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.
Get directions to Kedrodasos beach
Kedrodasos Beach is located 76km southwest of Chania and 1km east of the famous Elafonissi lagoon.
The easiest and most convenient way to reach Kedrodasos would be by hiring a car in Chania or directly at Chania airport. Once you pick up your rental car, you need to follow the Chania – Kissamos – Elafonissi route, which will take around an hour and a half drive.
Kedrodasos beach is known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, soft white sand, and stunning natural scenery. It is also a protected area, home to a variety of rare plant and animal species.
Kedrodasos beach is not recommended for families with young children due to the lack of facilities and the challenging hike to reach the Kedrodasos beach.
Kedrodasos beach is a great spot for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing in the peaceful surroundings. It is also a popular spot for hiking and nature walks.
No, there are no restaurants or cafes at Kedrodasos beach. Visitors are advised to bring their own food and drinks.
Camping is not officially allowed at Kedrodasos beach, but some visitors do choose to camp there. However, it is important to note that there are no facilities or services available for campers.
The water colour of the Kedrodasos beach is turquoise.
The Kedrodasos beach has white sand with rocks in some places.
The water at the Kedrodasos beach is shallow.
The surface of the sea at the Kedrodasos beach is usually calm.
The Kedrodasos beach is usually quiet.
There are no facilities available at the Kedrodasos beach.
The Kedrodasos beach can be accessed via a dirt track or by walking.
Yes, the Kedrodasos beach is nudism friendly.
Find below list of things to do near Kedrodasos beach:
This bus trip runs 8 hours from Chania to Elafonisi, giving you 4 full hours at the pink sand beach and a return stop in the mountain village of Elos with a Cretan wine tasting. Quality Travel operates it with an air-conditioned coach, a multilingual guide and pick-up from set points across the Chania area, from €26.52. The trip carries a 4.66 rating across 2,468 reviews and ranks 31st among all GetYourGuide experiences in Greece.
The coach crosses the mountains of western Crete to the south-west corner, parks above Elafonisi, and returns inland through the chestnut villages. Three parts make up the day.
First is the drive, climbing through the mountain passes past Kissamos and Elos on roads that are narrow enough that most visitors are glad not to be driving them. Second is Elafonisi itself, a Natura 2000 protected area where you get 4 hours free, long enough to wade the shallow channel to the islet, walk the dune paths and still swim. Third is Elos on the way back, a village known for its chestnut groves, where a Cretan wine tasting and an optional lunch at a local tavern fill the late afternoon.
The pink sand is real but conditional. It comes from crushed seashells, and how much of it shows depends on season, light, weather and tide.
The route crosses the Chania regional unit from the north coast to the south-west tip, and three of its points have their own page here.
The fare covers the coach, the guide and the free time, and it leaves out everything you eat, drink or sit under.
Included:
Not included:
Budget around €15 for shade if you want it, and bring cash, the beach rentals are not set up for cards.
We recommend this trip mainly because of what it saves you from. The road to Elafonisi is 75 kilometres of mountain switchbacks from Chania, and it is the one drive on this island we routinely tell visitors to skip if they are not confident behind the wheel. Letting somebody else take it turns a tense two hours each way into the part of the day where you look out of the window.
The reviews point at a second reason, and it is a person. The guide, Daniel, is named in review after review from Denmark, the UK, Poland, Sweden and Italy across two full seasons, described as funny, easy to talk to and genuinely informative. On a trip whose product is a coach seat and four hours of free time, the guiding is most of what separates one operator from another, and this one clearly has it.
Reviewers also single out the operator’s habit of arriving early to beat the peak-hour crowd, and of pointing people towards the quieter stretches of the beach rather than dropping them at the busiest point.
Three caveats we would give a friend.
Elafonisi gets crowded, and no early start fully fixes that in August. Reviewers who rated the day five stars still describe the beach as busy. Go in knowing it is a famous place in high season, not a secret one.
The Elos stop divides opinion. GetYourGuide’s own review summary says travellers would prefer more beach time and a shorter or optional lunch and wine stop, and one reviewer who otherwise enjoyed the day pointed out that lunch at 16:30 is awkward when most of the group has already eaten at Elafonisi. Treat Elos as a wine stop with food attached rather than as your main meal.
The pink sand is the third. It is a genuine natural phenomenon, but one reviewer noted how much of it has gone because visitors take it home. Removing shells, sand or plants from the area is strictly prohibited, and that rule exists for a reason.
Walk away from the car park, bring cash for shade, and keep your afternoon expectations modest at Elos.
Your pick-up point and time are confirmed by email or chat by 20:00 the day before, so check your messages that evening. You choose the nearest pick-up location free of charge, or pay €9 for door-to-door service.
There is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the coach parking area down to the beach, so a basic level of fitness matters here. Bring sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and both cash and a card.
Elafonisi sits inside a Natura 2000 protected area. Removing shells, plants or sand is prohibited.
You get 4 full hours of free time at the beach, out of an 8-hour day including the drive and the Elos stop.
The pink is real but variable. It comes from crushed seashells, and how strongly it shows depends on the season, the light, the weather and the tide.
No food or drink is included. Lunch at the Elos tavern is optional and paid separately, as is anything you buy at the beach.
The beach is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the coach parking area, on a path that needs a basic level of fitness.
Umbrellas cost €9 plus a €5 deposit, rented on the beach, and straw mats are charged separately as well.
A Cretan wine tasting happens at Elos on the return leg, in the chestnut village inland from the coast.
Check dates and prices for the Chania to Elafonisi bus trip with Elos stop.
This day trip crosses Crete from the Heraklion coast to Elafonisi, the pink sand beach and lagoon in the far south-west. Elafonisi is a Natura 2000 protected site where shallow turquoise water separates the mainland beach from an islet you can wade to, backed by dunes, sand lilies and juniper. ETHERION runs it over 14 hours from €53, with free pick-up from anywhere between Agia Pelagia and Malia.
The coach crosses the island and the day is spent at one beach. Three parts make it up.
First is the drive, early, right across Crete from the north-central coast to the south-western corner, the longest transfer of any beach trip on the island. Second is Elafonisi itself: shallow water in aquamarine and turquoise, a walk through the water to reach the islet, dunes, secluded coves and the rock formations at the far end. Third is the return along the same route.
The site matters beyond the colour of the sand. Elafonisi is a nesting ground for the loggerhead turtle and a resting point for migratory birds crossing to and from Africa, and rare sea cedars and white sand lilies grow in the dunes in autumn.
The route crosses from the Heraklion coast to the south-west corner of the island.
The €53 covers the coach and the guide; everything at the beach is your own.
Included:
Not included:
We recommend this trip only if you have already accepted the arithmetic, and we would rather say that plainly. Elafonisi is 250 kilometres from the Heraklion coast. At 14 hours door to door, this is the longest beach day available on the island, and most of it is a coach seat.
What makes it worth considering anyway is that Elafonisi genuinely has no substitute. No other beach in Crete combines a walk-through lagoon, pink-tinged sand and a protected dune system, and if you are based on the Heraklion side without a car, this trip or nothing is the real choice.
The operator handles the long day competently. A French reviewer described an experienced driver, a comfortable bus and good information from the guide. Pick-up covers thirteen named points along the north coast, and the exact spot is emailed within 24 hours of booking.
Two honest caveats, from a small review base of four.
The journey is long and reviewers say so. One French guest called Elafonisi a paradise worth the trip while noting the journey time is long and there is no getting around that, which is exactly right.
The “luxury bus” billing was questioned. The same reviewer took issue with the word luxury. Expect a comfortable air-conditioned coach and nothing beyond that.
If you are staying further west, a Chania departure reaches the same beach in far less coach time and adds a stop at Elos.
Sleep on the way out, bring everything you need, and walk away from the crowd.
Free pick-up covers Malia, Stalida, Hersonissos, Koutouloufari, Anissaras, Analipsi, Gouves, Kato Gouves, Kokkini Hani, Amnissos, Karteros, Heraklion, Ammoudara and Agia Pelagia. The operator emails your exact pick-up location within 24 hours of booking.
Bring comfortable shoes, a sun hat, a towel, sunscreen, water, comfortable clothes and beachwear. Elafonisi is a protected site, leave the sand and shells where they are.
The day runs 14 hours door to door, which is the longest beach trip available from the Heraklion coast.
Free pick-up and drop-off are included from fourteen named points between Agia Pelagia and Malia.
The colour comes from crushed shell fragments mixed into the sand, strongest along the waterline and varying with light and season.
Yes, the channel is shallow enough to wade, which is the feature that makes this beach unlike any other in Crete.
Neither is included. Kiosks operate at the beach and sunbeds are rented separately.
Yes, from the Chania side. A departure from Chania cuts the coach time substantially and adds a village stop at Elos.
Check dates and prices for the Elafonisi beach day trip from Heraklion.
Following pick-up by bus, 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 many old and very typical villages. Stop for a coffee and breakfast in the village of Elos, known for its chestnut trees.
Upon arrival at Elafonisi, get at least 4 hours to relax and swim in the crystal clear water. Laze in the sun, or go for a stroll along the pink sand beach. Benefit from beach kiosks where you can purchase food and water to rehydrate and re-energize.
Situated just off the shore of the main island, Elafonisi can be reached by walking through the water. Both the beach and island are protected wildlife areas of rare beauty. Depart by bus at approximately 16:00 and return to Rethymno for an estimated arrival time and hotel drop off at around 18:30.
Join us for an unforgettable day tour departing from Heraklion Region, bound for the enchanting Elafonisi Beach, with the journey by bus taking approximately 4 hours. Along the scenic route, we’ll pause for a quick breakfast and stretch, offering a 20-minute break to recharge.
As we continue our picturesque drive, be captivated by the breathtaking canyons, valleys, and quaint villages scattered across Crete’s landscape, providing a delightful opportunity to appreciate the region’s natural splendor.
Upon arrival at Elafonisi Beach, you’ll have approximately 4.5 hours to fully immerse yourself in its mesmerizing surroundings. Take a dip in the crystalline waters for a rejuvenating swim, relax on the unique pink sand, indulge in delectable snacks from the beach bar, and capture the awe-inspiring scenery with your camera. Elafonisi Beach radiates tranquility, offering ample space to unwind and reconnect with nature.
After a memorable time at Elafonisi Beach, we’ll commence our return journey to Heraklion, lasting approximately 4 hours. During the ride back, we’ll make a brief stop for restroom breaks and snacks, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable trip home.
Evening Drop-off:
After the tour, participants will return to their respective points by bus, with the duration varying based on traffic conditions and individual pick-up locations.
This day trip runs to Elafonisi, the pink-sand lagoon in the south-western corner of the Chania regional unit, with free hotel pick-up and a multilingual guide on the coach. Elafonisi is a Natura 2000 protected site where a shallow channel separates the mainland beach from an islet, and the sand takes its colour from crushed red and pink shells along the waterline. SEALAND TRAVEL runs the trip from €50, listed at 13 hours door to door, with a 4.07 rating across 33 reviews.
The day is a long coach journey to the south-west corner and back, with free time in the middle. Three parts make it up.
First is the drive, which crosses the island through mountain villages and road tunnels, with commentary along the way. Second is the free time at Elafonisi, enough to swim, wade the shallow channel to the islet, walk to the small chapel and the lighthouse, or simply sit. Third is the return leg on the same road.
The water at Elafonisi is shallow and calm over a wide area, which is why it suits children better than almost any other famous beach in Crete. The site protects 110 plant species, the juniper trees among them.
The route crosses the island to one destination in the far south-west.
The fare covers getting there and back with a guide, and nothing on the beach itself.
Included:
Not included:
Snack bars, toilets and souvenir shops operate at the beach, so bring cash.
We recommend this trip for people without a car who want Elafonisi anyway, and the honest framing is that you are buying somebody else to drive the hardest road in western Crete. The route to Elafonisi is long mountain switchbacks, and doing it yourself in a hire car at the end of a beach day is not a relaxing prospect.
What reviewers praise most consistently is the guiding. Guides are named, Theodora, Michaela, and described as friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely informative about the villages the coach passes through. One reviewer singled out the driver for the cave and tunnel section of the road. On a trip whose product is largely a coach seat, that matters more than it sounds.
The beach delivers on its own terms too. Reviewers describe good facilities on site, room for both families and people wanting quiet, and enough time to relax properly.
Three things we would want a friend to know first.
The journey is longer than advertised. Value for money scores 3.9 out of 5, its weakest dimension, and the reason shows up in the reviews: one guest reported 5 hours each way against the 3.5 hours in the itinerary, and another described four and a half hours of driving for four and a half hours on the sand. This is a full day, most of it on a coach.
The pink is oversold. One reviewer said plainly that the beach is not like the advertising photos and that anyone expecting that intensity of pink should not come. The colour is real but it concentrates in patches at the waterline and varies with light, season and tide.
There is a walk at the end. Getting from the coach park to the sand takes about 15 minutes each way, which several reviewers found a drag after a long drive.
Sit on the right going out, carry cash for shade, and treat the pink sand as a detail rather than the point.
Pick-up is free from your hotel, early in the morning, and the day is listed at 13 hours in total. Reviewers report the driving portion running longer than the published itinerary, so plan nothing for the evening.
Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, a change of clothes, a camera, sunscreen, beachwear and cash. Pets are not allowed on the coach. Elafonisi is a protected Natura 2000 site, so leave the shells and sand where they are.
The trip is listed at 13 hours door to door, and reviewers report the driving alone taking up to 5 hours each way.
The pink is real but patchy. It comes from crushed red and pink shells at the waterline, and one reviewer warned it does not match the intensity shown in advertising photos.
Sunbeds are not included and must be paid for on the beach, so bring cash.
The lagoon is shallow and calm over a wide area, which makes it one of the safest famous beaches in Crete for young children.
The beach is about a 15-minute walk each way from the coach parking area.
Free pick-up and drop-off at your hotel are included, along with the coach transfer and a multilingual guide.
Check dates and prices for the day trip to Elafonisi beach.
On this day tour from Souda and Chania, discover the gem that is Elafonisi Beach. Soak up the sights of the remarkable pink sand and crystal-clear waters on Crete’s southwestern coastline. Enjoy pickup and a scenic drive to this protected nature reserve.
Begin your tour to Elafonisi when you meet your driver in Souda or Chania. Then, set out for a drive along the winding road through Crete’s stunning countryside. If you wish, your driver will pause for you to stock up on local snacks and drinks while you learn about the island.
Once you’ve reached Elafonisi, make your way to the beach. As you wander down to the water’s edge, notice how the sand turns pink beneath your toes. Delight in the green waves lapping at the shore as you explore, swim, and lounge in this unique place.
After relaxing on Elafonisi Beach and exploring all its delights, return to Souda and Chania with your driver to conclude your tour.
Find below the list of hotels near Kedrodasos beach:
Featuring an a la carte restaurant, Elafonisi Resort by Kalomirakis Family is set amidst a garden with olive trees. It offers air-conditioned accommodation, some self-catering, and free Wi-Fi in public areas. The popular Elafonisi Beach is 650 metres away.
Simply decorated, all units at Elafonisi Resort open to a furnished balcony. Each comes with a fridge and a desk, while some units have a kitchenette. Offering free toiletries, the private bathroom also includes a hairdryer and shower. Some units enjoy views over the Libyan Sea.
Guests can enjoy Cretan specialties for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the on-site restaurant, or have a refreshing drink from the bar. A mini market is also available in the premises.
Kedrodasos Beach lies within 2 km and the scenic town of Chania is 74 km away. Chania International Airport can be reached within 90 km. Free private parking is available in the premises.
from
€72
/night
Featuring garden views, Elafonisi Villa above the Beach features accommodation with a patio and a kettle, around 1.5 km from Elafonissi Beach. There is an on-site restaurant, plus free private parking and free WiFi are available.
Featuring sea and mountain views, this villa offers 2 bedrooms and opens to a terrace. The air-conditioned villa also provides a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, a seating area, a washing machine and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower and a bath.
The villa offers a picnic area. If you would like to discover the area, diving, fishing and hiking are possible in the surroundings.
Kedrodasos Beach is 3 km from Elafonisi Villa above the Beach, while Kissamos / Kasteli Port is 44 km away. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 84 km from the accommodation.
from
€349
/night
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
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.
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
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
Find below list of beaches near Kedrodasos beach:
The Krios or Viena Lake, situated 10km west of Paleochora and 90km south of Chania, is nestled on the European E4 footpath connecting Paleochora and Elafonissi, approximately 20-30 minutes from Krios beach. The beach is predominantly rocky, interspersed with sandy spots, and shielded by a multitude of rocks, forming a small, enclosed bay that locals refer to as a lake (Limni). The area lacks facilities, and there’s only a solitary tamarisk tree on the beach. The Krios Lake beach is one of the most secluded, undiscovered, yet spectacular beaches in Crete.
You might question why such a rugged beach ranks amongst Crete’s most unique beaches. The true allure of this beach isn’t the beach itself, but its proximity to the ancient city of Viena. Marble columns can be seen scattered on the beach and submerged underwater. The beach and its surroundings are strewn with fragments and sherds of urns and amphorae. It’s believed that Viena was once a Hellenistic/Roman sanctuary, with a temple standing here. The rectangular base is still visible. Rituals involving the pouring of wine to honor a deity might have occurred here before or after extensive sea voyages. Centuries ago, the water was deeper, providing a safe anchorage along the otherwise rocky and unwelcoming coastline.
Krios beach, situated approximately 10km west of Paleochora and 90km south of Chania city, lies on the eastern section of Krios Cape. This charming secluded beach spans around 1km and is split into three consecutive bays filled with fine pebbles and coarse sand.
The easternmost bay, the first of the three, is less ideal for swimming owing to its rocky nature, exposure to southern winds, and lack of amenities. The middle bay, despite being the most frequented part of the beach, maintains a tranquil ambiance. It offers a parking spot, a quaint canteen, and umbrellas. The third beach, a mere two-minute walk to the west of Krios, houses a beautiful small cove concealed by a large rock. This cove is a favourite among nudists, as it provides ample privacy. Umbrellas are available here too, and for those reluctant to pay for one, the nearby rocks form small hollows that provide shade.
You can reach Krios by car via Paleochora. Moreover, Krios is adjacent to a section of the E4 European footpath that connects Paleochora with Elafonisi.
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.
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