The Elafonisi, Kedrodasos Beach and Wine Tasting private tour combines three of southwest Crete’s greatest pleasures: the world-famous pink-sand lagoon of Elafonisi, the secret beach of Kedrodasos, and an afternoon wine tasting at a traditional Cretan winery. It’s a day that moves from extraordinary natural beauty into the warmth of Cretan hospitality.
What’s Included
- Private round-trip transfers from your hotel or accommodation
- Expert local guide throughout the day
- Early access to Elafonisi before the tour buses arrive
- Private guided walk to Kedrodasos (the secret beach)
- Wine tasting at a family Cretan winery (3–5 wines + local mezedes)
- Scenic drive through Cretan mountain villages
Morning: Elafonisi Lagoon
Early departure is essential for Elafonisi — by 10:30 in July and August, the small car park overflows and the beach fills. We leave at 7:30 to arrive as the lagoon is at its most peaceful and the light is at its most beautiful.
Elafonisi is technically a small island connected to the mainland by a shallow sandbar — when you wade across, the water barely reaches your knees. The sand on both sides of the sandbar contains fragments of eroded pink-red shells, giving the beach its famous rose-tinted quality. In good morning light, the lagoon glows in shades of turquoise, jade, and soft pink.
The area is a protected nature reserve — the beach hosts nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in summer. Your guide will point out the marked nesting zones and explain the conservation work being done.
Spend 2 hours at Elafonisi: swim, explore the island’s far side (fewer people, equally beautiful water), and take the photographs you’ve been looking forward to. Your guide provides shade chairs, cold water, and local knowledge about the best spots at the right time of day.
Mid-Morning: Kedrodasos — the Secret Beach
Two kilometres east of Elafonisi, accessible only by a 20-minute walk through fragrant juniper forest, lies Kedrodasos — one of the last truly quiet beaches in western Crete.
The beach sits beneath a dense canopy of ancient cedar and juniper trees that reach almost to the shoreline. The sand is white to pink, the water crystal clear over rocks and sand. In peak season, when Elafonisi holds thousands of visitors, Kedrodasos typically holds fewer than 20.
Sea turtles also nest here — the combination of isolation and habitat makes it one of the most important turtle nesting beaches in western Crete. Your guide will explain the nesting cycles, identify any active nests, and ensure you experience the beach with a light footprint.
Afternoon: Mountain Drive and Wine Tasting
After the beaches, the tour heads inland through the White Mountain foothills — a landscape of olive groves, terraced hillsides, and villages where life has changed little in a century. The drive itself is one of the pleasures of the day.
The wine tasting takes place at a family-owned Cretan winery working with indigenous grape varieties: Vidiano (a white grape revived from near-extinction), Kotsifali (a soft, spicy red), and Liatiko (an ancient variety producing deep, complex reds). Your guide will introduce you to the winemaker, walk you through the cellar and vineyards, and explain how Cretan wine differs from the rest of Greece.
The tasting includes 3–5 wines paired with local mezedes: graviera cheese, olives from the estate, rusks with tomato, and whatever else is in season. The hospitality is genuine Cretan — unhurried, generous, deeply warm.
Tour Details
- Duration: 8–9 hours
- Start time: 07:30 (early start required for Elafonisi)
- Best for: Beach lovers, nature enthusiasts, wine lovers, photographers
- Physical level: Easy to moderate (20-minute beach walk on sand)
- What to bring: Swimwear, sunscreen, comfortable shoes for the forest walk, appetite
Contact 105Olives to book your private Elafonisi and Kedrodasos wine tour. We handle all logistics — you just turn up.