This day trip combines beaches with archeological ruins. You’ll start out at the beach at Falasarna (Φαλάσαρνα), which is located on Crete’s western coast, approximately 77 kilometers (48 miles) from Gavalochori. Although it is a very popular beach, because of its length, it never seems crowded. You’ll find all the amenities you want here—tavernas, sunbeds, umbrellas, and refreshment stands. At the northern end of the beach are the ruins of the ancient city of Falasarna, which dates back to the 6th century BC. You are free to walk among the ruins of boat basins, walls, tombs, houses, and shops when the site is open. More information is available here.
After your visit to Falasarna, drive south along the west coast. The scenic road winds along rocky cliffs that tumble into the sea far below and takes you by and through old Greek villages, beach communities, and agricultural areas.
If you’re ready for another swim, approximately 52 kilometers (32 miles) south of Falasarna is Elafonisi Beach (Παραλία Ελαφονησίου). This large beach with white and pink sand is separated from an islet by approximately 50 feet of knee-deep water, so you can walk across the water to the islet. In the summer, the beach hosts a number of cantinas and bars as well as sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. This beach can be very crowded in the summer. You can find out more about the beach here.
To return to Gavalochori without retracing your steps, you can take the road that goes through Elos (Έλος) and returns you to the National Road. The road through Elos is quite curvy, but it is scenic and a great way to get a sense of the backroads of Crete. Information about the village of Elos is available here.
This day trip combines beaches with archeological ruins. You’ll start out at the beach at Falasarna (Φαλάσαρνα), which is located on Crete’s western coast, approximately 77 kilometers (48 miles) from Gavalochori. Although it is a very popular beach, because of its length, it never seems crowded. You’ll find all the amenities you want here—tavernas, sunbeds, umbrellas, and refreshment stands. At the northern end of the beach are the ruins of the ancient city of Falasarna, which dates back to the 6th century BC. You are free to walk among the ruins of boat basins, walls, tombs, houses, and shops when the site is open. More information is available here.
After your visit to Falasarna, drive south along the west coast. The scenic road winds along rocky cliffs that tumble into the sea far below and takes you by and through old Greek villages, beach communities, and agricultural areas.
If you’re ready for another swim, approximately 52 kilometers (32 miles) south of Falasarna is Elafonisi Beach (Παραλία Ελαφονησίου). This large beach with white and pink sand is separated from an islet by approximately 50 feet of knee-deep water, so you can walk across the water to the islet. In the summer, the beach hosts a number of cantinas and bars as well as sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. This beach can be very crowded in the summer. You can find out more about the beach here.
To return to Gavalochori without retracing your steps, you can take the road that goes through Elos (Έλος) and returns you to the National Road. The road through Elos is quite curvy, but it is scenic and a great way to get a sense of the backroads of Crete. Information about the village of Elos is available here.
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