Did you know that there is a unique beach in Greece and Crete that has pink sand? Yep, you read that just fine. Pink sand 😊

Elafonisi (Ελαφονήσι – deer island) is a beach and a small island located in the southwest of Crete. Not to be confused with Elafonisos, which is an island south of Peloponnesus and north of Kithira.

Sand (and therefore beach) colour depends on the rock it originated from, through the erosion process, over thousands of years. The most common sand colour is golden, as a result of the erosion of granite and most of the beaches have this colour. As the beach sand covers the entrance to the sea, the sea colour is also influenced. Other colours:

· White sand – such as the beaches from Lefkada and Zakynthos, as the rock is mainly white, and the famous turquoise waters. Atolls also have white sand beaches, as they are the result of crushed corals. 

· Black sand – found on volcanic areas and islands, for example Perissa beach in Santorini or Playa de la Arena in Tenerife, as this is a result of eroded cooled lava, which is black.

· Red sand – found in places where the rocks are red (high concentration of iron), such as Kokkini Paralia in Santorini

· Grey – Grey beaches are usually formed of small pebbles, not granular sand, such as the beaches from south Crete (Matala, Preveli, Myrtos)

· Pink – from crushed pink corals, sea shells or microorganisms. These beaches are usually found in the Caribbean and South-East Asia, where coral reefs are found. Two pink sand beaches are in Crete: Elafonisi and Balos and the colour is the result of crushed shells.

When I arrived first in Crete, I knew that I had to visit the famous pink sand beach. I saw so many pictures while doing my research that I knew I must see it, to believe it! I’ve never seen pink sand before coming to Crete. There is a small area at Balos, too, where I went a day before Elafonisi, but they said that there is more here. 

And here comes the Instagram

 vs reality 

The photos from all blogs, websites, promotional flyers, tourist agencies, etc are retouched. The pink sand can be seen at it’s full colour when the sun is shining brightly, in certain spots, etc. It also depends on the weather, the sea conditions (if it’s after a storm, for example), sea currents. I was really disappointed, as I was expecting a full beach of pink sand, not only some spots where the waves crush at the shore. We also got there on a cloudy day, but still managed to see some of it.

How to get there:

· By car – the easiest way to get to Elafonisi is by car. It is located 73km southwest of Chania and you should make around 1h30 mins from there. We stayed in Rethymno, so it took us around 2hrs to get there. If you are staying in Heraklion area, the drive is even longer, more than 3hrs. The road is in good conditions, but will cross Topolia gorge, the road is through the mountains most of it and you cannot drive with more than 50km/h, as there are a lot of slopes and turns. You can drive in the 3rd gear max. The road can cause motion sickness.

· By bus – there is only one bus/day from Chania and return. It departs at 9am from Chania and at 10am from Kissamos (or Kastelli) and it leaves at 4pm from Elafonisi. 

IMPORTANT! There are limited seats: 50 or 60, depending on the bus. Buy your ticket round trip and in advance from e-ktel.com. Be on time at the bus stop from Elafonisi, as there is no other way to get back to Chania, unless you want to pay a taxi. 

· By organized day trip – the is no tourist agency in Crete not to have it in their portfolio. 

IMPORTANT: If you stay in Heraklion area, expect a very early pick-up time (before 6am, especially if you stay in Malia or Stalida) and around 4hrs/way in the bus. You have around 4.5hrs of free time on Elafonisi. 

Good to know before you go:

· It is a Natura 2000 protected area. Starting 2024 season, less sunbeds and umbrellas will be available, under the new law. Forget about those pictures where sunbeds are literally in the sea, no longer possible. 

· There are parking lots BUT you will have to walk around 10-15 mins to get to the beach. It is no longer allowed to use the parking very close to the beach. 

· There are a few tavernas, there is a beach bar, but limited options

· The location is very remote, 2-3 hotels/rooms to let

· There are toilets and showers

· It is prohibited to take the sand as souvenir

· As it is a must-see in Crete, it is very crowded in the summer (especially from mid-June to mid-September). If you want to catch a good parking spot or a sunbed and umbrella, arrive as early as possible. The screenshot is from Maps, Sept. 2023. The parking lot is full, tourist buses, so imagine how crowded it can be

· It has very shallow waters, making it a perfect beach for families with small children. So expect a lot of kid-made noises, splashing, etc 😊 

· If you want a more “secluded” area, go to the island. The sea is shallow, reaching mid-waist to a 1.7m adult. People were taking their belongings, lifted them above their heads and crossed the small canal separating the island from the main beach. Depending on the tide or the sea level, you can cross it without getting wet 😊 

· It can be very windy sometimes. Also, the weather can be different than the one from Chania or Rethymno.

· Poor phone coverage, have some cash with you.

· If you want a little piece and quiet and you don’t have small kids, go to Kedrodasos beach, which is just 10 mins drive from Elafonisi. It is surrounded by a cedar trees (kedrodasos means cedar forest in Greek), but it has no amenities (sunbeds, umbrellas, toilets, showers, etc), the sea is rocky and being so secluded it can be used as a nudist beach

· Don’t set your “pink sand beach” expectations too high and enjoy it as it is

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