Greek island + children all the time = seashore – however while you’re on Crete, you don’t simply have the same old golden sands to tempt you, and I knew a go to to Elafonisi seashore in Crete with children could be unmissable.
Crete’s pink sand seashore is likely one of the most well-known locations on the island, and never only for households. With snorkelling, the small lagoon to paddle and swim in, and a few beautiful surroundings, it’s properly price protecting on the checklist.
Round 90 minutes from Chania on the north coast, the place we have been staying for a part of our vacation in Crete, it pays to plan forward in case you are heading to Elafonisi seashore with children – listed below are my prime ideas.
Plan your drive
There are guided excursions which is able to take you to Elafonisi – or Elafonissi – seashore however should you’re blissful driving on slender mountain roads, it’s significantly better to rent a automotive and head down there your self.
Firstly, as a result of you must get there early. Once we arrived simply earlier than 9.30, I might nonetheless discover a parking area within the shade and we just about had our decide of loungers on the seashore itself.
Many of the coach excursions arrive later so it can already be busier (though clearly you don’t want to fret about parking).
The drive additionally takes you thru some superb mountain surroundings in the direction of the tip – though I had my eyes firmly fastened on the highway, navigating some tight and twisty bends.
However with your individual automotive, you’ll be able to cease en route should you fancy taking photographs. When you’ve got journey sick children, you can too pause for a breather, plus they’re much less more likely to be affected in a automotive than in a coach.
When you undoubtedly don’t need to drive your self, there’s a good selection of excursions to Elafonisi Seaside, with pick-up choices across the island together with Chania and Rethymno but additionally Heraklion – keep in mind you’ll have an extended journey from the island’s capital although
Go to the best automotive park
As you drive nearer to the seashore, you’ll spot numerous indicators for parking on the highway down – don’t be tempted to cease right here although (except you’ve arrived late and there’s no different possibility).
You’ll get charged to park and it’s a great distance right down to the seashore itself – plus a steeper climb again up after your day by the ocean.
As a substitute, simply proceed following the highway till it stops, as that leads you straight into the free automotive park at Elafonisi seashore itself. In all probability, you’ll be following a string of different vehicles down there as properly, as anybody heading right here is more likely to be making their solution to the seashore.
Convey money
Whereas an increasing number of locations are transferring to contactless cost, you’ll need to convey money to hire the loungers and seashore umbrellas.
In summer season 2022, these value 15 Euros per pair with a parasol and 5 euros additional per lounger. Contactless gave the impression to be an possibility however there wasn’t any information for the transaction, so fortunately we had sufficient to cowl it.
When you don’t, be sure you convey your individual seashore umbrella and towels – there’s barely any shade in any other case. Elafonisi Island is likely one of the finest spots to discover a extra shaded spot, however we determined it was properly price paying for these.
The bathrooms by the automotive park additionally want money: it’s 50 cents to make use of these, though children are free.
Not all of the sand is pink
The sand on the primary seashore, the place all of the loungers line the water, is extra golden than pink – the pink color comes from tiny ground-up shells so it varies relying on the tides and the time of yr.
However this space isn’t the place the place you’ll discover the rosiest shades anyway.
Wade over to Elafonisi Island and you’ll find extra pink stretches, plus heat tidal swimming pools – as ever, it’s price heading there early on if you wish to snap photographs and benefit from the views with out too many crowds.
It’s not all the time apparent to see the place the shallowest sections are, however control the opposite individuals crossing to identify the sandbanks, and be ready to go in as much as your waist a minimum of.
The sandbar which connects Elafonisi Island to Crete itself hardly ever has greater than round a metre of water over it – youthful children might have to swim or be carried quite than wade, however older ones ought to nonetheless have the ability to maintain their heads above water.
A dry bag will certainly turn out to be useful, in any other case you’ll most likely want to hold your belongings above your head sooner or later. It’s properly definitely worth the effort as the color actually is unbelievable.
Discover Elafonisi island
The island is definitely a nature reserve, and feels very unspoiled – particularly by comparability to the string of loungers alongside the remainder of the seashore!
Do save a bit time to discover right here as properly, though keep in mind it’s finest to do that early too as there’s restricted shade.
Bringing waterproof footwear (or carrying your flip flops over your head) can be plan because the sand on the island itself will get extremely popular in consequence.
House to 110 plant species, together with some that are uncommon or distinctive to the reserve, you must persist with the paths to keep away from damaging the crops.
When you’re very fortunate, chances are you’ll even see turtles as they nest on the island, though they have an inclination to steer very clear of individuals so don’t depend on it.
Convey a snorkel
When you’re travelling with youthful children, the shallow water is ideal to splash round in – in addition to the little tide swimming pools, which warmth up properly below the Greek solar, there’s a really gradual slope in the primary lagoon.
The ocean right here is a tremendous turquoise color and extremely clear, so should you’re visiting Crete with barely older children, do pack a snorkel as properly.
The sheltered lagoon may be very calm so it’s superb for novices and there are tiny fish swimming round. You may spot different sea creatures as properly, relying which space you swim in.
You’ll discover kayaks to hire too should you’re visiting with teenagers or extra adventurous children who need to enterprise additional out.
There are even lifeguards through the summer season months as an added precaution.
Amenities are restricted
In addition to parking and some bathrooms by the automotive park, there are stalls promoting costly seashore toys and a few snack bars serving meals.
The selection is proscribed and it’s unsurprisingly pricy, plus with lots of people lounging on the seashore, you’ll be able to anticipate queues. Finest to convey your individual meals and drinks should you can.
Alternatively, should you’re not planning to spend the entire day at Elafonisi seashore with children, you’ll be able to head off earlier than lunch because the temperatures rise, and enterprise over to a taverna elsewhere. One other bonus of getting your individual rent automotive!
As a substitute of retracing our route via the guts of the island, we drove over to the west coast in the direction of Sfinari the place there are some beautiful tavernas on this quiet seashore serving recent fish. There are extra loungers right here if you wish to end the day on a much less pink stretch of sand too.
For extra issues to do in Crete with children, take a look at my prime picks
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions on visiting Elafonisi seashore with children are my very own
Photographs copyright MummyTravels
