Karavopetra coves, Paleohora

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.

A trip to this famous lagoon which is located in the south- west corner of crete , with its crystal clear water and pink coral sands is unforgettable. We start with pick up service near the hotel, at 06:30 in the morning.

Repeatedly this beach has been chosen to be among the worlds most beautiful. Elafonisi is an exotic place, a flat piece of land with sporadic vegetation and a great contrast to the stark bareness of the Cretan mountains. The pink sand is produced by the large amount of pink shells that gets ground up by the sea.

After 4 hours we arrived at Elafonissi Beach, the famous lagoon with its pink coral sands and the crystal clear water. There you will have 4,5 hours of free time to swim, have lunch and take some photos. You can have a sunbed or wade across to the island. In peak season it can be a very busy beach. There are canteens for drinks and snacks.

Around 20:30 we will have returned to Heraklion.

There will be a short stop on the way to Elafonissi and on the way back for restroom and snack – 20 minutes

Travel to the foothills of the wild mountain landscape of Crete’s White Mountains, and discover a relaxing beach in the extreme southwest of the island. Drive through the village of Topolia, and stop in the village of Elos.

Elafonisi is a Natura 2000 protected area. The island is full of sand dunes with sea daffodils and junipers. The endangered loggerhead sea turtle and several more rare animals and plants find shelter on the island. It is strickly forbidden to remove any plants, animals, shells, and sand from the area.

Before it’s overgrown by pine and juniper dunes, there is a flat and fine sandy beach that shimmers with pink in places due to the coral. On the opposite island of Kastelli, you can wade through the shallow turquoise lagoon where the water is no more than waist-high.

On our way back to Chania we will stop at Elos village, one of the most attractive old villages of the Kissamos prefecture, with green surroundings and natural water sources.

After we pick you up in the morning from various designated locations around Chania, we will follow the green north coast just before Kastelli and finally reach the village of Topolia.
Topolia Gorge is one of the most breathtaking road trips in Chania, with plenty of opportunities for photos of
the Cretan mountains.The canyon of Topolia starts near the village of Strovles and it ends in the
village of Topolia, where the rock walls are very high and steep.
A large number of birds find shelter in the crannies, cracks and caves of the
otherwise bare walls of the gorge.

After a short visit for breakfast , we will proceed to the main attraction of the tour!

Elafonisi is located on the southwestern most point of Crete and is an oblong, which often seems to be divided into two parts by water, giving the impression of it being a separate island. The protected area of Elafonisi features magnificent natural formations with arguably the most beautiful being the pinkish sand which exists in many places, taking its color from thousands of broken sea shells and corals. The endangered turtles Caretta-Caretta and several rare animals nest on the island and it is strictly forbidden to remove any flora or fauna from the area. The exotic beach with its white and pink sand and turquoise waters is reminiscent of the Caribbean. Near the breaking point of the peninsula, the water does not exceed 1m (3 feet), creating a small lagoon, which can easily be crossed.

The eastern side of the beach, in front of the lagoon, is organized, having umbrellas, showers, lifeguards, snack bars and changing rooms. In Elafonisi, you will have plenty of time to explore the area, swim in the crystal clear waters and even grab a bite to eat! Depending on conditions we may have time to visit a local village as well, before hopping back on the bus that we will take us back to Chania!

Elafonisi is considered to be one of the most famous beaches worldwide (rated each year within the 10 best beaches in Europe and one of the best all over the world). With its amazing pink coral sand and its calm crystal clear waters, Elafonissi is one of the “must do” while visiting Chania.

Solo, couple or family, Elafonissi gets you amazed from the very first moment with the unique landscape that is formed and provides you with a lifetime experience that will make you indulge in the world of relaxation and joy.

Enjoy this tour with our professional, service-minded guides and bus drivers that will waive around all the narrow streets of the cretan road network and will driver you in safety and comfort to this amazing area.

Our team will be here to accept your booking and drive you through the whole procedure with happiness and joy in order to ensure a smooth, untroubled and professional experience in such an amazing area, that is certainly worth visiting.