On the Southeast and west coast of Crete in the Libyan Sea there is a wonderful opportunity for island visits to
Gavdos
Koufonisi
Chrysi (Chrissi)
Three offshore Cretan Islands
image Chrysi (Chrissi) Island
Gavdos Island
the most southerly part of Greece and lies 45km south of Hora Sfakion. Ferry-boats dock in the port of Karabe (Karavi) after almost a 2 and half hour crossing from Hora Sfakia.
The small port of Karabe,
a few bars and shops, one or two tavernas and some accommodation. The small port provides boat service to Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Loutro. There is a twice-a-week ferry crossing from Paleochora to Gavdos.
Kastri is the main village
located about a km from the port. The Island is "home" to around 50 people. Bikes and scooters are available to rent but there is no public transport. Camping is tolerated in most places. Apartments and rooms are available, It is recommended to book in advance. There are a few tavernas. Good beaches.
Tavernas and a Nice Stay
Gavdos Panorama rooms and restaurant
Korfos Beach
Gavdos Princess Hotel and restaurant
Kastri
(Sofia’s restaurant next door)
8 minutes walk from to the entry to Agios Ioannis beach.
All the above hotels (in no particular order) can be Book direct or you can find them and more alternatives on Booking.com
How to get to Gavdos Island
Ferry to Gavdos Island depart
from Hora Sfakia, ferry crossing around 1 hour 15-20 minutes
from Paleochora, ferry crossing around 3 hours 30 minutes.
Check timetable, availability and book your ferry
No accommodation available. A couple of tavernas that open during the tourist season.
is a small island in the Libyan Sea just off the South East coast of Crete and at a distance of 3,5 nautical miles south-southeast of Cape Goudoura, and 10 nautical miles southeast of Makrysgialos.
Koufonisi island is about 6 kilometers long. Koufonisi belongs to a group of small islets in the area like Makroulo, Marmara, Strogylo and Trahila. Koufonisi Island is uninhabited now but is full of ruins that indicate human activity from the early Minoan times to post-Byzantine years.
The locals like to call Koufonisi Delos of Crete, after the significant antiquities that have been found there. The island has beautiful sandy beaches, mainly covered with fine sand, and was once an important center for sponge diving.
The boat for the island departs Makrysgialos port in the morning and returns again in the afternoon.
Koufonissi also known as Lefki
Chrysi (Chrissi) Island
Chrissi or Chryssi or Gaidouronisi meaning ‘donkey island ` lies 8-9 nautical miles south of Ierapetra town in Crete. The residents of Ierapetra simply call it “the island”.
The Chrysi (Chrissi) season lasts six months a year from mid-May until late October. There are timetables, see links below, departing from the port of Ierapetra to the island on a daily basis. Makrigialos further east along the coast from Ierapetra offers excursion boats to Chrysi (Chrissi) also daily.
Chrysi Island is almost flat and from a distance, it seems like a thin line of land in the middle of the sea. Its longest length is 5km with an average width of 1km The highest spot is to the east on "Kefala" hill (the head) and is 31m high.
There is no public transport. Walking is the name of the game here. A few tavernas. No accommodation. Clean sandy beaches, turquoise coloured sea, and a small forest of cedar trees.
Thank you Fotorama Ier for Chrissi Ierapetra 2016
How to get to the Chrissi Island
Boat Tours / cruises to Chrissi and Koufonisi Island.
Here is a link to Cretan daily cruises book your ticket and more
and another day cruises link to Chrissi Island and Crete south east coast
On the beach
We all love our sunshine filled days on the sand, but when the day is done, clean up and take your rubbish with you.
If we can eliminate the trash on our beaches we can help eliminate trash in our oceans.
