Getting from Elafonisos to Halki

If you are heading to Halki from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to a car-free island just off the western coast of Rhodes in the Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of Greece. It has neoclassical sponge merchant mansions around a horseshoe harbour and a pace of life that is as slow as it gets in Greece.

Take the ferry

Elafonisos has no ferry connection to the wider Greek ferry network. The only ferry from Elafonisos is the short 10 minute crossing to Pounta on the southern Peloponnese, which runs every 30 minutes in summer. Getting to Halki means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, driving north to Athens and flying to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Halki taking around 1.5 to 2 hours. Alternatively drive to Piraeus for the overnight Piraeus to Rhodes ferry and then cross to Halki by local ferry.

Getting there by air

Halki has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Elafonisos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens, around 3.5 to 4 hours by car from Pounta. Taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, driving north to Athens and flying from Athens to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Halki, gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, drive north to Athens and fly from Athens to Rhodes, then take the local ferry across to Halki. Having a car is essential for the Pounta to Athens leg as the KTEL bus connection is slow and infrequent. Give yourself at least two nights on Halki. The island is small enough to walk across in an afternoon and the pace of life rewards those who stay long enough to settle into it.