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The small island of Kolokytha is situated directly across the Spinalonga Peninsula, a mere 12km north of Agios Nikolaos and nearby Elounda. The island faces the stunning Agios Loukas beach, also known as Kolokytha beach.
Kolokytha Beach, a secluded sandy haven, is nestled amidst protective cliffs. Known for its tranquil and crystal-clear waters, it’s perfect for a range of activities like swimming, sunbathing, and various water sports. This beach is a hotspot for recreation, offering opportunities for camping, snorkelling, and hiking. Its remote charm is enhanced by unspoiled, clear waters and a natural setting free from the clutter of umbrellas and sunbeds.
To reach the beach, a picturesque route from Elounda town is necessary, which takes you eastwards along the coastal road past the old Elounda salt pans. This road traces a thin stretch of land towards the Spinalonga Peninsula, sometimes mistakenly referred to as Kolokytha. Along this route, you will encounter a small canal created by the French army in 1897 to connect the Elounda lagoon to Mirabelo Bay. Surrounded by windmills, a charming bridge and boats in the canal, the landscape is truly unique. The road then transitions into a dirt track where you must make a right turn after 200-300m. This track will lead you across the Spinalonga Peninsula, offering breathtaking views of its rocky shores and deserted farms.
After a brief 3-4 minute journey, you will arrive at the church of Saint Luke, where it’s recommended to park. From here, you can see Kolokytha island, home to thousands of nesting gulls. The north reveals the Byzantine chapel of Saint Fokas, built to honor Byzantine emperor Nicephorus Phocas who freed Crete from the Arabs in 961 AD.
Though hidden from view at the chapel, the beach is nearby. Follow one of the 2-3 foot trails downhill and you’ll soon discover one of Crete’s most beautiful beaches. This secluded cove, with white sand and crystal-clear calm waters, is nestled among ancient olive groves and wheat crops. Despite its popularity and potential crowding during peak times, an early morning or late afternoon visit will reassure you of the beach’s exceptional charm.
If solitude is what you seek, head southwards beyond the beach’s right edge. Here, you’ll find two quiet bays with sand, rocks, and several tamarisk trees, named Vagi after the Greek word for the Cretan date palm. While less striking than Kolokytha, they offer a haven for nudists and those seeking tranquillity. You can still see remnants of a small limestone quarry nearby. The broader area is dotted with abandoned farmlands and an old farmhouse close to the beaches.
Kolokytha beach is located on the eastern side of the Greek island of Crete, near the town of Elounda.
Yes, Kolokytha beach is suitable for families with children as the water is shallow and calm, and there are no strong currents or waves.
No, there are no water sports activities available at Kolokytha beach, but visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing.
No, there is no natural shade available at Kolokytha beach, but visitors can bring their own umbrellas or rent them from nearby vendors.
Yes, there is a small parking area available near Kolokytha beach, but it can get crowded during peak season.
Yes, there are several hotels and apartments available near Kolokytha beach, including the Elounda Beach Hotel and the Elounda Mare Hotel.
No, there are no restaurants or cafes available at Kolokytha beach, but visitors can find several options in the nearby town of Elounda.
The water colour of the Kolokytha beach is turquoise.
The Kolokytha beach has both sand and white sand.
The water at the Kolokytha beach is shallow.
The surface of the sea at the Kolokytha beach is usually calm.
Yes, the Kolokytha beach is a crowded place.
There are no facilities available at the Kolokytha beach.
The Kolokytha beach can be accessed via a dirt track or by walking.
Yes, there is tree shade available at the Kolokytha beach.
Find below list of things to do near Kolokytha beach:
Relax and enjoy a 4-hour long boat trip to some of Crete’s most famous sites. Explore the lagoon of Elounda, see Kolokitha’s beautiful sandy beach, and sail arround Spinalonga, a former leper colony and Venetian fortress.
Begin the tour at Elounda Port at 2 p.m. where you get on board the boat.
Set sail towards Spinalonga Island, a picturesque islet known for its stunning scenery and rich history. Approach the island, where you will get to see the Venetian fortress, which was once used as a leper colony.
Head towards the Barbarossa cave, a natural wonder that will take your breath away. Learn more about the cave, named after the famous pirate Barbarossa, who used it as a hideout in the past. Enjoy a chance to take photos and explore the cave before you move on to the next stop.
Move on to the next destination, Skistra Beach, where you will get to swim in crystal-clear waters and soak up the sun. Admire the beach, known for its stunning scenery and tranquil atmosphere, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind.
Take a refreshing swim before heading towards Kolokytha Beach, where you’ll get to enjoy the pristine sand and turquoise waters of the beach, surrounded by lush vegetation, providing a stunning backdrop for your photos.
Indulge in a salad and fruit bar on board, where you can enjoy healthy snacks and refreshments. Order cocktails at an additional cost and sip on delicious drinks as you take in the stunning views.
Chart your own course from Agios Nikolaos on a private half-day cruise to destinations like Dianiskari and Kolokutha beach or visit towns like Plaka and Elounda. Sip on complementary soft drinks and have access to showers and snorkeling equipment.
Choose an option that meets your group size and space needs with options for a 4.3-meter RIB boat for up to 4 people, a 5.3-meter motorboat for up to 6 people, or a 9-Meter RIB boat for up to 9 people. Hop aboard the ship at the port of Agios Nikolaos and begin your sailing adventure.
Listen to music on board with a Bluetooth connection and craft your own itinerary to destinations like Skistra Bay and San Fwkas beach. Have the option to snorkel through crystal-clear waters or stop to purchase lunch at a seaside restaurant in the charming resort town of Elounda.
Head to the island of Spinalonga where you can admire natural beauty and historical ruins on this island that was once a leper colony. Return to your starting point at the end of your tour.
Enjoy a walking tour of the island of Spinalonga during a full-day excursion from Elounda to the island. Visit Agios Nikolaos and Elounda and swim in the crystal-clear waters of Kolokytha, where you can enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch.
Leave from Heraklion, in a spacious, comfortable bus and travel to the designated locations, along the coast through the St. George Gorge to Elounda, a tranquil coastal resort.
Board the boat around 10:00, and visit the bay and the beach of Kolokytha, a secluded haven that offers a respite from daily life. You can swim and eat a delicious BBQ on board.
Take the boat to Spinalonga around 12:45, traveling across Mirabello Bay. Learn about Spinalonga’s complex history guided by a professional tour guide as a natural barrier for Olous in Ancient Greek times, a Saracen pirate refuge, a Venetian fortification, and a Turkic settlement. Depart from Spinalonga at appr. 2:45 pm.
As you head towards our last destination from Elounda by bus, you will have the opportunity for a quick olive oil tasting, before arriving at the capital town of Lassithi, Agios Nikolaos at around 3:45 pm.
Relax in a café next to the bottomless Lake of Voulismeni and enjoy your walk to the local shops.
Return to Heraklion after the excursion, at approximately 6:30 pm.
Journey back in time and explore the ancient civilizations of Crete on a private full-day tour to Spinalonga. Drive along the north coast of the island and get an amazing view of the Selinari gorge on the way to the small fishing village of Elounda, known for its gorgeous beach.
Board a boat to the small island of Spinalonga, and learn the local history dating back to Ancient Greece. Take a guided tour of the island to explore how it served as a natural defense for the ancient city of Olous and was later used by the Saracens as a hide-out for their pirates. Discover the remains of the Venetian fortifications and learn more about the period of Ottoman rule.
Proceed to the sandy Bay of Kolokitha where the boat will be anchored. Enjoy some free time to swim in the crystal clear waters and feast from a BBQ lunch. Return to Elounda to take the bus to the pretty town of Agios Nikolaos, where you can browse the shops and visit the bottomless lake.
Before heading to Spinalonga the first visit is an olive oil park where you can experience first-hand the standardization of extra virgin olive oil, table olives, and olive paste.
You will be able to taste the authentic Greek product, which is famous worldwide for its great taste and nutritional value, as well as other authentic Cretan products like “raki” and honey.
After your first stop, you reach the capital town of Lasithi, Agios Nikolaos. You can discover the pretty city on your own, stroll through the shops, or relax in one of the countless cafes next to the picturesque bottomless lake of Voulismeni.
You continue your journey to Plaka, a small fishing village directly opposite Spinalonga. Here you will have plenty of free time to enjoy lunch or a refreshing swim. Moreover, from there you can take a 15-minute boat ride that takes you to the well-known island of Spinalonga.
The history and the culture of the island of Spinalonga became one with human tragedy over time. It has been an important place throughout history for the ancient Greeks, as a natural protection for the city of Olous, for the Saracens as a hiding place for their pirates, for the Venetians as a fortress, for the Turks as a settlement and for a long time the island served as a leper colony.
After your self-guided tour at Spinalonga, approximately 90 minutes, you’ll return to Plaka. There you have plenty of time to enjoy a coffee or your lunch, before going back to the hotels. An amazing trip with many destinations that you definitely should not miss!
Additional important information about the pickup and drop-off handling:
Pickup areas and times are as follows:
Ammoudara Beach road at 8 a.m.
Heraklion center 8:05 a.m.
Karteros 8:20 a.m.
Kokkini Chani, Gournes 8:25 a.m.
Kato Gouves 8:30 a.m.
Analipsi 8:40 a.m.
Anissaras 8:50 – 8:55 a.m.
Hersonissos, Piskopiano, Koutouloufari 9 – 9:05 a.m
Stalida, Stalis 9-9:10 a.m.
Malia 9:25 a.m.
Sissi 9:40 a.m.
Join The Malia’s Number 1 Boat Party!
From champagne diving to the wildest drinking games in the Mediterranean, the Malia Booze Cruise has it all! All this topped off with the craziest rave you will ever see at sea!
Make your holiday one to remember and don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime experience!!!
400 people, two decks!
Four hours of boat party
On-board bar
Swim stops
Free wristbands
Cameraman catching the action
Malia’s finest DJs and MCs
Drinking games
Lunch, transportation and more!
Every Thursday and Sunday through out the season .Available transportation from Malia at 15:00 to Agios Nicolaos port duration about 40 min drive.
We start from the port at 16:00 and we are back at 20:00
The boat party is for 4 hours
The boat will take us in a lovely bay suitable for swimming, boat jumping and playing music.
Get ready for some competition such us champagne dive and belly flops and warm up for the best rave you have ever seen on board.
Light lunch is included sandwich hot dog or vegetarian sandwich upon request.
There are 2 bars on board than u can get any drinks you like ,the prices start from 5 euros for an alcoholic drink such as vodka coke .
Djs and host will be all 4 hours playing the finest tunes for everyone to dance and enjoy the lovely sunset in the Mediterranean sea .
Arriving to the port at 20:00 and get on the buses for your transport buck to Malia .
So to make sure these memories wont be forgotten, and trust us is not always easy to remember, we have professional photographer on board, how will post all the pictures on our FB page and Instagram for free.
We start this party 10 years ago ..is hard for me to describe the best day of your holidays. Join us you will love it promise you!
Suitable for young people or for those that feel young in heart!
PS There is 3 Malia booze cruise offices in Malia beach road so for any info you can always visit us in our opening hours from 10 morning till 10 night daily from May till end September.
Find below the list of hotels near Kolokytha beach:
Centrally located in Elounda, Villa LouLa provides accommodation with a private pool and magnificent sea views. Free WiFi is provided.
The villa is fitted with 4 bedrooms, a kitchen with a dining area, and a bathroom. A flat-screen TV is offered.
Guests can also relax in the garden or on the sun terrace.
Spinalonga is 4.4 km from Villa LouLa. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 51 km from the property. Free private parking is provided.
from
€65
/night
Set in Elounda and only 1.2 km from Elounda Beach, Elounda George Studios offers accommodation with sea views, free WiFi and free private parking. With mountain views, this accommodation provides a terrace.
This air-conditioned apartment comes with a kitchen, a seating area, a dining area and a satellite flat-screen TV. Towels and bed linen are offered in the apartment.
Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at the apartment, while cycling and pub crawls can be enjoyed nearby.
Skisma Beach is 1.4 km from Elounda George Studios, while Kolokithia Beach is 2.7 km from the property. The nearest airport is Heraklion International, 64 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Boasting air-conditioned accommodation with a private pool, pool view and a patio, Villa Mimaze Minimalist Living is situated in Elounda. This beachfront property offers access to a balcony, free private parking and free WiFi.
The villa with a terrace and sea views has 5 bedrooms, a living room, a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and an oven, and 6 bathrooms with a walk-in shower. Towels and bed linen are available in the villa.
Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at the villa.
Elounda Beach is less than 1 km from Villa Mimaze Minimalist Living, while Skisma Beach is a 13-minute walk from the property. The nearest airport is Heraklion International Airport, 61 km from the accommodation.
from
€577
/night
Located in Elounda of Lasithi, the seafront Dolphins offers self-catering accommodation with a furnished balcony overlooking the Cretan Sea and Spinalonga Island. It lies within 50 metres from the beach and 200 metres from restaurants, bars and shops.
The air-conditioned apartments feature a separate bedroom and a well-equipped kitchenette with dining area. Facilities include a fridge, a microwave and a safe. The private bathroom comes with a shower. A welcome basket is offered to guests on arrival.
Heraklion Town and Port are located 70 km from Dolphins, while Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport is 68 km away. The seaside Agios Nikolaos Town is 10 km away and Plaka Village is at a distance of 4 km. Free public parking is possible nearby.
Set in Elounda and only 700 metres from Elounda Beach, Kristallia provides accommodation with mountain views, free WiFi and free private parking. With city views, this accommodation features a balcony.
The holiday home with a terrace and sea views has 3 bedrooms, a living room, a TV, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and an oven, and 2 bathrooms with a bath. The air-conditioned holiday home also offers a seating area, washing machine and 2 bathrooms with a hair dryer.
A car rental service is available at the holiday home.
Skisma Beach is less than 1 km from Kristallia, while Kolokithia Beach is 2.9 km from the property. The nearest airport is Heraklion International, 60 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Featuring lake views, Sea-front Cozy Apartment provides accommodation with a balcony and a coffee machine, around 700 metres from Elounda Beach. It features mountain views and free WiFithroughout the property.
The apartment 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 sea views.
If you would like to discover the area, cycling, fishing and hiking are possible in the surroundings and the apartment can arrange a car rental service.
Skisma Beach is less than 1 km from Sea-front Cozy Apartment, while Kolokithia Beach is 2.9 km away. The nearest airport is Heraklion International, 60 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Find below list of beaches near Kolokytha beach:
Armos, the northern area of the Spinalonga Peninsula, opposite the Spinalonga fort’s islet, Kalydon, is a unique site. It’s dotted with deserted old farms and is relatively unexplored due to a lack of roads leading to it. Besides the renowned Kolokitha beach at the peninsula’s southeast base, several hidden beaches are located in the northern part, which are well worth a canoe trip from Plaka to explore.
Vathi, one of these beaches, is found two kilometres northeast of Elounda port, on the peninsula’s northwest side. This small, sheltered cove boasts calm waters, a southeast orientation, and stunning views of Elounda town and its mountains. The beach at Vathi is a mix of pebbles and sand with relatively shallow water. Old farm remnants are scattered next to the beach, and a nearby boat platform serves as a stop for excursion boats from Elounda. Tamarisk and carob trees offer shade for resting beachgoers.
At the Spinalonga peninsula’s northernmost point, opposite the Spinalonga fort, lies the area known as Oxo Harakia or Skourgeto. The name Oxo Harakia refers to the rocks (haraki in Cretan dialect) that jut out above the sea surface at the narrow pass between the islet and the peninsula. Skourgeto, a Cretan term, describes the sharp, salt and sea-eroded rocks that are unwalkable without shoes. Two secluded, sandy beaches with crystal clear waters are ideal for snorkeling. Pottery fragments scattered around hint at ancient habitation.
Further northeast lies the sandy beach of Pelekiti, situated at a narrow ravine’s exit. The entire northern Spinalonga area, including all limestone-covered places, was previously used to extract boulders for building the Spinalonga fort. From Pelekita to Skourgeto, the area served as a limestone quarry, leading to large stair-like formations and distinctive rock shapes. In some places, the carvings extend into the sea. The name Pelekiti is Greek for “chiseled.”
Elounda’s Skisma Beach is a picturesque sandy enclave, perfect for families. Its cleanliness and organization make it especially welcoming.
Little ones delight in its flat sandy terrain and the playground, while older kids gravitate towards the available water sports. Occasional winds result in bigger waves, offering simple surfing opportunities.
With convenient facilities like restrooms and showers, coupled with an array of nearby taverns, it’s an ideal spot for families with children.
Beginning your journey from Elounda and heading towards Plaka along the coastal road, you will soon encounter a series of small pebble and stone beaches at the Mavrikiano and Agia Paraskevi settlements. In certain spots, you’ll see olive trees rooted on the beach itself, unharmed by the tranquil and saline waters of the lagoon. Occasionally, you’ll come across beach bars perched on platforms. The charming sight of fishing boats docked nearby undoubtedly tempts you to pause your journey for a photo op. As you move further north, the beaches of Tsifliki and Plaka unveil themselves, offering breathtaking views of Spinalonga, the famous leper island, and one of Greece’s most renowned attractions.
The Tsifliki community is situated 13km to the north of Agios Nikolaos, along the route that links Elounda to the charming village of Plaka. This area is blanketed by olive groves and boasts stunning vistas of Elounda’s lagoon and the former leper colony, Spinalonga Fortress.
The local beaches are sandy, interspersed with occasional rocky areas, and feature tranquil waters. The beach named Dreros, after a nearby hotel, is abundant with tamarisk trees that stand close to the shoreline. The hotel has excellently maintained this beach, making it a perfect destination for families. The serene sea, the tree shadows that reach the beach, and the basic facilities of an organized beach all contribute to its appeal. Plus, the shops of Plaka and Elounda are conveniently nearby.
As previously noted, the most frequented beach in Tsifliki is named after an old hotel, Dreros. This name is not coincidental; it references the ancient Doric city of Dreros, positioned above the modern town of Neapolis. Dreros was home to the Dorians who came to Crete in 1125 BC, as well as the Eteokrites, who are indigenous Cretans and Minoan descendants. The hotel’s original proprietor hailed from Neapoli and named it Dreros in honor of his hometown’s ancient nearby city.
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