One of the most fascinating things about Paleochora is that when people arrive here they are blown away by the amount of different beaches they can explore and access in only a very short time. Surrounded by 18km of coastline every few kilometers there is a new beach waiting to be discovered.
The main beach in Paleochora is the Sandy Beach which is called in Greek Pachia Ammos meaning Thick Sand. It runs for about 1 kilometer on the west coast of Paleochora. It is accessible on foot and depending where you are staying in Paleochora this beach is accessible on foot in minutes. Pachia Ammos has been awarded the EU Blue Flag meaning that the beach meets all the necessary facilities for safe swimming as well as having clean water. At the northwest end of the beach you will also find a section that is for nudists.
This is the second beach in Paleochora that is accessible on foot and this beach is located on the east side of the peninsula. Halikia or Votsala means Pebbles so the tourists also know this beach as “Pebbles beach”. Halikia used to have quite chunky stones but in recent years the tidal waves of the winter have changed the morphology of the beach and you will find small pebbles which is much more comfortable when walking barefoot into the sea.
This Beach is located at the end of the promenade where the majority of the restaurants in Paleochora are located. So if you do get hungry you only have to walk for a few minutes and the choices are endless.
One of the major advantages of this beach is the fact that when it gets windy, which it does quite often in the summer months, there is no sand storm sticking or stinging you so a lot of people tend to favor this beach on those windy days.
About 4,5 kilometers away east of Paleochora is one of the highlights of the Paleochora coastline. 3 little beaches are waiting for you after you have driven a smooth dirt road that runs along the coast east after the campsite. This is also the E4 walkway path so for trekking enthusiasts this is a great stop when hiking the longer trails to Sougia & Agia Roumeli. All 3 beaches are located next to each other, and two of them are also called Anidri Beach as they are located at the start of the gorge that that leads to the village of Anidri.
The main beach is a fully organized beach with a delicious tavern , unbreallas and sun beds and a number of water sport activities. It has light pebbles which are quite comfortable to walk on barefoot. At the end of this beach there is also a nudist section, if this is something that you are looking for.
West of Paleochora, the first beach you will find if you follow the coastal tarmac road that runs after the Sandy beach is called Psilos Volakas. This is a small beach that has some very high rocks. This is a gem of a beach for kids and adults that love to jump of cliffs. There are a number of cliffs which depending on the age are safer so there is something for everyone. You will not find one adult here in Paleochora that has not spend endless summers jumping of these cliffs with their friends when they where kids while creating some of the best memories of their life. In recent years this beach has become very organized, it has a Cantina that you can get refreshments and something to eat and it also provides umbrellas and sunbeds. This beach is also accessible b y bicycle, bike or on foot.
A few hundred meters after Psilos Volakas, if you continue following the coastal tarmac road you will find Plakaki and Karavopetra beach. These two beaches are next to each other and are completely natural. There is no cantina, umbrellas or sun beds there as these beaches are still untouched, so if you do decide to go there make sure you bring plenty of water and something to eat. The waters are always pristine and the scenery is just magical.
Another beautiful peninsula is Grammeno beach which is located 4 kilometers west of Paleochora. The beach is on the same coastal tarmac road as Psilos Volakas, Plakaki and Karavopetra so you just keep driving towards the west to find it. The coastal tarmac road is only one anyway so it is impossible to get lost. There are three parts to this peninsula, the first one has small pebbles and stretches along the west and along the east there is a beautiful sandy beach. The whole peninsula is filled with cedars trees and if you explore the tip of the peninsula even a bit further you will find small secluded parts as well which are ideal for people that want a little bit more privacy.
This is a fully organized beach on both sides, there are 2 beach bars and cantinas and along the tarmac road there are a handful of traditionally family owned restaurants with delicious Cretan delicacies so no need to bring anything with you when visiting these beaches. In Grammeno you will also find one of the camping sites of Paleochora which is not only fully equipped for camping but has in recent years added a few wooden tents which make for a greta “Glamping Experience”
A hidden tip for Grammeno is the natural Clay reserves that are located on the sandy side, so make sure to find them and you give yourself a Clay mud bath to go with your summer holiday Glow!
The last beach you will find at the end of the coastal tarmac road is called Krios Beach. This is about 10 kilometers west of Paleochora and is a large beach that ends at the tip of the mountain. This is a beautiful beach with pebbles, some parts are rockier than others and the best part is at the tip where you literary climb a huge rock to get there. This is a fully organized beach with umbrellas and sun beds and a small cantina where you can get refreshments and a small bite to eat.
This beach has also the starting point for the famous E4 walkway so a lot of people drive up there with the car or bicycle and then walk the path to Elafonissi. You can also walk to Krios from Paleochora you just walk along the tarmac so it’s not the most ideal hiking excursion but recently a huge redevelopment of this road was completed so it’s much better than it was before
Once upon a time and as the legend has it, there was a temple made of corals on the small island of Elafonisi during the Minoan era. As the volcano in Santorini erupted the temple was shattered and spread throughout the island making the white sand turn pink. The crystal blue and warm waters of the sea along with the pink sand made this small piece of land a center of attraction for many visitors.
Elafonisi is located 37 kilometers from Paleochora and 76km west of Chania. It is also a short 5 km drive towards the south of Chrysoskalitisa Monastery in the southwestern most tip of Crete. It is an oblong peninsula which breaks in two parts by water therefore giving the impression that it is a separate island. The waters are very shallow so you can walk along it, many people think you need a boat to get across but that is not the case. It is a Natura 2000 protected area. Sea daffodils , junipers and an abundance of sand dunes are prevalent on the island. The loggerhead sea turtle which is an endangered animal finds shelter in Elafonisi along with several more rare plants and animals. The removal of animals, shells, sand and any plants from Elafonisi is strictly forbidden.
If you have ever dreamt of going to the Caribbean, Elafonisi is your best bet in the Mediterranean as it is an exotic beach filled with white sand and turquoise water. The sand even turns pink is some area , taking its color from millions of crushed cells. A small lagoon is created very close to the tip of the peninsula where the water depth does not exceed 1 meter, therefore making it a very safe playing pool for children. You can walk across the lagoon on foot and carry all your staff with you as the water is so shallow. Elafonisi is a fully organized beach with sunbeds and umbreallas , there are lifeguards on duty , snack bars, changing rooms, showers and toilets. Up the road there are also a number of restaurants so expect to spend a whole day there when you visit.
You can visit this magical place either by boat (from the port of Paleochora) or by car (about 1 hour drive). Elafonisi beach also runs along the E4 Path so if you take the path from Krios Beach you will get to Elafonisi after hiking for about 10 kilometers.
A window to the endless blue! The Pal Beach hotel is located in a unique position right in front of the exquisite beach of “Pachia Ammos” in Paleochora. The mesme rizing view to the sea literally takes your breath away and the sunset that dives into the Libyan sea will give you endless moments of relaxation. The hotel, built with traditional architecture challenges you to discover your new favorite destination.
