Getting from Crete to Elafonisos

If you are heading to Elafonisos from Crete you are going to one of the most beautiful small islands in the southern Peloponnese, a tiny island with pink-tinged sand beaches that are among the finest in Greece and almost no tourist infrastructure beyond the basics.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Crete to Elafonisos. The only way to reach the island is by the short local ferry from Pounta, a small port on the southern tip of the Peloponnese around 4.5 to 5 hours by road from Athens. Getting to Pounta from Crete means flying to Athens and then driving south through the Peloponnese via Corinth, Tripoli and Sparta. The trip from Pounta to Elafonisos takes around 10 minutes and runs every 30 minutes in summer.

Getting there by air

Elafonisos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Flying from Crete to Athens takes around 50 minutes and then the drive to Pounta takes around 4.5 to 5 hours. Total travel time is around 6 to 7 hours.

Your best option

Fly to Athens and drive to Pounta. It is a long day but having a car on arrival gives you the flexibility to explore the island and the surrounding Laconian coast. If you are already in the southern Peloponnese, the drive to Pounta is straightforward and the ferry takes only 10 minutes.