Elafonisi & Falasarna Small Group Tour from Chania w/snacks
Description
Experience a Perfect Day of Sun, Sea & Culture! Enjoy nearly 5 hours of pure relaxation swimming and sunbathing by the sea, as we take you to two of Greece’s most iconic beaches—Elafonisi and Falasarna—all in one unforgettable day. We begin our journey at Elafonisi, the day’s most breathtaking destination. Dive into shallow turquoise waters, walk along soft pink sands, and explore the exotic lagoons, ideal even for children. Next, we head west to the stunning Falasarna Beach, a local favorite known for its crystal-clear turquoise sea and wide, white sandy shore—perfect for unwinding under the sun. Our final stop is the traditional village of Vouves, where we’ll visit the oldest olive tree in the world and enjoy a tasting of pure Cretan extra virgin olive oil—a true taste of the island's heritage. Small group tour – maximum 15 people! Limited seats – book now to secure your spot!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Off the southwestern tip of Crete, about 75 kilometers from Chania town, lies Elafonisi beach and small island. It is within walking distance from the mainland, sometimes without even getting one’s toes wet. It was once used by pirates to hide their loot (lafyra) and that is how it got its name. The island (about 1.3 km long and 400 meters wide) is a protected nature reserve and boasts one of the finest sand beaches in the country. More than that, Elafonisi is the only Greek contender in a Tripadvisor list of the world’s 25 best beaches for 2014. This is to be expected: blindingly white-pink sand, turquoise-white lagoon-like waters that ripple as they pick up the breeze, an exotic place with sporadic vegetation against the stark bareness of the Cretan mountains. On the island discover numerous small coves, sandy beaches and interesting rock formations. It is also home to 110 plant species including the protected Androcymbium rechingeri, which is as rare as it sounds.
Falasarna beach is located in the western part of Crete, about 53 km from the town of Chania and 13 km from the town of Kissamos. Quite popular with day trippers, its stunning beaches and clear turquoise blue sea are unique. It has received many awards for its beauty, amenities and services enjoyed by the visitor. The long sandy beach is one of its most important advantages, as it offers the chance to the visitors to enjoy it, even in the high season period. Swimming in the crystal clear turquoise waters of the beach, will make anyone feel the ultimate pleasure. Its beach is fully organized with umbrellas and sun beds in its biggest part. However, there are several free spots for those who prefer to put their own umbrella and towel on the sand. What will impress you the most, is the charming and unique sunset, one of the most beautiful in Greece. The sunset there is really impressive, as there is nothing to obstruct your field of view between the beach and the horizon.
The Olive tree of Vouves is probably one of the oldest olive trees in the world, which remains productive to this day. The exact age of the tree cannot be determined. While tree ring analysis demonstrated the tree to be at least 2000 years old, scientists from the University of Crete have estimated it to be 4000 years old. In 1997 it was declared a protected natural monument and, in October 2009, the Olive Tree Museum of Vouves was inaugurated in a nearby 19th-century house, displaying traditional tools used in the process of olive cultivation. As of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, olive branches “kotinos” from this ancient olive tree were used for the wreath of Marathon winners in every Olympic game. Every year over 20,000 people from all over the world visit this ancient tree.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Contact us to define your pick up location **Guests staying in the Venetian harbor and the old city will be picked up from the closest bus stop accessible by a minibus **
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travellers need to walk about 500 meters from the parking lot to the beach in Elafonisi, because Elafonisi beach is a protected area and cars/buses are not allowed to park closer.
- Summer Season 2026: This activity operates every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from May 18 through the end of September.
Reviews(220)
It didn't took us long to find someone offering tours around Crete, close to the place where we were staying. Safe to say we made the right choice with SeaByBus. Eleni was such a lovely guide with a lot of historical know how. Kostas drove us savely to Elafonisi, Falasarna and Vouves. If you want to see two of the most lovely beaches and the worlds oldest olive tree, we can highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much Stefan for your kind review! We are thrilled to hear that you chose SeaByBus and that your day exploring Crete was such a positive experience. Eleni will be delighted to know that her passion for Crete’s history and culture helped make your tour memorable, and Kostas will certainly appreciate your recognition of his safe and comfortable driving. We're glad you enjoyed the stunning beauty of Elafonisi and Falasarna, as well as the opportunity to visit the ancient olive tree in Vouves—a truly special piece of Cretan heritage. Thank you for your recommendation. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Crete for more unforgettable experiences in the future! 🌿☀️🚍😊
We had an amazing day! Our group only consisted of 7 people. The guide was excellent. The scenry beautiful. The time at the beaches was just right. We booked last minute due to other plans derailing, but this was so much better. Highly recommend!
Thank you Sara for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such an amazing day with us. A small group and a great guide can make all the difference, and we're so glad you enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the time spent at the beaches. It's especially rewarding to know that, despite booking last minute after your original plans changed, the experience exceeded your expectations. Thank you for your recommendation—we hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon! 😊
This was one of the best tour I have ever been on! Both the driver Kostas and Eleni were unbelievably good! Would highly recommend it
Thank you so much Steve for your wonderful feedback! We are thrilled to hear that this was one of the best tours you have ever experienced. Your kind words mean a great deal to us, and we are especially delighted that Kostas and Eleni made such a positive impression. Their passion, knowledge, and dedication to creating memorable experiences are truly special, and we will be sure to share your compliments with them!! Efharisto poli!!
My wife and I traveled from Texas to Crete for our honeymoon. Our first adventure on the island was with SeaByBus. We were greeted with kindness the whole time. I would highly recommend these kind people to escort you around the island and teach you a thing or two about the Cretans. They provided a nice beach lunch and supplies needed to have a good time at the beach (Beach mat, umbrealla, lunch box. I enjoyed them so much that I booked a private taxi to the airport in Heraklion from Chania with them. I chatted with Christine via WhatsApp and she was delightful and a great help. I am grateful to her and Thanos and to our tour guides Eleni and Kostas. 5 star experience. All the best, Matthew Wallace
Thank you so much Matthew for your wonderful review and for choosing us to be part of your honeymoon in Crete. It truly means a lot to hear that your first adventure on the island was such a memorable one. We are delighted that you enjoyed your tour experience, the beach day, and the opportunity to learn more about our beloved Cretan culture and traditions. Christine, Thanos, Eleni, and Kostas will be especially happy to read your kind words. Our goal is always to make our guests feel welcomed, comfortable, and connected to the authentic spirit of Crete, and knowing that we succeeded for you and your wife is the greatest reward. Thank you as well for trusting us with your private transfer to Heraklion Airport. We are honored that you chose to travel with us again during such a special trip. We wish you both a lifetime of happiness, love, and adventure together. If your travels ever bring you back to Crete, we would be thrilled to welcome you again as part of the SeaByBus family!!
Better than renting a car and getting lost - let the professionals take care of you. The "snacks" were healthy home cooked pastries full of Cretean goodness and so healthy as well as yummy and tasty. They thought of everything from cold water, sleeping mats and umbrellas. (I feel sad though - that the wind blew our umbrella inside out and probably ruined it). Elifanici beach was breathtakingly beautiful - and we went there first as it gets crowded as the day goes on. The other beach was also amazing - blue water like a David Hockney painting. The oldest olive was nice - but not very photogenic as it had a fence all around it - still it was lovely to visit a peaceful Cretean family homestead. We loved feeding the chickens and tasting fresh bread dipped in extra virgin olive oil. Great day.
Thank you so much Emma for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a great day exploring Crete with us. It’s lovely to know that you enjoyed the traditional Cretan snacks, the stunning beaches, and the chance to experience some of the island’s authentic culture and hospitality. We always aim to provide a comfortable and carefree experience, so we're glad the little touches like the cold water, beach mats, and umbrellas were appreciated. Elafonissi is truly spectacular, especially earlier in the day, and we're delighted you were able to enjoy its beauty before it became busier. We're also happy that the visit to the ancient olive tree and family homestead gave you a glimpse of a quieter, more traditional side of Crete. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Crete someday for another unforgettable adventure!
We had an amazing time on this tour and it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Crete. Everything was very well organised from start to finish. Our tour guide (Eleni) and our driver (Kostas) were both fantastic. They were professional, knowledgeable, friendly and made us feel welcome straight away. They also went above and beyond by kindly picking us up and dropping us off (even though we were staying outside the standard pick-up area), which we really appreciated. Communication was excellent throughout, from the moment we booked the tour and also on the day itself, so everything felt smooth and stress-free. We had a wonderful day. I can’t recommend this tour enough!
Thank you so much Dimitri for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that the tour was one of the highlights of your trip to Crete. Eleni and Kostas will be very happy to hear your lovely comments. We're glad you felt welcomed and enjoyed a smooth, stress-free experience from booking through to the end of the tour. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back to Crete again in the future! 😊
driver KOSTAS excellent smooth steady and careful driver communicative friendly guide Elena thorough mindful communicative congenial dedicated engaged friendly
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. Kostas will be very happy to know that his smooth, careful driving and friendly communication made you feel comfortable throughout the tour. Elena will also truly appreciate your recognition of her dedication, thorough guidance, and warm personality. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you again on another adventure in the future!
One of the best tours I’ve taken. Irina was delightful and informative. Beaches, views & olive tree were amazing. Met some great people and made beautiful memories
Thank you dear Jennifer for your fantastic review! We are so satisfied that you enjoyed our tour to the best beaches of Crete and to the oldest olive tree of the world! We can't wait to welcome you again in our beautiful island!! Efharisto poli :):)
Great day at both beaches. Very nice that they add on the visit to the Vouves oldest olive tree with tasting. Hospitality was amazing. They provided everything. Great box lunch, mats & umbrella for the beach & all the drinks from soda, water to beer. Snorkel gear was available. Had a wonderful time & great experience.
Thank you dear guest for your kind words! Sounds like a day well spent in paradise! I hope you made memories to last a lifetime! Looking forward to your next visit to our beautiful island! Efharisto poli :):)
Our guide christine was wonderful. We learned so much and saw beautiful beaches. O great day trip! Also it was great to learn all about creten olive oil production and to visit the oldest iluve tree in the world. Fantastic trip
Hello Charles, seeing you had a 5-star experience is the best thing we could hope for! Your review means a lot to us! Thank you for choosing SeaByBus during your stay in Crete!! We look forward to accommodating you again!!
