Everything to plan before you go: how to get there, Elafonisi or Balos, why the sand is pink, the best time to arrive, toilets, parking and the rules, and trips from Rethymno or Heraklion.
How to Get to Elafonisi from Chania 2026: Car, Bus, TourThe drive, the summer bus, the day trips with pickup and the boats from PaleochoraRead the guide →
Elafonisi vs Balos 2026: Which Lagoon Suits Your DayTwo shallow lagoons at opposite corners of west Crete, side by sideRead the guide →
Elafonisi Pink Sand 2026: Why It Is Pink, Where to See ItThe tiny shells behind the color, where to find it and why it stays putRead the guide →
Best Time to Visit Elafonisi 2026: Months & HoursThe best months and hours for Elafonisi: climate by month, peak summer, the evening cruise and windy days.Read the guide →
Elafonisi Beach Facilities 2026: Toilets, Sunbeds, RulesToilets, sunbeds, shade, food, parking and the protected-zone rules, plus what to do on the beach.Read the guide →
Elafonisi from Rethymno or Heraklion 2026: Day TripsDrive times, pickup areas for every trip, the long day from Heraklion, and what to pack.Read the guide →Tours
The three trips most visitors choose between. Every trip has its own page with the pickup, the stops, the time on the beach and what guests say.
From Heraklion
★ 4.613 hoursFree cancellationStaying in Heraklion? A long day across the island with a guide on the bus and a short stop on the way, then four and a half hours to swim and walk the lagoon before the drive back.
Most booked
★ 4.610 hoursFree cancellationThe most booked day from Chania: a modern coach, a tasting of Cretan honey and wine on the way, four full hours on the pink sand with a free umbrella, and an hour in the chestnut village of Elos.
Two beaches
★ 4.910 to 10.5 hoursFree cancellationA small group of 15 at most: Elafonisi in the morning, then the long white beach of Falasarna on the west coast, with a snack box, drinks, an olive oil tasting and beach umbrellas included.
