Elafonisi Beach Crete (Pink Beach) – Tips + Photos

Why visit Elafonisi Pink Beach in Crete?

Elafonisi is a small island separated from mainland by a shallow warm water.
It has become famous because of its pink sand and unique flora.
The 4 mains reasons to visit are:

• PINK - It is often referred to as the Pink Beach of Crete because it some areas the sand turns pink (and we will see why later in the article)
• SHALLOW - The transparent waters are very shallow for a big area. So it is great to just soak and enjoy the scenery
• QUIET sometimes - It used to be secret and quiet, but it has more and more tourists. However, if you stay for the night, you can enjoy the peace and quiet early and late
• SUNSET - It is a fantastic place for sunset (see picture further in the article)

Best beach in Crete?

• Elafonisi (also written Elafonissi) is often listed one of the 3 best best beaches in Crete - I included it in my own list of amazing beaches
• BEST BEST OF - And it is even very often included in lists about the best beaches in Europe, like this one

Virtual tour - video

Below is a very short video of the area with the beach, the pink sand, and the lagoon. Sorry it is very short, it seems that I was so amazed by the views that I forgot to film a lot...

More photos after the planning tips.

Planning Tips and Map - Elafonisi Beach, Crete

• The pink beach is located in the Chania Region
• At the South West tip of the Crete island
• Chania to Elafonisi - 1h40 drive
• Palaiochora to Elafonisi - 1h10 drive
• Rethymno to Elafonisi - 3h drive
• Heraklion to  Elafonisi - 4h30 drive
• Do not mix it up with Elafonissos in mainland Greece
• Below is a map to help you understand the location of the Elafonisi pink beach in Crete:

This highlight is included (with GPS coordinates and practical tips) in my Travel Guide eBook that helps you easily plan your road trip around Crete:

Need to rent a car in Crete?
My tips:

• My option 1 - Check out the local company Rental Center Crete - excellent ratings and a zero-excess insurance policy included
• My option 2 - Compare prices on Discovercars.com - one of the best rated comparison sites! 
• Choose the car and company you prefer (with enough power for comfort on mountain roads)
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See my 36 tips about renting a car in Crete

• CARPARK - There is a large carpark but it is not paved like the last 800m. There are big bumps and holes. Take your time
• From the carpark you can find pathways to the sand area, and then the sand is quite hard further from the water so it is easy to walk around
• Free access
• You can find small shops and snackbars as you walk to the beach (April to October)
• Toilets and shower near the shops
• In Summer there is a lifeguard
• Few sunbeds on the beach
• DO NOT take pink sand or shell with you, it is a protected area
• When the wind picks up, it is a great spot for kitesurfing

• You can find a few accommodations close to the beach (not on the beach though), they are up the unpaved road.
• I stayed at the Elafonisi Resort by Kalomirakis Family - Very close to the beach is the Elafonisi resort with its modern villas surrounded by Olive trees. See my own photos at the end of the article - or check out pictures and availability

Where to stay in Crete?
My tips:

• For a charming town with lots of activities -  See best rated accommodations in Chania
• For a sandy beach and some nightlife - See best rated options in Malia or in Bali
• For a mix of history, beach and central location - See best rated options in Rethymno
• For the main city - See best rated options in Heraklion
• For stunning scenery, away from the large crowds - See best rated options in Palaiochora
• For a very quiet area - see best rated options in Mochlos

More tips on my article about where to stay in Crete

Why is Elafonisi beach pink?

Yes and No and it depends:

• Yes there is pink sand at the beach, especially at the limit of the water. My photos below is without filter.
• But no, the entire beach is not pink - if you see picture like that, they have been photoshopped. So don't be disappointed!
• It depends - the quantity of pink you see varies everyday - it depends on the tide, the season, the light and much more...

Sand is formed by corals being crushed by the waves into tiny particles.
When the shells are pink, the sand turns pink.
As you can see below, in another area of the beach, I have found shells not crushed and some of them are pink.

Please do not pick up the pink sand or the shells!

Exploring Elafonisi Beach in pictures

Elafonisi from above

To give you an idea of how the beach and lagoon are structured, I have purchased this aerial photo of Elafonisi.
You can clearly see the island and the large lagoon area and sand space.
To reach the island you must walk at least a little in water

Arriving at Elafonisi

As you arrive from the carpark, it does not look fascinating at all.
You find a large sand area (hard sand at the beginning) that must be crowded in Summer.
So you have to walk a little to get to the water.

Once you are close to the water, you can appreciate how transparent it is. And because of the light color of the sand it appears turquoise under the sun.
In the background are some of the mountains of South West Crete.
By the limit of the water is where the sand appears more pink.

At the furthest point where you can go without crossing water, you can find beautiful rocks:

There are a few sunbeds with umbrellas near the water. However in Summer they are taken over fast, so you have to come early to get one.

As you can see in the picture below, the water is shallow for a long time and you can walk quite far.
The water is warm and transparent.
Normally there are no big waves, but it can also get very windy.

Elafonisi Lagoon & Island

The Elafonisi island

The Elafonisi lagoon

Considering the water is shallow all around the sandy beach, it is a great place to visit for families.

Those shallow water are home to a rare species of protected turtles: the loggerhead sea turtles. There are little chances to see them. But if you spot one, please stay away. 

Sunset at Elafonisi

Hiking to nearby beaches - Kedrodasos beach & E4 path

You just follow the signs and markings that are yellow and black. They are quite easy to spot.

It is quite easy at the beginning but then you have to climb on a few big rocks.
Sadly I had a strained ankle and I had to turn back.

Some people have written it took them 20min to get to the beach. This surprised me. I know my ankle was hurt, but still, this is not a place where you can walk really fast.

But it is a very enjoyable walk!

Note that because of its isolation, you may find naturists on this beach.
So here is a picture of Kedrodasos beach from another photographer:

Elafonisi Resort

There is a main building as well as separated nice spacious villas.

• The decor is modern,
• the kitchen is fully equipped
• the terrace is large
• the bathroom is good with a large shower

The only things I did not enjoy as much were the lack of wifi away from the main building (but they will probably work on it) and the a la carte mode for the breakfast.
Below are a few of my own pictures.

See more pictures, latest prices and book on Booking.com

Other thing to do around Elafonisi

The other main attraction in the region is the Chrissoskalitissa monastery, only 5km away.
It was built during the Venetian period (17th century) on a rocky hilltop by the water.
It is famous for its staircase where the legend says that one step is made of pure gold but only people with pure heart can see it... I did not.
It is opened daily from 8am to 7pm. Your shoulder and knees should be covered.

Read my article

Want to see more of the best Crete has to offer?

• 40 best landscapes in Crete (in pictures) - read article
• 20 best things to do in Crete - read article
• The 27 best beaches in Crete - read article
• The most beautiful archaeological sites - read article
• The most beautiful churches and monasteries in Crete - read article
• The best destinations in Crete, where to stay - read article
• Advice for planning your road trip in Crete and your itinerary - read article
• Tips for driving around Crete - read article
• The most beautiful boat trips around Crete - read article

Planning a trip to Crete?

Check out my travel guide eBook to help you plan:

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