Holidays in Elafonisi

A well-kept secret of Crete until a few years ago, Elafonisi, the uniquely beautiful beach located on the southwest coast of the island, has now become a popular destination for tourists and travelers of all kinds.

A place often described as an earthly paradise and included in lists of the best beaches in the world, today Elafonisi holds first place in our hearts, especially because of its natural beauty - it even belongs to the Natura network!

The beach

What you will see upon arriving at Elafonisi beach will leave you in awe: an exotic oasis with cedar trees, white, fine sand and pink pieces of crushed shells, turquoise clear shallow waters and beautiful coves. The sand in many places takes on a pink hue from the thousands of broken shells, creating a magical and unique spectacle. Of course, the hue is not always the same, as depending on the weather it can be intensely pink, while on other days you can't make it out.

Elafonisi beach is the ideal destination for families, who are usually limited to the central beach and the peninsula that connects the island with Crete. As you have understood, Elafonisi is an island with the peculiarity that some days it is connected to southwestern Crete through a narrow peninsula, about 150 meters, while other days you will need to cross the water that reaches up to your knees

How can I go with a camper?

Although you can easily drive your campervan to Elafonisi, keep in mind that this is a rural road: although safe, it is mountainous and has many bends, which means that special care is needed, without high speeds.

If you are not an experienced driver or if you prefer a vacation without responsibilities, trust a professional driver/tour guide for your day trip to Elafonisi.

There are several ways to get to the popular beach, either by car, by public transportation, or by taking a tour guide to avoid the hustle and bustle.

More specifically, Elafonisi is located approximately 75 km southwest of the city of Chania and the journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by car. If you are coming from Heraklion, it will take approximately 3 hours to reach the beach.

If you prefer public transportation, there are many buses that run daily from Chania to Elafonisi during the summer months, a journey that takes more than 2 hours by bus.