I am told that this beach is one of the most "traditional" naturist beaches in Crete. Until a few years back there were a lot of hippies that went nude even to the tavernas of the area. This beach is named Diskos and I think that with this name it is signed on most maps, but lately there has been put a sign that says "Dytikos". Anyway, it doesn't really matter, because locals still refer to it as "Diskos" (stress the "o").

Diskos is the next bay west of Lentas village at the southern part of the Heraklion province. Lentas village is picturesque enough, but the beach is not worth visiting. Before you enter Lentas, you should see an asphalt road leading to the right. Follow it: Diskos is about 1 km away - at the west side of the headland you see in front of you. "Dytikos" means "Western". The road signs have the spellings Lentas and Dytiko.

The beach is divided in half by the village. Dead centre, there is an unattractive place that rents rooms (this is the one which says (said?) "please no naked bathing in front of the buildings"). The people directly in front of this wall were clothed. To the right (facing the sea) is the Taverna Christina. It is set back 30 m from the beach. Often there were naked people directly in front of it. To the left is the Taverna Voula. There were naked people on the beach 30 m away from it. My contributors ate at the Taverna several times and you can clearly see naked people all the way to end of the beach. Basically, they ignored the sign and walked nude past all these buildings to reach the other end of the beach.

The western and central part of the beach is occupied by naturist wild campers; entry/exit into the water over the rock shelf here can be dangerous, especially if the wind is blowing.

The eastern end (east of the tavernas) was the most traditional nudist beach with nice sand and even a volleyball net. It was nude although completely overlooked from the closest "Voula" beach taverna. Even the sea bed is sand in this part. The central part of the beach, closest to the tavernas but mostly hidden from them by trees, was primarily nude. Under the trees were many tents. This part of the beach is sandy, but in the sea (except from the very west end) there are some slippery rocks, while the sea bed shelves quickly, so be careful.

Opposite the central part are two or three tavernas located at the road upside the slope and hidden from the beach by trees. Sitting in a taverna you cannot normally see people on the beach with the exception of the Voula taverna from where you overlook the eastern part of the beach. Nevertheless, although some reports suggest that nudism is not practised in the central part, other reports suggest that even directly below the Voula taverna (a little more to the east) most people were naked. My correspondents even saw a couple of young women sunbathing naked on the beach only about 50 m downstairs from the Voula taverna.

In its central and western parts the beach is more stony and it is not so easy to walk barefoot. The western part of the beach has some parts of sand and some of rocks. Its great attraction is that you can find nice small beaches between the rocks and stones where you may be for yourself or together with only a few other nudists. My correspondents never explored this part to its end, but it was very nice to walk nude here and feel being part of a naturists' Eden.

Diskos is a very attractive beach because of its natural setting, its size and its completely nudist character. On this beach you have to search out the location you like, but you will find it!

The best taverna — and meeting point of everybody on the beach — is the Odysseas taverna (though a report from 2005 takes a different view). It is a self-service taverna with reasonable prices and good food. There is a mini market from where you can buy almost anything and a little "library" from where you can rent books. Most of the visitors are German or Austrian. Generally, Diskos is a great place to relax, it's quiet and calm. The setting is rather dry and wild. A correspondent describes this as a good location if you want a simple relaxed atmosphere and clean rooms in the tavernas - but 30 kilometres away from anywhere else. My original correspondent thought Diskos had something that he couldn't exactly determine. Maybe it's the rumour that Nikos Kazantzakis (the Cretan author of Zorba the Greek) wrote his last book in a cave at the headland that separates Lentas from Diskos.

Note that the road that leads from the Mesara plain to Lentas has an asphalt surface and many, many turns; whether you love or hate the drive probably depends on you and your car. It goes up the Asterousia mountains and then goes down again. But once you reach the top you'll see one of the best views of the Libyan sea.

Not everyone likes Diskos beach. However things seem to have improved since earlier reports that the water was murky, that the sea had been used as a toilet, and that the beach was full of (textile) campers and very dirty & untidy. The Captain understands that the owners of all the semi-permanent camps have agreed on rules to restrain the "grot" and these seem to work!

When there is a swell on the sea, because of the shelving nature of the beach and the undertow only the strongest swimmers should go swimming: not suitable therefore for children old enough to let go of parents.

A number of Barefoot reporters have said that it is great to swim around the rocks to the east, where you can find a cave in which you can enjoy the sun with the pigeons that live there. But it is only accessible when there is no strong wind, because of the current in and out of the cave.

Undated: There is a huge NO NUDISM sign painted on a wall (when the Captain visited, the only sign he saw was in German, to the effect "Please no naked bathing in front of the buildings", which seems at least polite).

1999 June: The western and central part of the beach was occupied by naturist wild campers.

2001 June: The water was murky and there was evidence that the sea had been used as a toilet.

June: There was a swell on the sea for several days which, because of the shelving nature of the beach and the undertow, meant that only the strongest swimmers actually went swimming: not suitable therefore for children old enough to let go of parents. But the beach was pleasant nonetheless.

July: Explored the narrow track that follows the coast to the eastwards out of Lentas. Past the first headland we looked down on a small beach where a naturist group seemed to have found a nice spot with trees for shade. We continued until the track descended to sea level and enjoyed a refreshing swim from the rocks. Note: This might not refer to Diskos … eastward from Lentas sounds more like Aris Petrakis.

2005 August: Beach was full of (textile) campers, and very dirty and untidy. We stayed at the Villa Tsapakis which was very nice. The owners also own the Taverna Odyesseas which seemed to be patronized by very rough looking gypsy/free camper/hippie types. We walked in, and then back out again. We would not return to Diskos unless the beach were cleaned up.

2013 May: On both our visits naturists were in a distinct minority. However it didn't matter: people were happily walking the length of the beach naked, including the bit right by the road, and stripping off in front of the taverna with nobody seeming to mind. FWIW, there were noticeably more women - solo and in pairs - than men among the naturists.

There some impressive shelters at the eastern end that are clearly intended to last the season, and one guy was seen toting timbers and tools towards a substantial shack some way up the eastern cliff face. Pretty much all the available shade had been bagged so taking an umbrella would be a good idea.

Didn't see any of the "No nudism" signs referred to in earlier reports. We stayed at Studios Galini in Lentas, which is very well maintained and comfortable. The lush gardens are a particular joy. Contrary to an earlier comment, we loved the drive to Lentas from the Mesara plain! (Photo right)

2015 September: the beach at Diskos was mostly nudist.

2016 May: On 2 visits to the eastern (left) end of Diskos we found it to be 75% nude and no problem walking further along. A few nude below tavernas and walking past but mostly textile here. Some tents and shelters but generally kept clean. Recommended.

2021 October: We went on the east side of the beach. Mixed nude and textile, nice beach, fantastic water (be careful with children, the water is really deep already in the first three metres) but really too many tents and shelters on the beach. Nice for the ones who have the luck to sleep on the beach, but no real pleasant image for the other visitors.