We will start our excursion by exploring the Cave of Agia Sofia, renowned for its breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites. Just a short 40-minute drive from Chania, we will arrive at the picturesque village of Topolia, nestled within a tree-lined gorge. Towering 300 meters above us is the impressive wall of the gorge, with the charming little chapel of Agia Sofia nestled within a cave. Take some time to marvel at the intricate stalactite formations and soak in the stunning views of the gorge. At 'The Romanza' canteen, you can indulge in a variety of authentic Cretan specialties and treats. Keep an eye out for local villagers dressed in traditional Cretan attire, providing a glimpse into the region's rich cultural heritage. After spending approximately 30 minutes at this stop, our journey southward continues, promising more unforgettable experiences along the way.
Exploring the Monastery of Chrisoskalitsa is an essential part of our excursion. Legend has it that among the 90 steps leading to the summit lies a Golden Stair, bestowing the monastery with its name. It is believed that only those free of sin can perceive this elusive staircase. Today, the monastery continues to be tended to by devoted nuns. The panoramic vistas from the monastery are truly breathtaking. Perched 285 meters above sea level, this site exudes a sense of tranquility, boasting a harmonious blend of natural splendor, spirituality, and historical significance. Please keep in mind that appropriate attire, covering both knees and shoulders, is required for entry into the monastery. After spending half an hour soaking in the monastery's ambiance, we will proceed directly to the beach, eager to continue our journey of discovery.
Upon our arrival at Elafonissi around midday, prepare to be enchanted by one of the island's most stunning beaches. Nestled along the southwest coast, Elafonissi boasts a mesmerizing blend of white and pink coral sands, evoking a tropical paradise. Venture to the right side of the beach to discover a small enclosed lagoon with shallow waters, perfect for families with children. Embark on a leisurely stroll through the lagoon towards the islet, where you'll uncover the secrets of this extraordinary coastline. The vibrant hues and rich history of Elafonissi create an unparalleled atmosphere, drawing visitors from around the globe. Equipped with beach amenities, including sunbeds and umbrellas available for rent, as well as dining options, Elafonissi ensures a comfortable and enjoyable beach experience for all. Whether you're eager to swim, snorkel, or simply relax and soak up the sun, this idyllic destination promises an unforgettable day by the sea.
Experience the perfect finale to our excursion with a delightful traditional meal at a charming Cretan tavern nestled in the picturesque village of Elos. After indulging in the flavors of Cretan cuisine, we'll journey back to the Chania area, with a travel time of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
We enjoyed our private tour with Iro. They worked to accommodate us to make sure we were back on cruise ship in time due to last minute change in Viking itinerary. We had the beach to ourselves, enjoyed the beautiful monastery & lastly they took us to an Olive Oil Mill. At the Mill, one of the owners took us around showing how things work & we had opportunity to buy the top quality olive oil at the end.
We had a wonderful day visiting the beach. Because it was just the two of us, our guide was able to accommodate our preferences and schedule. This became essential as it became too windy to stay long at the beach. The only recommendation I have is to have the tour include rental of beach lounges and umbrellas for each guest, rather than the portable ones brought by the driver. The cost of a private car is already high, including the beach rentals should not be a problem.
George ( our driver) and Christina arrived promptly at our port, so we could start our day nice and early. The vehicle was extremely comfortable for our family of 5, plenty of room and air con, which was a definite must for such a hot day. Christina was very knowledgeable and we learnt lots on the journey. The journey took about an hour and a half. We were offered stops on the way but declined as we were keen to get to the beach early. We were dropped off close by and had the opportunity to visit a shop/ cafe if we wanted. George offered us towels, beach mats and sun umbrellas to take with us if we wanted. He then left us there with our guide Christina leading us to the beach, she gave us plenty of top tips about the beach, the cabanas etc we managed to get the last cabana available which was 30 Euros for the day, so in the end we didn’t need the beach mats and umbrella’s George gave us- but considering we got to the beach way before 10, I would say always take them because there are very few available on the beach. If we did it again , we wouldn’t have got the Cabana and just used what George gave us because Christina had such good knowledge of the beach and took us away from the crowds to were the pink sand was much more vivid , and there were very few people in that area- thats were her local knowledge was paramount. Christina left us and arranged to meet us back at our Cabana at a specific time. The beach was beautiful, nothing like i’d ever seen before but it gets sooo busy- the area Christina showed us was much more secluded and peaceful and definitely had a lot more pink sand. We met George where he dropped us off, we had time to grab a drink and snacks and on the journey back, visited a pretty monastery and the cave of Sofia. We were offered complimentary bottled water throughout the journey and nothing was too much trouble. We were also offered to stop at a bee hive/ honey stop but declined - 5 stars from us, would highly recommend- The trip was around 8 hours but it would have been longer had we stopped at all of the offered stops- we were just nervous about getting back to the ship on time- in the end we had hours to spare!! Tip- the beach has lots of wifi issues to pay for items, so cash is best.
Great experience touring the island! Our hosts were super accommodating and made modifications based on our interests. This was a phenomenal day and I highly recommend it!
Amazing day! Outstanding tour guide Christina who gave us an excellent review of Crete history and local cultural information. Our driver was also very fun and generous in sharing information on local food, culture and traditions. We enjoyed all 3 stops at the cave, spectacular beach and monastery. We stopped on the way back a a fun seaside cafe for drinks and dessert. Very fun day!
Amazing tour!!! George our private tour guide was the best and made us feel absolutely safe and was so knowledgeable!!! We loved the beach, cave, honey tasting, local taverna, and wine tasting! We could not have picked a more perfect tour!!!
i would have given a 5 star if not for the tour guide named Silvana. She is friendly and nice but doing her job as a tour guide she failed. She told more personal stories. She didn't explain the history or information about the places we went. She mostly told her petsonal story.As soon as we got to the shore, she took off and left our things unattended. She was also on a couple of calls. But the beach is so beautiful and so as the cave. It was an amazing to see the pink sands.
Guide was fantastic. Transitions were seamless. She picked the perfect spot on the beach where you could really appreciate the pink sand. This is a fabulous beach and I highly recommend it when visiting western Crete. The Cave and gorge were also beautiful. My seven year old son had a fantastic time. Lunch was delicious. We can’t thank you enough for this wonderful day.
The tour was amazing!! Yannis our tour guide was incredible! If you can request him- he will make it such a memorable experience. His historical knowledge and love of Crete really shows! Our driver also accommodated our request to be dropped off in Heraklion- nearly 3 hours away! This tour was the highlight of our trip to Greece!
We ended up booking this private tour after a group tour operator cancelled on us - I'm glad it ended up this way! It was nice to have the flexibility and comfort of a private tour. Agnes was a great guide - lots of information about the region and wonderful stories. We did a few stops on the way to the beach - all lovely places. It was nice to see the countryside and learn some of the island's history. The beach itself? Beautiful. It was cold, so there wasn't much swimming but the time still flew by!
Everything was good, places, car, stories about Greece culture and traditions. Useful advices about souvenirs, wine, Greek national products, nice guide:)
We got this tour as we like to travel on our own time schedule. To stop where we want and for how long as we want. Our tour guide Genadius was very thoughtful of bringing as beach mats and umbrellas. We never even though about them. He was very flexible, fun and reliable person. Always attending when you need him but giving you your personal space at the same time. He had great humour and told us many interesting facts about Greece. We spend whole day together and I didn't get tired of him even once.
We went on a private tour to Elafonisi and Falasarna. Everything was perfect from start to finish. The guide and driver was very professional, friendly and attentive. We felt really looked after. On this tour there is something for every taste: picturesque gorges and incredible views of the mountains, a church hidden in the cave, charismatic locals selling honey and olive oil, incredible beaches with azure waters and pink sand. It was great to travel at our own pace and all our wishes were taken into account. I highly recommend this travel agency. It was a day to remember and I'm looking forward to coming back!
A tour to Elafonisi beach is a must. Driving from Platanias through the small villages, over the mountain through the canyon is such a special experience. Elafonisi beach is one of the most beautiful places we have visited. The water is as clear as bottled water you buy in the stores. A percious place.
We loved our tour with Gabi - what a wonderful tour guide! We learned about Crete - not just the history but the population, the culture, food - well just about everything! We stopped at the Agia Sofia Cave - long hike up but a nice place. We also stopped at the Chrisoskalitissa monastery which had beautiful reviews. The Elafonisi beach was beautiful - not ALL pink sand but there definitely is some. But the water is clear and beautiful, not deep and very relaxing. We stopped on the curvy mountainous road so that I could pet a Cri Cri - I loved it! We ate lunch at a wonderful restaurant in Elos - goat, lamb, cheese, and just everything - plus great wine. Ended the day with a lovely ride back and talking with Gabi. Thank you, Gabi and Moysidis Travel. PS - Gabi is a wonderful photographer!
Me and my group of friends were so excited for this tour. Elafonisi is a beautiful beach amongst the top in the world so we were more than willing to travel for this experience and be able to see 3 other attractions along the way. I booked this excursion making sure to read all the fine print. The tour is to include 4 points of interest, Elafonisi beach, the Monastery, the Cave of Agia and Falasarna Big Beach. We arranged for transportation as is offered for this tour for an additional fee. The driver and his service was amazing but that's where it ends. We were picked up from our Heralikon hotel for an additional fee of $280 Euros which we agreed to, we were driven to Elafonisi beach and dropped there for 3 hours. We stayed at the beach the entire time as beautiful as it is that is not what we paid for. We expected to see 3 other points of interest as was guaranteed in the booking. We recieved none of the things that we were charged for. There was no tour guide, no cave, no Monastery NOTHING. We didn't mind paying for the transportation to Chnaia and paid the driver in cash as was requested of us but in no way is it okay to try and charge people $390 for services they never recieved. I have reached out to the company twice with no response. I am in the process of disputing the fradualent charge for services we never received. BUYER BEWARE.
Paradise beach, saturated with tourists. Windy place. Unfortunately, visited in October 2025 with capricious weather. The rain came in the form of a major flood, forcing everyone to leave. So, the magic side of the pink sand effect, was not there. Disappointed.
A beautiful beach with wonderful water. A lot of people in the area, yet there is a lot of sea and in the water there is always space. It is worth passing through the water to the island of elafonisi. At the bottom of the beach of the island there is a naturist area but we didn't get there. From 16:00 it started to get quite windy but I think it's not usual. There are beach bars and paid wc
A great sight, but a chaos of buses, cars and tourists. In other words, a crowded pearl. A little red sand was there and for all part, shadow away from the collector’s restaurant in the outskirts of the parking lot even if you are hungry. We came by car. Been There Done That.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
Reach us by phone
Reach us by email