Elafonissi Beach Private Custom Tour – Crete’s Pink Sand Paradise

Leonidas and his father own this company and it is a fantastic custom tour. The tour goes towards Elafonisi beach, but this is not a beach trip. You tell Leo what you would like to see and he takes you there. We did a honey tasting, hiked to a monastery cave, walked and spent time at Elafonisi beach, tour of a monastery, great lunch in a small mountain town and then a winery stop and multiple other stops on the way back to Chania including the oldest olive tree in the world. Fantastic tour and cant recommend enough.

My girlfriends and I booked a tour with Leolidas to visit Elafonsi beach. He was an absolutely lovely guide, offering all sorts interesting insights to the surrounding country, history, and even provided a language lesson, on the house:). There is always an element of uncertainty when booking a private tour but can confidently say there is no cause for concern. Also booked a second, completely ad hoc trip with him to the Fairy Pools. In this case he did walk with us, which was much appreciated. The fairy pools are not particularly easy to find. There is a whole culture to Greek driving- tldr- he is an excellent driver. We trusted him as a person and as a guide. Highly recommend!

Great day out with Sakis. We had used the company before last year when staying in Eastern Crete and they were happy for us to contact them by email from UK and arrange a custom built tour for the two of us taking in Elafonisi and some of the other sights in that area such as the Komolithi Clay Pits and Aghia Sofia cave. It was a relaxing scenic drive made extra special by having a lovely meal at a restaurant in the Topolia Gorge with superb views. As an older couple we prefer the comfort of a car with a driver so we can do as we want. This company is perfect for that

This was one of the best experiences we’ve had! The driver Sakis took us not just to Falasarna and Elafonissi beaches but also a local tavern that had some light best food we’ve ever had. Highly recommend this tour with this company.

Our tour guide was great. He was very flexible with the schedule, and was very friendly! He even took us to a local cafe for lunch that had great views and local menu

Nice way to spend the day. Things to know before you go: 1. Bring beach towels 2. Bring sneakers for walk up to cave, flip flops or sandals for beach 3. Be prepared for a long and rocky walk to beach 4. Buy drinks and snacks before you get to beach

Leónidas was punctual and professional. Allowed us to take our time and was knowledgeable about the sites we saw while in Ctete. He accommodated us and allowed Us to choose what we wanted to do next. Friendly and gave Service with a smile. Great tour

We had an amazing day visiting the Family Cretan Honey Experience, Elafonissi Beach, Chrysoskalitissa Monastery, and The Cave of Saint John the Hermit. A special thank you to our guide, Sakis, who made this experience even more memorable. He was incredibly kind, attentive, and knowledgeable throughout the entire tour. He made sure everyone was comfortable, shared interesting information about the places we visited, and was always willing to help with a smile. Thanks to Sakis, we were able to enjoy the beauty, history, and culture of Crete in a relaxed and enjoyable way. We truly appreciated his professionalism and warm hospitality. Highly recommended! Thank you, Sakis, for making our day so special. Cris , Robert and Duda

This experience was excellent. We were able to customise our experience to our needs and wants. Thannasi (Saki), the driver, was courteous, friendly and very competent in navigating the roads of Chania, Crete. We ended up going to a different tavern (in Balos) than the one noted in the experience, at Saki’s suggestion, and it didn’t disappoint. Ellafonisi beach itself was beautiful and we stayed as long as we wanted. The honey & olive oil tasting, although quick, was great. We went to a church (Agios Ioannis) which was situated within a cave which was beautiful. The views there were amazing from that location high up on mountain! This is definitely an experience worth considering. Being able to customise was the perfect combination. Thank you Saki :)

It’s one of the best tours we had in Crete. Jordan was really nice, knowledgeable and flexible with the time. Elafonissi is a must visit place. I’m saying this coming from a country with really great beaches.

The pink beach isn’t pink but is still GORGEOUS and was a highlight of our trip. Get there early in the morning and rent one of the umbrellas if you can. We were there before 10am and the beach was peaceful and had people there but still didn’t feel crowded. By the time we left at around 1 it was significantly busier and I was glad we had made the trip from chania even tho it required early morning wake up.

This was a great experience to get to the beach early & efficiently! We were able to snag beach chairs upon getting parked & Sakis (our driver) let us borrow a beach umbrella. He was a great driver & flexible when we wanted to change the agenda a bit based on wanting to get to the beach earlier than the crowds. We really enjoyed the cave & having lunch in Elos.

This was an amazing day trip to Elafonissi! Sakis picked us up early as we had requested to get an early jump on the crowds at Elafonissi. This was a good idea (left Chania at 8:30am) since we got the last 4 sunbeds for rent at the beach! Elafonissi was incredibly crowded by the time we left. Sakis was an amazing, calm, professional driver and was a great conversationalist...telling us lots of interesting facts all the way to Elafonissi. We decided to stay at the beach a bit longer...we communicated easily with Sakis and he was there in a jiffy to pick us up... so skipped the caves on the way back to Chania, We stopped for lunch and a very old church in the village of Elos and made one more stop to taste honey at Stathakis family honey in the mountains on the way back to Chania. Sakis was so friendly and easy to talk to. We read that the drive to Elafonissi was easy from Chania...I did not think it was easy...lots of twisty, narrow mountain roads with tour buses coming the opposite way. We were very glad to be in the experienced hands of Sakis. Book this trip...a great day!

Sarkis & Yordan were excellent drivers and guides- very knowledgeable, pleasant, and eager to help my family have a wonderful time. They were flexible and stopped at several sites for us to see and experience Crete. I have mobility issues and they even brought chairs & an umbrella for me at the beach- Very thoughtful! I enthusiastically recommend both of them for anyone interested in touring Crete and especially going to Elafonissi Beach.

We wanted to see the pink beach and Old Town Chania on the same day because of driving distance so our travel agent found Crete Wanderer for us. It was exactly what we wanted. Our driver was great. He suggested stops along the way and told us interesting facts throughout the drive. He was also an excellent driver on very narrow roads! We were very pleased with the trip and would absolutely schedule again if in Crete! Leo was our guide.

Our entire eight hour trip with our driver Saki was spectacular! He was very knowledgeable, thoughtful and had a fantastic itinerary planned for us. The end goal of the trip was to see Elafonisi Beach. We were really thankful to have a local person driving us as some of the roads can be tricky to navigate. Sakis never tired of our constant questions and was extremely knowledge of the local history. He also customized the trip according to our interest. We were able to truly experience Crete and we can’t say enough great things about our trip. HIGHLY recommend taking a tour with this company and Sakis

Yes, we really enjoyed our tour with Sakis. He is proud of his island and he shared it very well with us. He is very courteous, a very good driver and an excellent guide.

This is the perfect trip if you want maximum flexibility! Our tour guide had us pick and choose our stops and made great recommendations, told us a couple of fun facts about the island and granted us as much time as we wanted at each stop. You can choose pick up and drop off time which is great if you want to sleep in I need to be back for dinner reservation reservations! Great service, friendly guide and a must do!

We had a great day at the beach. George was a great guide. He was very responsive. We knew when we booked the tour that we would prefer to shorten our time at the beach to leave some time to stop at a local restaurant for some authentic Greek cuisine. He accommodated our request and made a great recommendation. I would recommend this tour without hesitation. The car was clean and air conditioning worked well. I would recommend this tour without hesitation.

We had a wonderful day, our driver made sure we made the most of our day visiting a honey factory, clay formations (which we didn’t even know about prior), the Agia Sofia cave, the pink sand beach, a monastery and even went out of his way to find us an olive oil factory that had a tour for us. We ended the day with a fantastic meal at the restaurant of his choosing and visiting the oldest olive tree. Highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see a lot of Crete starting from Chania.

This was an amazing tour! Andres knew so much and helped provide all the information with every question that we asked. Would reccomend every time for someone to do this tour!

A must do. Company picked us up right at our home. Friendly driver with lots of area detail and knowledge. We were able to customize our day. We had two vans that were clean and provided us with water. The views you experience during the drive were speechless. Staf never made is feel rushed at any stop.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic Private Tour – A Highlight of Our Trip to Crete We had an amazing experience exploring Crete with our guide. He was incredibly accommodating for our family and especially thoughtful about making sure our kids were comfortable and engaged throughout the day, which we really appreciated. He took us to several beautiful places and hidden spots we never would have found on our own, and along the way shared so much knowledge about the island’s history, culture, and local life. It felt much more like spending the day with a knowledgeable local than taking a typical tour. He was friendly, professional, and very hospitable the entire time. The vehicle was spotless and comfortable, and he was a very safe and confident driver, which made the experience even better. This was easily one of the highlights of our time in Crete. If you’re looking for a personalized way to see the island beyond the typical tourist stops, I highly recommend booking with him!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had an incredible day exploring Crete with our guide! He was extremely accommodating for our family, especially when it came to the needs of our kids, which made the experience enjoyable and relaxed for everyone. He took us to so many beautiful places we never would have discovered on our own and shared a ton of knowledge about the island, its history, and local culture along the way. His friendliness, hospitality, and professionalism were outstanding, truly a 10/10 experience. The vehicle was very clean and comfortable, and he was a safe, confident driver which made the day even more enjoyable. If you’re looking for a personalized tour that goes beyond the typical tourist spots, we highly recommend this experience. It was one of the highlights of our time in Crete!

A perfect winter day exploring Chania. Our driver, Leonidas, made sure we saw every place possible and truly filled the entire day with great stops and smooth driving. He was friendly, punctual, and kept everything relaxed despite the season. Highly recommended, even in winter.

Leo’s expertise in timing and his warm, friendly demeanor made the entire experience exceptional. Everything ran seamlessly from beginning to end, and I truly couldn’t recommend him more highly.

We had an unforgettable day exploring Elafonisi and several other amazing spots around Crete. The beaches were absolutely stunning with crystal clear water, truly something special. Along the way, we stopped at a local olive oil factory, where we learned all about the production process and even got to sample some of the freshest olive oil we’ve ever tasted. The journey itself was just as enjoyable, with scenic drives through charming villages and breathtaking mountain views. Our guide made the day even better with interesting stories, local insights, and a great sense of humor. It was a perfect mix of relaxation, culture, and discovery — a tour we’d recommend to anyone visiting Crete!

We travelled as a family with teenagers to Southwest Crete from Chania and had great time. Visiting Monolithoi was an unexpected surprise; the moon-like landscape looked like a film set! Elafonisi beach and Kedrodasos beach were breathtaking. A few kilometres apart but so different: Elafonisi with its pink sand & shallow turquoise waters, and Kedrodasos wild and amazing. Five stars to Sakis 🥇🥇🏆🏆; he was professional, discrete, caring and ensured we experienced as many things as possibles. As if we were looked after by a friend. We recommend Crete Wanderer 100%.

Leonidas was a wonderful guide for our tour and very accommodating to our interests and preferences and provided lots of context for each stop. We ended up seeing all of the listed spots (plus one additional) and also had a lovely lunch. The shuttle bus was very comfortable. I would recommend this tour!

Fantastic tour guide who tailored the tour to the weather and what we wanted to see, with very unique stops along the way!

Leonidas was a very knowledgeable tour guide! And super nice and added a stop that wasn’t on the list for us. We got to choose when to start the tour too

If you love crystal clear blue ocean water this is the tour for you. Our guide picked us up at the ship and stopped at a few areas along the way. We went to a honey production shop and then he stopped at some other historic places. The island is very mountainous and if you don’t do well with winding roads this tour is not for you. Once we arrived at Elephasani beach, it was a 10 to 15 minute walk down to the water. Just a warning, but it was worth it. He then took us to a restaurant in the mountains where we had the best chicken Slouvaki of the trip.

Leonidas was a fanastic, knowledgeable driver. The experience we had on that beautiful, long, scenic drive through the mountains to that incredible pink beach is one I will never forget. I couldn’t have had a better experience. If I ever have the privilege of returning to Crete, I would definitely reach out to him again.

We had a wonderful day visiting the cave for God of wisdom, the Elafonisi beach and the old town. Our driver, Giorgos, was nice and friendly.

George was a great tour guide. He collected us promptly from our hotel at our requested time and the car was fully air conditioned and cold bottles of water were waiting for us (important as it was 36 degrees C on the day of our trip!) From there we drove in the direction of Elafosini Beach and stopped off at an ancient cave. There was a bit of a hike up some steep steps but the cave at the top was lovely and cool and very interesting to look at. There was also a little snack bar type place at the bottom if you wanted to purchase cold drinks or use the toilet etc. From there we headed straight to the main event (Elafosini pink beach) which was amazing, although less pink in real life, and as expected crammed full of tourists. I would advise arriving before 10am to ensure you get a parasol (available for hire) because if you’re not under cover the sun is brutal at that time of year. We stayed as long as we liked and then headed for lunch at a lovely local tavern which only the locals would have ever found. Our tour guide, George, joined us for lunch at our request and it was nice to get to know him a little better. Very friendly and knowledgeable guy. Our last stop was a local honey farm where we sampled lots of local delights and purchased some to take home. Everything was very reasonably priced. Would recommend this tour to anyone who hates coaches and waiting around for other people to take photos. We loved that it was totally customisable and we could stay anywhere for as long or as little as we liked and even skip some parts of the tour if they weren’t to our taste. Worth the extra €€€. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We purchased a customizable Elafonisi full day tour. The tour company that Tripadvisor used was Crete Wanderer. This was a father and son team and they were fabulous! They were sweet, patient, professional, and was very careful to take us to all the places that we wanted to see on the Chania side of Crete. We were from a cruise ship so we decided that Elafonisi was too far to go . Instead, we headed to the beaches at Falasarna, which was very beautiful but on the way we stopped at a cliffside family owned shop, shop to purchase olive oil and honey . Had beautiful views. After the beach Falasarna we went to the Cabana Mare & Agia Marina beach club where we spent several hours. Lots of people and lots of fun ! Towards the end of the day, we tour the town of Chania right there at the port . There are so many adorable gift shops to go through . We got so involved in shopping that we almost missed the last tender back to the ship! I highly recommend using Crete Wanderer . They are excellent Crete tour guides . I know I will call them again. Next time I go to ,Crete Greece.

Great day!! Amazing tour guide. He was knowledgeable and accommodating. Had great suggestions and tips. Will definitely call him the next time we are in town!!

Sakis was an excellent tour guide! Very professional; a great driver and the sites he pointed out were memorable and there was plenty of time for photos. We got to spend time at the beach and stopped at other beach sites too for more great photos. He also stopped at unique souvenir places for authentic items and great prices and He shared personal experiences too. Absolutely loved this and would 100% recommend!

I loved the Elafonisi tour with Sakis. He was kind and made the journey enjoyable. The place is breathtaking, and the tour was organized well. Definitely worth doing if you want to see Elafonisi.

Our guide was smart, charming and fun. My husband has mobility limitations, but they worked around that very well. We saw sooo much.

We are very satisfied of our tour. The tour guide and driver were fantastic and knowledgeable. They were also very accommodating and helpful.

Jordan came to pick us up from port. He was a great driver and told of so many fascinating facts. The beach was incredible, although it was super windy. We stopped by a cave that was used as a look out tour thousands of years ago. We leaned about the Orthodox Monks a d finished the day with great Greek food at a local resturant. Would definitely use this company again.

We booked the private family tour and had an absolutely incredible time! There were six of us, and it honestly couldn’t have gone better. Leonidas was our guide and he was fantastic—super attentive, fun, and made sure everyone was enjoying themselves the whole way through. This experience was a highlight of our trip and something I’ll never forget. Highly, highly recommend!

DON'T book this tour! I booked a private tour months ago with Crete Wanderer as my friend and I wanted to really see the pink sand beach. It was a booking for just the two of us as we were on a cruise ship and didn't have much time to explore the island. The night before our trip the tour operator contacts me asking if we would mind joining a family of 5 from the same ship. He then offered a 25% discount which we didn't feel was enough considering this was supposed to be a private tour and now it would be a group tour so we declined this offer. He said he would pick us up from the cruise port at 9am to being our tour. On the day of our tour we waited outside for 20 minutes and finally contact the tour operator. He then sends me a note saying he had an unexpected "health" issue and was canceling our tour. We highly suspect that he just took the family of 5 because he could make more money and cancelled us, leaving us scrambling to figure out something else to do. We never got to see the pink sand beach and if I were you I would AVOID this tour operator as it was very dishonest and shady to just cancel and ditch us on the day of and only after I had to contact him. I also tried to call after he cancelled the tour and he would not pick up the phone.

Stunning beaches, a tasty lunch, and loads of fascinating insights about Crete—this tour truly had it all! Leonidas and Jordan were outstanding guides who made everyone feel welcome and cared for from start to finish. Everything was thoughtfully planned, and the timing at each location was just right. We’re so grateful for the experience and would recommend it without hesitation!

Sakis was an amazing tour guide. He was kind and informative and answered all of our questions. He took us to all of the best spots on the island so that we felt like locals. Would highly recommend this tour!

From start to finish, this was truly one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had. If you’re looking for a personalized private tour, this one is top-notch. Leonidas, our guide and now friend, was absolutely wonderful. He didn’t just share historical facts—he gave us insights and stories that only a local could know, which made the tour feel extra special and personal. Leonidas was incredibly knowledgeable, but also kind, generous, and fully attentive to everything we needed throughout the day. Elafonisi Beach was stunning, and the whole journey felt smooth, relaxed, and unforgettable.

We had an excellent day, enjoying a couple of different beaches, a fabulous lunch and then honey and wine tasting. George was very warm and welcoming and a lovely host.

We had a great tour with Jordan and Vassiliki (not sure if correct name). The company was very flexible as my sister is 80. We replaced regular stops with other stops that were easier to visit. It was a beautiful tour. Planning was easy with immediate responses to our E mails from Lionides. Highly recommend this company. They are very reliable.