about 100m offshore at the end of the beach). The other two more westerly beaches are on a short promontory and are shingle with less shelter behind. Walkers along the E4 are no problem, most of them strip off and join you when they arrive from Sougia. Taverna near the parking offers foods and drinks.
There are signs of camping behind the beach but camping is likely to spoil what is a litter-free, cigarette-stub-free area. There were only about two dozen people on the easterly beach early in October with perhaps half a dozen on the other two. In summer there are more people but the walk is going to be more difficult and from the general level of wear and tear it seems these beaches do not become overcrowded.
2017: Aug / Sept:We stayed in Anidri for two weeks and spent a fair amount of time on the long pebble beach just a couple of hundred metres west of Gialiskari. I did spend a couple of mornings on the eastern beach, both times they seemed 100 percent naturist, popular with Germans and Austrians. I also walked the gorge from Anidri naked several times , never met anyone although there were plenty of walkers around. October Wonderful beach. The sandy beach has the left side exclusive for nudism. Two beds and umbrella for EUR 6. Full of people but not crowded. Another Report says "We stayed in Paleochora ten days and went often to Gialiskari beach in the naturist sector. In my opinion the best naturist beach".
2018: In early October on a Thursday, the naturist part of the beach was busier than the writer has ever seen before. In comparison there were very few in the textile area.
Apparently the beach is mentioned in the Tourist Office brochure on Paleochora as being nudist.
2023: Visited Gialiskari beach in Sept. Drove there on a poor road (although now discovered there is a free bus from Paleochora). Turned left at the sign and parked behind the snack bar (note there is another snack bar on Anidri beach). Good idea to park under a tree. To the left of the snack bar (as you look towards the sea) there are two lots of parasols/sunbeds, the first lot are all textile, but beyond that it was 100% nude. Fine gravel beach. The sea was lovely but "jelly shoes" would help.
From a Barefooter: Small gravel beach with sunbeds and a taverna. Visited here in September 2023. 100% nude. Access along a very poor road from Paleochora, but there is a bus service.
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