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The Spot

Elafonisi, located in south-west Crete, contains a beautiful lagoon and a south facing swimming beach, both with crystal clear water and pink sand comprising an exotic scenery found only in a few places on earth. During the summer months, just south of the swimming area is found one of the best windsurfing areas around Crete.

Wind conditions: The location is exposed to the north-west winds of Ionian sea and is a side-shore spot with steady wind and no gusts or changes in direction. During summer months the thermal winds guarantee planning conditions almost every day (with force 4 to 5 and some days force 6 beauforts).

Lagoon: At the south side of the lagoon you will enjoy some of the best freestyle, freeride and slalom conditions, as the flat water and the steady wind guarantee your improvement, if you learn carve gybes or your first freestyle moves. In the lagoon there is waist deep water ideal to enjoy kitesurfing too. Finally, if you are a beginner you will learn to sail in the tiny gulf in front of the surf station which is a natural sandy pool with waist deep flat water.

Perfect playground: The training playground is extremely safe, ensuring children and beginners will enjoy a fun introduction to windsurfing in a secure environment.

The Station: Our main station located at Elafonisi is working daily from 1^st of May until the end of October. We periodically operate our substation at Falasarna Spot when the windsurfing conditions are suitable or upon customer request.

It is a friendly place too for your non-windsurfing partners. Perfect natural scenery, calmwater to swim in, with a well organized vender area for umbrellas, drinks and food, combines everything you could ever need from a sailing destination.

Additional info

Voted as one of the 10 best beaches in the world, Elafonisi is located in south-west Crete 75km from Chania which works out to about one and a half hours travel time by car. Elafonisi contains a small island about 200m south of the main swimming area north of which is the big shallow kite surfing lagoon no more than 1m deep.

For those who choose Elafonisi for surf vacations, there are some hotels and restaurants at 500m distance from the beach and some more in the area of 7km. On the other side, for those who want to stay at cosmopolitan Chania, local and international travel agencies organize bus trips to Elafonisi every day. An alternative choice is to rent a car.

Additionally, for those who choose to stay at Palaiochora village, they can catch daily boats to Elafonisi from the eastern harbor of Paleochora. Those boats usually arrive arround 11 o’clock on Elafonisi and depart at 5 o’clock.

The beach is 200m from the island and you can walk on the coastline and pass the shallow lagoon with the green blue water around you. The sand at the beaches isn’t just sand but masses of empty seashells, which explains the pink and red color of the beach. There you will find many small beaches to relax and feel the magic energy of this place.

The Municipalities of Selinou-Kantanou and Kissamou have designated Elafonisi a natural preserve though canteens for refreshment and snacks, which are located at the main beach organized together with lifeguards, showers, umbrellas, locker rooms and trash disposal. The swimming beaches in most areas are shallow and totally safe for children. Across Elafonisi’s beach is Elafonisi island which may be visited by simply walking through the shallow water. Behind the island you will find a more quiet small beach with clear blue green water.

On the way to Elafonisi you will notice the monastery of Panagia Chrisoskalitisa built on a hillside adjacent to a small peaceful village complete with restaurants and hotels.

Other Activities

Kitesurfing: Elafonisi lagoon is the best spot for Kitesurfing in west Crete

Light House: A very beautiful path leads to the lighthouse at the west end Elafonisi island from which you may see a particularly nice view of Elafonisi’s exotic scenery.

Palaiochora Elafonisi Path: There is an E4 path with spectacular wild flora leading to Krios beach next to Paleochora. The path has moderate difficulty though crosses through a beautiful cedar forest known as “Kedrodasos”.

Daily boat Trips: For those who wish to see Elafonisi’s exotic scenery from different perspectives there are organized daily boat trips to small beaches east of Elafonisi.

SurfIsland trips: On special days we will organize special surf excursions for those who wish to do traditional surfing on waves or to chase other exotic spots for windsurfing.