Day Trip to Elafonisi Beach, Chania

Your adventure starts at 8 am, with a pick-up at your Chania hotel by a comfortable air-conditioned minivan. Meet your driver and the rest of your group, then set off on a scenic 1.5-hour journey to the island's western coast. Along the way, you'll get a glimpse of local life as you wind through charming traditional villages that dot the southwestern region of Crete, breaking up the drive with a stop at Agia Sofia, a hillside cave overlooking the Topolia Gorge. Stretch your legs with a climb up the 250 rock-cut steps, step inside to view towering stalagmites and stalactites, and admire the small chapel at its entrance. 

Back on the road, you'll continue to Elafonisi, considered one of the world's most beautiful beaches. This sheltered stretch of pale pink sand curves around a shallow lagoon of crystal-clear water, and a sandbar connects it to the island of the same name, a protected nature reserve. You'll have three hours to settle in and relax, spending your time sunbathing, swimming in the warm waters, or strolling over to the island to glimpse its rare flora. 

On the return drive to Chania, you'll stop in the mountain village of Elos, where you can opt to sit down to a leisurely lunch at a charming Cretan tavern (not included). This is your chance to sample some of the local dishes and discover classic Cretan cuisine amid the welcoming atmosphere of a traditional island village. Your day ends when you pull into Chania around 4 pm and bid farewell to your guide and your group.