Beaches

2km east of Nopigia we meet the rocky coast of Choni. In order to access it, you have to follow the seaside road from Nopigia to the East. After the little square theater of the Orthodox Academy, follow the dirt road leading to Choni and the church of Panagia (i.e. Santa Maria).

Vlites beach is a well protected beach in the large bay of Souda, about 5 km east of Chania city, and is the longest beach of the bay. It is actually the long beach formed north of the mouth of the Moronis River and reaches north to the Souda War Cemetery.

Half a kilometer to the west of Rodakino's main beach, Korakas, we meet the beach of Polirizos, surrounded by dense olive groves. To get here, you have to follow the paved road leading west from Korakas, along the shore.

Vourdolakos or Chlia is a remote beautiful beach with coarse gray sand formed behind the rock of Psaroharako and stretching west to Sidonia. Actually, Vourdolakos consists of several consecutive bays, separated by short rocky parts, where one could snorkel.

The part of the beach west of Listis to the river Anapodaris is called Kamboula. The river is one of the most important Cretan wetlands. The long beach Kamboula is very beautiful, with lovely pebbles and crystal blue waters. This area is no organized, however a very few rooms and apartments have been built in the last years.

Bonda beach (or Grias Pidima) is located 49km southeast of Agios Nikolaos and 14km east of Ierapetra, in the territory of the village Schinokapsala, between the seaside settlements of Agios Panteleimonas and Ahlia. Just below the main road connecting Ierapetra to Makrygialos, you will meet this small beach with rocks in places, totally secluded and ideal for isolation, compared to other beaches of the area. The is accessed through a small plateau near the main road.

About 1km west of Arvi we meet the stream of Bouboulis. If we cross the stream and walk about 5' minutes we reach the remote sandy beach of Meakis, also known as Vahoudianos Xerokambos. The beach is located in a secluded bay with fine sand and clear water, which is never busy.

One of the best beaches in Agia Roumeli is located on the east side of the settlement, beyond the river of Samaria gorge and below the ruins of ancient Tarra. Here beautiful rocky formations and cavities are formed at position Zeromouri, which have beautiful pebbly beaches in front of them.

Thousands of visitors, descending the Samaria gorge, reach Agia Roumeli every day and enjoy their bath in the main beach, Gialos, stretching in front of the taverns. However, there are some very nice and quiet beaches around, one could explore. One of these beaches is Mashali and is actually the west part of the bay of Agia Roumeli.

Some meters west of Koutelos beach, there is the secluded beach of Leska. Its name means “Steep Place” or “trap” in Cretan dialect and is taken after the steep cliffs around the beach. It is a pebbly beach with sand in some places, while on the west there is a very small cove with stony seabed. It can be accessed mainly on boat, as walking along the coast from Koutelos beach is risky due to the collapsing grounds and the high cliffs.

Votsala or Halikia are located after the west end of Paleochora harbor, 79km south of Chania city, next to the exit of Kakodiakianos River, and extend for about 1km to the east. Halikia and Pahia Ammos are the two main beaches in Paleohora town. Halikia has round pebbles and is well organized and preferred mainly by Greeks than the sandy beach of Pahia Ammos

Between the palm forest in Vai and the beaches of ancient Itanos the small beach in Voulismata is formed. Voulismata is the most remote beach in the area and you will almost never find anyone here, as the only way of access is to walk alongside the coast and there is no road reaching the beach.

Xerokambi beach is located about 70 km southeast of Heraklion and belongs to the periphery of Kastri. Most visitors of the area are unaware of its existence, as they visit mainly the famous beach of Listis and the organized beaches of Kastri and Keratokambos. In Xerokambi there are mainly greenhouses for growing early vegetables.

The beautiful beach of Skotini is located at the Cape Sideris, between Ravdoucha and Agios Vasilios, just before Panagia Myrtidiotissa at Choni, at the exit of a small and quite steep gorge. You can reach the beach by walking the impressive path that starts from the area of Saint Marina.

Bogazi beach is formed in an isolated area on the borders of the community of Sisses in the province of Mylopotamos in the Talea Range, east of the German outpost of Pyrgos peak.

Glykys Kolymbos beach (or Glykos Kolymbos) is the westernmost of all the beaches in the area of ​​the Tris Ekklisies in the Asterousia Mountains. It is a special place with impressive geological formations in the water, which from above look like stripes.

The beach Manovas is located just 500 meters south of the famous Seitan Limania beach at cape Akrotiri or Melecha and has a western orientation. It is formed in a deep ravine at the westernmost end of cape Akrotiri.

The beach of Pachia Ammos in the position Afrathias (or Afratias) is formed between the airport of Tymbaki and the seaside settlement Kalamaki. Although it is actually the longest beach in Mesara, it is also the less busy.

In front of the village center, there is the enclosed bay of Varkotopos with a beautiful beach with sand and gravel in front, which is very well organized and busy. It is ideal for young children.

>Directly opposite the port of Agios Nikolaos is the islet of Agii Pantes. Approximately in the center of the island there is a unique tiny beach with sand and clear blue waters.