There are beaches in Crete, and then there is Elafonisi. The pink-tinged sand tinted by centuries of crushed coral shells, stretches out into the Libyan Sea in shallow, warm wading water that barely reaches your knees. It feels more like the Maldives than the Mediterranean.

We pick you up from your hotel and make sure you arrive early, before the midday heat and the tourist buses. That means you get the best spot, the calmest water, and the full quiet magic of the place. On the way, we pass through the mountain village of Elos and stop at the Chrysoskalitissa monastery, one of the oldest and most striking in Crete perched on a rock above the sea.

Protected by the EU’s Natura 2000 environmental programme, Elafonisi is one of the rarest ecosystems in Europe. Cedar trees, white lilies, rare birds, it’s as wild as it is beautiful. Sunbeds and parasols are available to rent on site.