Sougia

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Sougia1
sougia ch
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Sougia, also on the South coast is quite long.

1998: A correspondent who visited back-packing, described the beach at Sougia as one of the most beautiful beaches they had been to. Naturism is very acceptable throughout the beach but we needed to respect the locals on Sunday. You can go beyond a rock on the eastern side of the beach where there are natural springs and caves. It is very private in that area so you can feel free to be free. The downside was pebbles, but sleeping on the beach without worries was the best. A lovely beach with a relaxed atmosphere.

1999: The Captain visited in September and confirms the above reports. Swimming here was a delight.

2003: The Captain visited in September and confirms the above reports. Swimming here was a delight.

2001: A report from June notes great swimming, with clear water and fish. The rocks at the far end of the beach created a nice kids' pool. The beach there was very crowded with families, little kids, singles. 90% nude except for locals in street clothes. It would be perfect with fewer people. There was, apparently, once a sign prohibiting nudism but, as in the past, it was ignored by large numbers of people including many who encroached beyond the usual limit. The beach is bordered by trees just below the town. This area is thick with free campers, but the beach was clean. People were naked 50 metres from the town edge. My contributors could see them while they ate breakfast at one of the beach-side restaurants.

2002: Contributors who visited in September spoke of lodging at the SE corner of the town from where they had only to walk diagonally across the beach to enjoy a pre-breakfast swim, and watch the sun light up the surrounding hills as we floated in the warm clear water. Where else is that possible except in a naturist resort complex? Yet Sougia's no naturist ghetto, having a selection of shops and tavernas and especially-friendly local people. True, the beach is small stones not sand, but there is no difficulty entering the sea. Almost everyone on the beach from 100m east of the river bed was nude, even at the weekend, and the few textiles tended to be in an enclave - rather the opposite of the usual situation. Previous reports suggested there was a lot of litter on the beach. More recent ones indicate that the beach is now kept much cleaner.

2004: Contributors in the summer confirm that cave campers were causing some litter, but that there was happy coexistence on the beach with textiles, though the cove at the end of the beach was 90% nudist. The water was deep enough to allow one to jump, naked, from the island rocks at the east of the beach, and the north end of the beach was particularly nudist-friendly.

2005: One worrying report from August, however, came from a Greek contributor who, with his wife, was facing a Summons to appear in Court in November for camping at Sougia two years ago; he had enjoyed visiting Sougia every year since 1988, and this has left a very nasty aftertaste. Perhaps a warning to the rest of us to continue to take extra care to avoid doing anything which might upset anyone living in the localities we visit.

2006: Barefooters who visited in May described it as still wonderful and peaceful; however be aware there was nowhere to change money or travellers' cheques in the village at that time. Visitors that June said there were mainly couples and single females of all ages. Shingle and stones, with no facilities whatsoever except for a shower. Immediately to the east of the tavernas, almost everyone was nude, with just a few textiles further along the beach to the west. Walking along the water's edge was very pleasant. Quite a few campers and people in camping vans behind the beach. Very relaxed atmosphere. Sougia is probably easier to reach by the daily ferry boat than by road.

2008: The situation in mid-September had no changes from what has been described above with the eastern part of the beach busy with nudists. What was marked was how few people there were on the western section of the beach perhaps highlighting how much Sougia depends on the naturist trade.

2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013: reports confirm the above. The beach is still pure naturist paradise.

2014: Same as above. Sougia was the first place I went naturist 'with' other people around.

2015: Still great. However, the far east end of the Beach (see the photo above) is increasingly being used by textile-wearing visitors too. For the most part this is an easy-going co-existence which seems to work out fine but on busy afternoons (say from 3pm onwards) and especially in season, there are occasions where you can find yourself encircled by textile-wearing beach loungers with yourself nude in the centre and this is certainly a test of fortitude if nothing else. Occasionally I've spotted nudist couples (all western / northern Europeans in their mid-50's and upwards) at the far 'west' end of Sougia, close to the harbour, something which to me has the potential to cause some friction between those doing it and the more conservative locals or visitors who wish to keep naturism in one distinct 'eastern' area.

2016: In May the majority of users on eastern half of the beach nude. Textile visitors soon took the hint and stripped. Early October the nudist half of Sougia beach was busy with people 'au naturel'. The half of the beach in front of the town was quieter by comparison.

2018: Naturism lovers who, have for years (even decades), enjoyed long naturist camping stays on Sougia's beach should be aware that in late 2017 a vote took place in the village, with a decision by those eligble to vote, to ban camping on the beach - at least for 2018. Officially, this has always been the law of Greece but for many years free camping has been permitted / tolerated by the village because it was a symbiotic relationship which benefitted everybody (local economy, and convenience for naturists who sought to live simply and cheaply). It remains to be seen if this will remain, but to ban it (using a rather unconvincing excuse about archaeological preservation - suddenly a problem after 30 years?) seems to be economic self-harm for the village. Some reasons given for banning it, are valid. Others, less so. Unfortunately, those of us who were sensible and left a very light footprint, are being collectively punished for the actions of thoughtless people in the high season month of August. Naturism continues on the beach, but it is best to place this information on here before people fly from other parts of Europe intending to spend months naturist camping in Sougia in 2018. It is possible that once the season begins in 2018, the economic folly of this decision may lead to a reversal of policy, but time will tell.

2019: In July Camping and naturism on the beach is about the same as 2 years ago.

2023: In September naturism on the beach is about the same as previous entry. The place is quite windy some days…

 

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