Elafonisi is the corner at the south-western tip of Crete, in the Chania region about 72 km west of Chania city. The name belongs first to the beach, a pink-and-white sand lagoon shallow enough to wade across, and then to the handful of buildings and car parks serving it. Our Elafonissi beach page gives the 72 km figure and warns that this is a remote corner, taking at least an hour and a half to reach from Chania.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Elafonisi is a day-trip destination rather than a resort. The draw is the run of beaches either side of it: the lagoon, the juniper forest at Kedrodasos, and two natural sea pools by the Chrysoskalitissa monastery.
Things to do in and around Elafonisi
Elafonisi has 5 outings within 6 km, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Wade across the lagoon. The beach forms an oblong peninsula split by a strip of shallow water, so from the shore Elafonissi reads as two separate islands. The water is warm and calm, and the dunes behind it are protected under Natura 2000, so the rules on site have to be followed.
- Walk into the juniper forest at Kedrodasos. The beach 1 km east of the lagoon carries around 11 hectares of juniper, often mistaken for cedar, growing between the dunes. Kedrodasos is white sand, good for swimming, and a long-standing favourite with naturists.
- Visit the Chrysoskalitissa monastery. The monastery stands 4.7 km from Elafonisi, and the Monastery of Panagia Chrisoskalitissa has Aspri Limni 500 m to its west and the Voulolimni sea pool 500 m to its north-west.
- Swim in the sunken lake at Voulolimni. The rocky pool 500 m north-west of the monastery sits in a small crater with only a narrow opening to the sea, which is why Voulolimni stays calm when the local winds are up.
- Pick up the E4 towards Paleochora. The European E4 footpath runs from Elafonissi east along this coast to Paleochora, passing the enclosed bay at Krios Lake, 10 km west of Paleochora.
Beaches near Elafonisi
Elafonisi has 5 beaches within 6 km, and only the first of them is organised. The other 4 have no facilities to speak of, so bring water, food and shade.
- Elafonissi lies 900 m away, the pink-and-white sand lagoon at the south-westernmost tip of the island. It is shallow, warm and calm, which suits families, and it is one of the beaches most often named at the top of world rankings.
- Kedrodasos sits 2.8 km away, 1 km east of the lagoon and named for its juniper wood. The trees are Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa and Juniperus phoenicea, they are fragile, and walkers are asked to keep off them. The sand is white with occasional flat rock.
- Aspri Limni is 4.5 km away, 500 m west of the Chrysoskalitissa monastery. Its name means White Lake, and jagged cliffs close around fine white sand so that the water reads as a small pale lake set into the sea. There is no natural shade and no commercial development.
- Voulolimni lies 5.1 km away, 500 m north-west of the same monastery. This is a rocky sea pool rather than a beach, sunk in a small crater, greenish and calm, and small boats use it as a natural harbour.
- Viena, or Krios Lake sits 5.7 km away, a rocky shore with sandy patches walled in by rocks into a bay that local people call a lake. There is one tamarisk tree and nothing else, and it is among the most secluded beaches on Crete.
Gorges near Elafonisi
Elafonisi has 2 gorges within reach of a day out, one inland on the road in and one along the coast towards Paleochora.
- Kambos is the most westerly gorge on Crete, reached on a short detour west off the main road at Kambos village in the Kissamos province, which is on the coastal route towards Elafonissi. A trail runs under plane trees beside a river that flows all year, past rock formations to a natural spring, then rejoins the road down from the village towards the underground churches of Agia Ekaterini.
- Pelekaniotis sits in the Selino district of south Chania, carrying the highest water flow in Selino and giving the Paleochora municipality its name of Pelekanos. Birds of prey nest in the cliffs, and the exit is found on a dirt road that starts at Grameno beach near Paleochora and follows the west bank of the river.
Where to eat at Elafonisi
Eating here is limited. Kalomirakis Tavern, 1.5 km from the beach, is the nearest taverna we list, so plan on carrying food and water if you are heading for Kedrodasos, Aspri Limni or Krios Lake.
Getting to Elafonisi
Elafonisi lies at the end of the road down the west coast of Crete, about 72 km west of Chania, and our beach page puts the journey at an hour and a half or more. The route passes Kambos village in the Kissamos province, which is the turning for the most westerly gorge on the island.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport. Walkers can arrive instead on the European E4 footpath, which links Paleochora with Elafonissi along the south-west coast and passes Krios Lake on the way. A car is otherwise necessary, since the monastery, the junipers and the sea pools are spread over 6 km.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Elafonisi in Crete?
Elafonisi lies at the south-westernmost tip of Crete, about 72 km west of Chania, in the Chania region.
Does Elafonisi have pink sand?
Elafonissi beach is pink-and-white sand, and the pink is what the beach is known for. The dunes behind it are protected under Natura 2000, so the sand has to be left where it lies.
How long does it take to reach Elafonisi from Chania?
Our Elafonissi beach page gives at least an hour and a half from Chania. The distance is about 72 km, and the road runs down the west side of the island to a remote corner, so an early start pays off.
Is Elafonisi suitable for children?
The lagoon is shallow, warm and calm, which suits families. You can wade across the strip of water that splits the peninsula, and the beach has facilities on site, unlike the quieter coves nearby.
What else is there to see at Elafonisi?
The Chrysoskalitissa monastery stands 4.7 km from Elafonisi, with Aspri Limni 500 m west of it and the Voulolimni sea pool 500 m north-west. Kedrodasos and its juniper forest lie 1 km east of the lagoon.
Elafonisi Map
Discover Elafonisi is located at Elafonisi. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
