In Greece there are a lot of interesting, picturesque and worth visiting places, one of them is Elafonisi beach. Crete is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, there is something to see here, so tour operators organize numerous excursions in all its corners. Of course, listening to the entertaining stories of the guides is very interesting, but it’s much more fun to plan your trip yourself and discover the world around you by car.
There are no problems with renting a car on the island, you just need to decide on places to visit. One of them must be Elafonisi. Crete at one time experienced many troubles, it was captured by the Turks, who cracked down on the locals, shipwrecks often occurred near the coast. For this reason, the small island of Elafonisi remained in the shade for a long time. The Greeks forgot about him, and the guests of the country simply did not know about its existence. A few decades ago, the situation changed, vacationers began to come here from nearby resorts.
For one-day independent trips, Elafonisi is ideal. Crete is a very popular island, so you should not look for solitude on this beach. Sun loungers usually stand close to each other, and hundreds of people bathe in the water. You can wade to the island, there are much fewer vacationers there, but there are no deck chairs and other amenities. The beach looks more deserted in April and October. It is not recommended to go here on windy days, as the area is blown from all sides, and on the weekend, because locals also come to Elafonisi.
Crete is known for its dangerous roads, but brave motorists will be fully rewarded with an excellent rest and pleasant impressions of the surrounding landscapes. Tourists come to Elafonisi to stroll through the shallow water, see pink sand with their own eyes, visit the cape with a chapel and a small lighthouse. In addition, there is a conservation area. More than 110 species of plants, among which there are sandy grasses, sea daffodils, juniper trees, are found on Elafonisi (Crete).
How to get to this wonderful place? This is of interest to many travelers. There are only two paths: through mountain villages or along the west coast. It is difficult to choose the best road, but if you do not really want to go along the serpentine, you should choose the first option. Driving through the villages, you can stop in taverns to have a meal, try real national dishes, see how ordinary Greeks live, admire the surrounding landscapes. Such a trip will allow you to better know Crete.
Elafonisi beach has one of the best in the whole Mediterranean. There are showers, toilets, parking, small eateries, but there are no restaurants or cafes. Since the island is far from the main resorts of Crete, the trip must be properly planned in order to manage to take a place in the parking lot, enjoy the rest and get back to the hotel on time.