Quick search
CTRL+KQuick search
CTRL+K
Aspri Limni, translating to ‘White Lake,’ is one of Crete’s most remarkable and yet little-known beaches. Located a mere 500 meters west of Chrysoskalitissa Monastery and 70 kilometres southwest of Chania city, it’s a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered. While many flock to the nearby popular lagoon of Elafonissi, Aspri Limni remains largely unexplored, its beauty preserved in its pristine condition.
The beach, adorned with fine white sand and occasional rocks, is enveloped by jagged cliffs, creating the illusion of a tiny pale lake within the sea. Undisturbed by commercial tourism, Aspri Limni retains its pure and untouched charm, although it lacks natural shade.
To reach Aspri Limni, take a right turn in Chrysoskalitissa village and follow the signs leading to the small Phoenix Theophrasti (Cretan Date Palm) habitat located around the lake. If unsure, any local will be able to guide you to this hidden beach.
Protected under Natura 2000 due to its significance as the westernmost habitat of the endangered Phoenix Theophrasti, Aspri Limni holds environmental importance. This palm species is also found in other groves in Crete such as Vai, Preveli, Agios Nikitas, Souda, and in smaller colonies in South Turkey. Among these, Vai hosts the most extensive palm grove.
Aspri Limni means “White Lake” in Greek.
Yes, Aspri Limni beach is suitable for swimming as the water is clear and calm.
No, there are no water sports activities available at Aspri Limni beach.
No, Aspri Limni beach is not accessible by public transportation. Visitors need to have their own transportation to reach the Aspri Limni beach.
No, there is no accommodation available near Aspri Limni beach. Visitors need to stay in nearby towns or villages.
Yes, Aspri Limni beach is suitable for families with children as the water is calm and shallow.
No, there is no restaurant or cafe available at Aspri Limni beach. Visitors need to bring their own food and drinks.
The water colour of the Aspri Limni beach is turquoise.
The Aspri Limni beach has white sand with rocks in some places.
The water at the Aspri Limni beach is shallow.
The surface of the sea at the Aspri Limni beach is usually calm.
The Aspri Limni beach is usually quiet.
There are no facilities available at the Aspri Limni beach.
The Aspri Limni beach can be accessed via a dirt track.
The Aspri Limni beach has palm trees and is ideal for snorkeling and spearfishing.
Find below list of things to do near Aspri Limni beach:
Known for its sandy pink beaches and clear waters, Elafonisi is a stop you won’t want to miss. Located 76km west of Chania, in the South-West tip of Crete, this peninsula forms part of a protected area and is home to the endangered loggerhead sea turtle as well as other rare plants and animals.
The day begins with pick up from specific points in Chania. Travel for about 40-minutes on a comfortable, air-conditioned bus. Make a stop in a place with authentic and traditional products for about 15-minutes. At the beach, you’ll have the chance to explore the area on your own. Wander through sand dunes or just enjoy a relaxing swim.
Those traveling with children will enjoy the shallow lagoons, which are perfect for wading and exploring. On your return journey stop iat a traditional tavern in a picturesque village for about an hour. Choose to eat from a number of places to eat at this location (at your own expense). Be sure to bring your camera, as you’ll want to get a picture of the pinkish sand – a color it gets from the millions of crushed shells.
In the mid-afternoon, the bus departs for the return trip to Elafonisi.
On this full-day trip, you’ll travel from Georgioupolis to the southwest corner of Crete and spend a relaxing day on the pink beaches of the small island of Elafonisi.
During the 3-hour drive to the island, you can sit back and relax, admiring the beauty of the lush green landscapes, traditional villages, and a small church built inside a cave along the way. After taking a short break to stop for a drink, you’ll reach your destination, Elafonisi, a picturesque bathing paradise with an island that can be easily reached by foot. The water on the island is shallow, clear and gleams with beautiful shades of blue and green. You’ll have plenty of time to unwind on the beach and to purchase snacks and drinks on the island before returning to Georgioupolis in the evening.
Discover one of the most beautiful beaches in the world on this day trip from Rethymno to Elafonissi. Experience a heaven on earth, with soft white and pink sand, exotic crystal-clear water, and cedar trees that extend down to the coastline. Visit traditional villages like Elos and Kaloudiana.
Get picked up from your hotel area in the morning, then stop for a short break in the traditional village of Elos. Time permitting, enjoy time to have breakfast or a coffee (cost not included). Afterward, depart for Elafonissi.
On the way, see small traditional villages combined with typical Mediterranean scenery. Admire the rugged landscape around the Topolia Gorge. At Elafonissi, get 4 hours of free time to soak in the sun and enjoy the spectrum of shades of blue that this beach has to offer.
At the end of your tour, stop at the village Kaloudiana, where you can explore the village and have refreshments or food (not included). Later, get driven back to your accommodation in Rethymno.
Experience a very special Tour that leads you to Crete’s most southwestern part on the small island of Elafonisi.
Drive from the north coast to the southwest and enjoy a scenic ride through beautiful nature and picturesque mountain villages to one of Crete’s most beautiful beaches.
Enjoy pure relaxation on exotic beaches with white sand and turquoise water. Jump into the refreshingly cool water and admire the pink shimmering sand in some locations, which has arisen from broken shells.
The small lagoon provides an ideal place for paddling and bathing for children as well. Cross the shallow lagoon and reach the small idyllic island, where you can admire beautiful dunes and the local nature.
Towards the sea, Elafonisi shows a steep rocky ridge, which is the real core of the island. Between the ridge and the coast, the island arose from alluvial deposition over thousands of years. That’s why the island looks like a big sandy desert.
Elafonisi is the nesting site of the sea turtle Caretta Caretta and the last resting place for migratory birds on their flight from Europe to Africa.
Start your day of discovery with a pick-up service. Right after you board your comfortable, air-conditioned bus, you will journey to the southwest corner of Crete to spend a relaxing day on the pink sand beaches on the small island of Elafonisi.
Take in the lush green landscape on the way to the island as you travel through the impressive Topolia Gorge and pass This is an excursion you do not want to miss!
Up to the south-westernmost point of the island, in one of the most spectacular and unexpected locations on the
island, is where we will spend the day.
Elafonisi is a place of exceptional natural beauty, something between an island and a peninsula, as you have to
walk through the sea to reach it.
Once occupied by pirates, today it is a very popular destination for day-trippers who flood there to faraway lagoon,
whilst having a Mediterranean holiday.
Elafonisi is a paradise on earth – a heaven of unparalleled beauty. It is covered with sand dunes, low trees, bushes,
sand lilies and junipers. You can get there on foot from the beach by passing through shallow aquamarine and turquoise
waters. The white and pink sand made of thousands of broken seashells, the limpid blue-green waters, the little coves
and the secluded tiny beaches remind the travelers of a paradise lost.
Take a swim in the warm tropical waters and relax under the hot summer sun!
11:00 Arrival Elafonisi
15:30 Departure from Elafonisi
19:30 Arrival Heraklion
Route: 540 km
Duration: app. 15 hours
Stay Elafonisi: app. 4 ½ hours
Ride in a comfortable coach through small traditional villages and typical Mediterranean scenery. See the rugged landscape around the Topolia Gorge and have a stop for coffee and refreshments.
Arrive at Elafonissi beach. Here, you have four hours of free time to marvel at the different colors from the soft pink and white sand to the turquoise waters.
As well as exploring the wonders of the beach, discover the small island. This lies just off the shore and you can reach it by strolling through the water. Both the beach and the island are protected wildlife areas of rare beauty and included in the Natura 2000 Protection Programme.
Find below the list of hotels near Aspri Limni beach:
Featuring garden views, Haroupia provides accommodation with a patio and a coffee machine, around 2.5 km from Stómio Beach. The air-conditioned accommodation is 1.7 km from Aspri Limni Beach, and guests benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi.
The holiday home comes with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace with mountain views.
Guests can also relax in the garden.
Kissamos / Kasteli Port is 39 km from the holiday home, while Ancient Falassarna is 41 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 81 km from Haroupia.
from
€144
/night
Iliovasilema Apartments offers accommodation in Agios Padeleimon, 4.2 km from Elafonissi Beach. Guests staying at this apartment have access to free WiFi.
Opening onto a terrace, the air-conditioned apartments consist of one sleeping area and a well equipped kitchenette in one space area and one private seperate bathroom. A flat-screen TV is offered.
The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 60 km from the property
Pink Sand Villas has mountain views, free WiFi and free private parking, situated in Agios Padeleimon, 1.7 km from Aspri Limni Beach. The accommodation is air conditioned and features a hot tub.
The villa provides guests with a terrace, sea views, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with an oven and a toaster, and a private bathroom with walk-in shower and a hair dryer. A fridge, a stovetop and kitchenware are also available, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle.
Guests can also relax in the garden.
Stómio Beach is 2.1 km from Pink Sand Villas, while Kissamos / Kasteli Port is 39 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 80 km from the accommodation.
from
€178
/night
Featuring a garden, White Lake Holiday House is a holiday home located in Agios Padeleimon in the Crete Region, just 750 metres from White Lake beach. Guests can enjoy the heated pool. The property is a 5-min drive from the protected and awarded Elafonissi Beach and boasts views of the sea.
The house features a living room and a kitchen with a toaster. Two bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with a hairdryer are available. A flat-screen TV with European satellite channels is also available. Free private parking is available.
Guests can enjoy Cretan specialties in nearby traditional restaurants.
Kedrodasos beach is at 4.9 km. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 61 km from the property while Souda Port is at 80km.
Located in Elafonisi, 1.4 km from Aspri Limni Beach and 2.6 km from Stómio Beach, Sea Lake Holiday House provides accommodation with free WiFi, air conditioning, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and a garden. The property features inner courtyard and quiet street views, and is 40 km from Kissamos / Kasteli Port.
The holiday home is equipped with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace with sea views.
Ancient Falassarna is 41 km from the holiday home. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 80 km from Sea Lake Holiday House.
from
€119
/night
Located at the south-western corner of Crete, the family-run Glykeria Hotel features an outdoor pool with a sea-view sun terrace, and a restaurant. It offers rooms with a balcony overlooking the Libyan Sea. Elafonissi Beach is 4.5 km away.
The simply decorated rooms of Glykeria Hotel are equipped with air conditioning, a fridge and a wardrobe. Each includes a private bathroom with shower and hairdryer.
Guests can relax at the sun loungers by the pool and enjoy the panoramic sea views. Traditional flavours and fresh fish can be enjoyed at the outdoor eating area of the restaurant.
Chania Town is located 74 km from Glykeria Hotel, while Souda Port is at a distance of 80 km. The seaside Palaiochora Port is 31 km away. Free on-site parking is possible.
from
€85
/night
Find below list of beaches near Aspri Limni beach:
Situated 70km southeast of Chania and just 500m northwest of the Chrysoskalitissa Monastery, you’ll find Voulolimni – a unique ‘sunken lake’. This is not your typical beach, but rather a natural rocky ‘pool’ that has become a hidden gem for the locals of the Chrysoskalitissa village.
Voulolimni is nestled within a small crater, encircled by rocks, creating a beautiful sea lake. This quaint salt lake is shielded from the strong local winds thanks to its geological formation, with only a small opening connecting it to the open sea. As such, it doubles as a natural harbor for small boats.
Its waters remain calm, boasting an enchanting greenish hue that many swimmers find irresistible. While there are no facilities directly adjacent to the lake, you can find accommodation options and taverns in the nearby Chrysoskalitissa village. This makes Voulolimni a perfect spot for those seeking tranquillity amidst Crete’s natural beauty.
Stomio, situated 74km to the south of Chania and 1km to the north of the Chrisoskalitissa monastery, forms part of the broader Elafonissi area. It’s not a favorite spot for tourists due to its rocky and often wavy appearance. The beach features large pebbles and patches of sand, making it a suitable choice for those seeking seclusion, though not ideal for families. The water here is rather cold and the sea deep.
The name ‘Stomio’ translates to ‘mouth’ and can be attributed to the river mouth from the village of Vathi that exits at this point. The river’s water is stored in the local reservoir. The beach is not equipped with any amenities, but there is a small tavern close by. The beach is conveniently accessible as it’s adjacent to the main road that links Chania with Chrisoskalitissa and Elafonissi.
Close to Stomio, one can find the old plaster factory, now deserted. There were attempts to revive the factory in 2010, but local residents objected to the financial lobbies and hindered its reestablishment. Also present is the picturesque chapel of Agii Theodori. Across the bay, a lovely pine grove stretches towards the mountain.
Elafonissi Beach lies at the southwesternmost point of Crete, 72 km (44.7 miles) west of Chania. Elafonissi Beach forms an oblong peninsula split by shallow water, giving the impression of two separate islands. The area falls under Natura 2000 protection, which safeguards sand dunes, sea daffodils, and junipers. Elafonissi Beach shelters rare flora and fauna, including endangered loggerhead sea turtles. Visitors must not remove plants, animals, shells, or sand.
Both sides of the Elafonissi peninsula feature white sand and turquoise water. The sand at Elafonissi Beach appears pink due to crushed shells. The peninsula’s breaking point creates a shallow lagoon less than 1 meter deep, allowing easy crossing and child-friendly swimming.
The eastern side of Elafonissi Beach near the lagoon includes umbrellas, showers, lifeguards, snack bars, and changing rooms. A parking area and a few rental rooms exist nearby. The northern and southern beaches are less crowded and show more intense azure colours. The western tip offers naturist coves for secluded or nude bathing.
Elafonisi is a corner of paradise on the southwestern coast of Crete, included in the top 10 best beaches in the world. To relax on the white and pink sand and swim in the crystal clear sea, guests of Crete come here from all over the island in all possible ways: by car, public transport or as part of an excursion group.
It will take at least 1.5 hours to get from Chania to Elafonisi Beach. Elafonisi is located 72 km (44.7 miles) from Chania city. The best option to travel around Crete is on your own, of course, in a rented car with a navigator. There are two ways to get to the beach by car:
Both roads are paved and equally picturesque. It is difficult to drive past Elafonisi: all the signs that you will meet along the way lead to it.
Chania is connected to Elafonisi by bus. The KTEL bus departs from the city bus station at 9:00 and returns at 16:00. One-way trip takes about 2 hours. The ticket price is approximately 11 euros. This is a more complicated way than by car.
Another option is to book a guided day trip from Chania to Elafonisi Island, with hotel transfers. In this case, you do not have to worry about the difficulties of the road.
From Rethymno to Elafonisi is about a 3.5-4 hour one-way drive. Rethymnon city is located 130 km (80.7 miles) from the famous Elafonisi beach. It is better to leave by car at 5-6 in the morning in order to be in Elafonisi as early as possible. After driving to Chania, you need to keep heading for Kissamos and turn inland or continue along the serpentines along the coast.
There are no direct buses from Rethymnon to Elafonisi. But you can get from the Rethymnon bus station to Chania, spend the night in this city, and in the morning take a bus from Chania to Elafonisi.
You have also the option to book a guided day trip from Rethymnon to Elafonisi Island. The trip starts with a hotel pick-up. After arriving at Elafonisi, you will have 4 hours of relaxing on the beach and swimming in crystal-clear waters. Afterwards, you will have time to enjoy lunch at a local tavern before heading back to Rethymnon.
The road to Elafonisi from Heraklion will be long. This city is much further from the beach than Chania and Rethymno (210 km), so the best option is to plan a two-day trip.
Drive along the National Road towards the west to Chania. Then the path follows the same pattern as if you were leaving from Chania.
Take a bus from Heraklion bus station to Chania. Here you can get out and go for a walk around the picturesque city, spend the night in Chania, and take a bus to Elafonisi in the morning.
And again you have the option to book a guided trip from Heraklion to Elafonisi.
Elafonisi can be reached by sea from Paleochora. Boats leave this village at approximately 10:00 and return at 16:00. Services are provided by both excursion companies and private traders who do not have a set schedule. Due to the fact that it takes as long to get to Paleochora as to Elafonisi, a sea trip will be relevant only for those who are nearby.
Elafonisi Beach holds the status of a specially protected natural site, which prohibits water activities. Food options consist of kiosks and small bars that sell snacks and drinks. Umbrellas and sun loungers are available for a fixed price. Visitors who arrive by car often bring their own umbrellas to avoid the crowded main beach area. Elafonisi lacks natural shade, so sun protection is essential for both adults and children.
Elafonisi Beach suits families with small children. The gentle water entry allows safe swimming, and the shallow depth prevents large waves, even during storms.
Car parking at Elafonissi Beach costs €5. Elafonisi receives heavy tourist traffic during the summer months. Early arrival ensures a more peaceful beach experience.
Kedrodasos beach, named for its distinct juniper forest, is a stunning beach located 76km southwest of Chania and just 1km east of the famous Elafonissi lagoon. This beach is dotted with enchanting juniper trees, often confused for cedars, that are beautifully tucked in between sandy dunes. Included species are the twisted Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa and Juniperus phoenicea. Visitors are encouraged to treat these delicate trees with kindness and care.
Covering an impressive area of around 11 hectares, the juniper forest offers a magnificent view. The beach is an ideal spot for swimming and is a favorite among naturists. It features a diverse landscape of white sand and occasional flat, smooth rocks. A lack of nearby amenities emphasizes the secluded allure of Kedrodasos, maintaining it as one of the last untouched havens in Europe. Visitors are encouraged to leave nothing behind, ensuring the beach stays clean and untouched.
Kedrodasos Beach is recognized as a nudist-friendly location, attracting naturists who appreciate the freedom of clothing-optional sunbathing. Its remote and pristine surroundings create an ideal environment for those seeking a more unrestrained and natural beach experience. Visitors will find sections of the beach where they can comfortably embrace nudism in a welcoming and non-judgmental atmosphere.
Acting as a shield from the regular winds of neighboring Elafonissos, Kedrodasos offers a relatively serene sanctuary. The beach also serves as a stopover for the European E4 trail, with yellow and black markers indicating the way.
© All rights reserved. Crete Locals
