Samaria Gorge walkers who want to spend some time sunning and swimming nude after descending the gorge should try the little rocky beach on the east side of the village in Agia Roumeli.  When my contributor visited for the second time in May 2001 it was exactly as he remembered it from his first visit 25 years ago. It does not seem to get crowded; this time there were three women there, two nude and one topless, in addition to my correspondent and his friend. Strongly recommended, a better option than stripping off at the far end of the main beach.

The town has the atmosphere of a terminus. It's particularly dire as you walk out E between the helicopter pad (all concrete and steel wire) and the local marshalling ground for litter bins. Then everything changes at the river mouth. There's a small picnic and camping place under trees (remarkably litter-free when we were there) and after 300m the delightful bathing place. Behind you the town is hidden by the low headland, in front the lightly wooded bay arcs round to Aghios Pavlos and beyond. Nor is it just a place for naturists to hide in the caves. As we swam, two mixed couples sunbathed in full view of the E4 path, while others took advantage of the caves for shade.

Agia Roumeli beach

Agia Roumeli beach

4:10 am, May 16, 2025

19°C

scattered clouds

Humidity: 57 %

Pressure: 1010 mb

Wind: 14 mph

Wind Gust: 22 mph

Clouds: 34%

Visibility: 10 km

Sunrise: 6:19 am

Sunset: 8:21 pm

Weather from OpenWeatherMap

2004: A correspondent confirms that it is still a good nudist beach beyond the rock at the east end, with good snorkelling.

2015: In mid-September there were several nudists at the west end of the Agia Roumeli Beach. The bulk of Samaria Gorge walkers stay near the ferry terminal end of the beach.

2020: Near the river and east of it people are camping, some nude, no problem. Nice place to swim and wash the salt off in the river. Go a little further to the east through the goats' gate and there are nice coves on the beach.

2021: Further the goats' gate nice places with 100% nude sunbathers and swimmers

Kalogeros

A kilometre west of the village of Agia Roumeli is the wonderfully remote Kalogeros beach (Monk Beach). A motorboat or canoe is required to access it, which the contributor did in mid-September 2015. It was 100% nude - the writer and his wife for about 5 hours. A clothed couple on a motorboat stopped for a short time but other than that it was like Robinson Crusoe and Girl Friday.

Apartments at the excellent Sweet Corner Masxali at the west end of the Agia Roumeli beach have canoes which are free to folk staying at the accommodation.

Swim 300 metres west to Fournoti Beach where there was another nudist couple.

At the last bar on the beach you can rent a kayak (€5/hour in 2020) and visit the beaches on the west. Sometimes a boat stops with clothed people, but they can keep at distance if they want to.