Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
Elafonisi is about 75km southwest of Hania. There is one daily boat to Paleohora (€8,
one hour), roughly from mid-May through September and one daily bus to Hania (€10,
two hours) and Kissamos (€6.30, 1¼ hours), which returns in the afternoon.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Gavdos IslandΝησί της Γαύδου
POP 45
Europe's most southerly point, Gavdos lies 45km south of Hora Sfakion in the Libyan
Sea. There's little to do here except to swim, walk and relax. The island is surprisingly
green, with almost 65% covered in low-lying pine and cedar trees and vegetation. With
only a smattering of rooms and tavernas, it's a blissful spot with several unspoilt beaches
- some accessible only by boat. The island attracts campers, nudists and free spirits
happy to trade the trappings of civilisation for an unspoiled nature experience.
Sights & Activities
Boats land at
Karabe
on the east side of the island, while the capital Kastri is in the
centre. The biggest beach community at
Sarakiniko
, in the northeast, has a wide swathe
of sand and about a dozen tavernas. West of here, stunning
Agios Ioannis
beach is popu-
lar with campers and has three tavernas and a public shower. Lavrakas, Potamos and Pyr-
gos are even more remote but gorgeous beaches on the north coast (no facilities).
South of Karave,
Korfos
has a pebbly beach and a couple of tavernas with rooms.
From here a 3.5km trail leads down via near-unpopulated Vatsiana to
Tripiti
- the south-
ernmost tip of Europe.
Sleeping & Eating
Camping is tolerated in most places and especially popular in Agios Ioannis. There's
only one small shop in Sarakiniko. The folks running the website at
www.gavdos-on-
line.com
can help with reservations. Recommended options include
Consolas Gavdos
Studios
(
28230 42182;
www.gavdostudios.gr
; d/tr studio incl breakfast €50/70;
)
and
Sarakiniko Gavdos
(
28230 41103;
http://gavdos-crete.com
; r/studio €40/45)
, in
Sarakiniko.
