Aspri Limni, Kedrodasos Beach, Elafonisi: Three Cretan Beaches That You Will Love!
This guide gives you accurate insider’s info to visit 3 of Chania’s most beautiful beaches in a day: Elafonisi, Kedrodasos and Aspri Limini
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I’ve always said that exploring Crete slowly is the best thing to do when visiting the island. However, sometimes we want to do more in a day, or we do not have enough days to spend in Crete or enjoy a more active vacation.
If that’s your case, you will enjoy this article telling you how to visit three top beaches in Crete: Quiet Aspri Limni, dreamy Kedrodasos Beach, and the popular pink sand beach of Elafonisi. Read on!
Of course, traveling slowly and visiting one place at a time is arguably the best way to check out Crete’s stunning landscapes. I always suggest readers take their time to appreciate how the island can be.
Many people, however, love to devote just a couple of hours to each place and get back on the road soon to reach their next destination, especially those enjoying road trips in Crete.
There are some areas on the island that allow doing so easily. In this one-day beach itinerary, I want to present to you three beaches located on the southern coast that you can visit on a day trip from Chania (or also Rethymnon). All you will need is some organization and your own rental car.
Can I visit 3 beaches in a day?
Let’s start by stating the obvious: This itinerary needs a car! It is impossible to do all three beaches counting on public transport!
So yes, you can visit these three beaches in a day only if you are driving. If you are not renting a car, you will only be able to visit Elafonisi (there are no tours or public transport available covering the Aspri Limni and Kedrodasos).
If you’re traveling in the peak season (July-August-September), the best you can do is book a car online well before the departure: this gets you much better fees. Book in advance to get more compact (and cheaper) models. If you wait until the last minute, you’ll only find bigger and more expensive cars. >> Compare fees and models here.
When visiting Crete in the shoulder months (May, June, or October), it’s easier to find a car even upon arrival, but booking in advance will still be more convenient.
How to visit three stunning beaches in Crete in one day?
For this day trip, we will be heading south, following the road to Elafonisi, all three beaches that we will be checking on this day are located on the Libyan Sea (southern coast), only minutes from the pink sand beach.
So get on the road to Elafonisi, either via the gorge of Topolia or driving along the westernmost coastal road from Falasarna. Or, even better, start by checking this article on how to get to Elafonisi and get on the road.
Once you’re on the coastal road to get to Elafonisi, pay attention to the few road signs and be ready to make a detour. Our first stop is a few minutes before reaching Elafonisi Beach, just meters after Chrysoskalitisa Monastery.
First stop: Aspri Limni
📍 Parking area: 35.309021 N, 23.525350 E
Also known as White Lake or Sea Lake, Aspri Limni literally means white lake and it is located in the village of Chrysoskalitisa, just under a kilometer after the important monastery that faces the Libyan Sea.
The monastery is an imposing building located atop a 35-meter-high rock, so you won’t miss it. This seventeenth-century building offers spectacular views of the surrounding area and the sea.
Once you’ve passed the monastery, in the next meters, you’ll find the following road sign, turn and slow down, the road is bumpy and winding, and some parts of it are dirt track, so roll up your windows, and enjoy the 5 to 10-minute ride to this unique, tropical oasis.
One of the lesser-known beaches along the coastal road that leads to Elafonisi Beach is the small but amazing Aspri Limni. This super quiet pool-like portion of the sea is not much visited, quite lonely, and virtually unknown.
Once you get there, you’ll find a small sandy beach with just a few umbrellas, and a spectacular, tranquil lake surrounded by rocks that protect it from mixing with the sea.
The area, surrounded by sharp rocks, features a sandy bottom mixed with rocks that might be slippery at certain points. Since the area is isolated and quite hard to access, not many tourists visit the sea lake.
There are no organized facilities (do pack some drinks), while the landscape features a few samples of Cretan palm trees that give the area a soft tropical touch.
Just like Elafonisi, this is a Natura 2000 Protected Area since it is the westernmost point on the island where the famous Cretan Palm Trees grow (this is the tree that has made Vai Beach famous) grows.
You will find super fine white sand and no natural shade. The water is calm, with tones of green and blue, and it is a perfect spot for snorkeling. Arrive as early as you can, unpack your beach bag, and spend a couple of hours here before heading to the next beach on our itinerary.
Second stop: Kedrodasos
📍 Parking area: 35.271189 N, 23.559822 E
Probably one of the most beautiful shores on the island, Kedrodasos Beach is situated 15 minutes by car from Aspri Limni (6.5 kilometers), driving along a partially-dirt road that leads to a fairly wide parking space from where you need to hike down to the beach. The hike from the parking area to the coast is exactly 10 minutes.
This is also a beach that lacks organization (although it seems this is about to change as there are plans for a small roadside canteen to open in the upcoming months).
Once you’ve hiked down along the rocky path, surrounded by wild thyme bushes, you will reach the white sand beach that is crossed by the E4 path, home to spectacular turquoise waters, and a gorgeous forest of cedar trees and ancient junipers.
The species in the area are also protected (you guessed right, this is another Natura 2000 Protected beach), so, if you’re planning to spend the night with your own tent, as many travelers do, avoid damaging the trees that grow on the sand.
Remember, Kedrodasos in Greek means cedar forest, so respect nature if you choose to camp in the area! Also, pack enough fresh fruit and water, light snacks are a much better option in summer when the temperatures soar on the southern coast of the island.
If you have packed fresh fruits or a light lunch, you can spend here the next few hours, bathing in the crystal clear (and often coldish) waters, admiring the impressive landscape of Kedrodasos Beach, or simply enjoying a restoring siesta under the shade of the junipers.
🎯 LOCALS KNOW BETTER
→ Pack drinks and enough food because there are no organized facilities (but mostly because you might not want to leave!). Carry an umbrella or arrive early to find shade under the trees.
Final stop: Elafonisi
📍 Parking area: 35.276229 N, 23.544555 E
These three beaches are quite close to each other, however, since Elafonisi is the most popular beach on the island getting there at the end of the day is a better idea because you will find it less crowded, most tourists return to Chania early.
Your best option is to get to Elafonisi a couple of hours before sunset to enjoy the beach once all the tourist buses have left (departure time for buses is normally set at around 4 pm). The beach features a few canteens where to get cold drinks, ice cream, and snacks even late in the afternoon.
Elafonisi is great for kite surfing, but also snorkeling and kayaking. If you prefer a more relaxing afternoon, just go swimming in the shallow waters or take a few pictures of the pink sand dunes.
On the beach, you will find different protected species (yes, this is another Natura 2000 Protected area), such as the gorgeous sea daffodils.
If you want to learn more about the characteristics of the beach, when to visit, the local nature, the most remarkable details about the area, and all the truth about the pink sand, then this article is simply a must.
You can stay in Elafonisi until the sun sets, and then slowly make your way back to Chania while there is still some daylight in order to safely tackle the mountain road through Topolia Gorge.
Alternatively, you can spend the night in the area, either check these rental homes or click here to check the latest prices at Elafonisi Resort Kalomirakis Family, one of the most popular places to stay in the area, right opposite the beach.
🗺️ CONSIDER BOOKING A GUIDED TOUR
→ If you are not ready to drive, you can visit Elafonisi by joining a private tour like this one or this affordable day trip by bus.
As you can see, visiting these three amazing beaches in a day is possible and easy to do with your rental car, the three spots are quite close to each other, which makes navigating from one shore to the other quite simple.
Remember to drive slowly, as you will drive along several dirt roads, pack plenty of drinks, and wear a hat and abundant sunscreen, especially in the central months of summer.
Planning a Crete itinerary that actually works
Because Crete is so large, planning a realistic route can make the difference between a relaxed trip and spending hours every day in the car.
If you’re unsure how to organize your itinerary, which regions to combine, or where to stay to minimize driving, you might find it helpful to start with a customized plan.
If you want help designing a realistic itinerary — including the best base towns, driving routes, and hidden places most visitors miss — you can book a Crete Trip Planning Consultation.
Book your consultation here
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Guide to Visit Aspri Limni, Kedrodaos, and Elafonisi
Gabi, the Crete Insider
Hi, I’m Gabi — your go-to local expert in Crete! I’ve been living in Chania, Crete since 2016, and I’ve turned my love for the island into a full-time passion — guiding travelers, writing for travel media, and curating local experiences.
I co-authored DK Eyewitness Top 10 Crete and other guides. I run the blogs The Tiny Book, Greece Planner, and My Cretan Recipe. Through this platform I help travelers design unforgettable trips to Crete.
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