Elafonisi, The exotic pink beach of Crete! Tour from Chania
Description
Elafonisi is an oblong, which often”breaks” in two parts by water giving the impression of being a separate island and a “Natura 2000” protected area. The island is full of dunes with sand lilies and junipers (like-cedar trees). The endangered turtles Caretta-Caretta and several rare animals nest on the island and it is strictly forbidden to remove any plants, animals from the area. Exotic beach with white sand and turquoise waters, reminding of the Caribbean, are formed on either sides of the peninsula. The sand is pinkish in many places, taking its color from thousands of broken shells. Near the “breaking” point of the peninsula, the water does not exceed 1m, creating a small lagoon, ideal for children.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The island is full of dunes with sand lilies and junipers (like-cedar trees). The endangered turtles Caretta-Caretta and several rare animals nest on the island and it is strictly forbidden to remove any plants, animals from the area. Exotic beach with white sand and turquoise waters, reminding of the Caribbean, are formed on either sides of the peninsula. The sand is pinkish in many places, taking its color from thousands of broken shells.
Possible stop for optional lunch (personal expenses)
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
At the time of booking please mention your hotel name and address. You will be notified by e-mail about the pickup point and time (mainly from hotels at Agia Marina, Agioi Apostoloi, Chania City, Gerani, Halepa, Kalamaki, Kolymbari, Maleme, Platanias, Stalos, Tavronitis is provided. If pick up from your hotel is not possible you will be picked up from the closest pick up point).
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(1)
We decided to drive ourselves to Elefonisi Veach via Agia Marina and Kissamoss stopping at these places along the way. Lovely. We took the long way around to Elefonisi Beach arriving around noon. It was madness. There were thousands of people there and this is off season. Found a park and made the long walk to the beach. A paid shuttle would have made more sense. When we got to the bottom, sunbeds and umbrella mayhem prevailed. Ridiculous price at 20 euros for an umbrella and 2 sunbeds. You couldn't move. Dipped our feet in and walked in up to our knees. Made our way back up to have a drink which was fine. Went to use the toilets in the top car park and absolutely recoiled in disgust when I opened an unlocked door to the ladies. It was absolutely putrid. Needless to say I gave it a miss. As we were driving away, I noticed another lady open the same door and recoil backwards. I believe these are paid toilets. The least that could be done is keep them clean. Would I go back - no. Also no pink to be seen. Much nicer beaches around Greece
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re sorry to hear that your visit to Elafonisi Beach didn’t meet your expectations. It’s true that the beach can get very crowded, especially around midda, even during the shoulder seasons. We would like to kindly mention that you didn’t book a tour with us, and we’re sorry you didn’t get the chance to experience Elafonisi with our service. Our guided tours are designed to help guests avoid the busiest times, enjoy comfortable transport, and receive helpful insights and support throughout the day, including cleaner rest stops and curated locations for a more relaxed beach experience. We hope you’ll consider joining us if you return to Crete—we’d love to show you the beauty of Elafonisi in a more comfortable and enjoyable way.
