Name: crete | elafonisi
Address: GR

Overview

Elafonisi is an iconic beach at the southwestern tip of Crete, famous for its pink sand and turquoise waters. A sandbar connects the coast to the small Elafonisi island, creating a natural shallow lagoon. It's a Natura 2000 protected site.

The Meltemi wraps around Crete's southwestern cape and arrives from NW/WNW on this west-facing coast. Conditions can be surprising with sustained side-onshore wind when the Meltemi is active, contrasting with the paradise-like appearance of the place.

Suggest an edit

Spot forecast for crete | elafonisi

Sunrise 07:36 · Sunset 18:45

Open-Meteo

Premium weather models. Get the professional models (ECMWF, GFS, ICON, MeteoSwiss…) and a 16-day forecast. Without a subscription: Open-Meteo over 5 days.

Go Premium

< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

Go Premium

Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

crete | elafonisi: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

234h

in August · 22.5 rideable days

The season runs from March to September, peaking in August: 17 rideable days a month and 234 hours of usable wind, at 26 °C. The low point is February, at 8 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 72%13-20 knots · 28%21-30 knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 72% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is February, at 15 °C. The wettest month is December, with 137 mm.

Monthly averages: crete | elafonisi

Monthly averages — crete | elafonisi — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	13.0	86 h	16 °C	76 mm
February	8.0	78 h	15 °C	73 mm
March	14.0	148 h	18 °C	40 mm
April	14.5	171 h	20 °C	19 mm
May	16.5	180 h	23 °C	13 mm
June	16.5	170 h	30 °C	0 mm
July	19.5	225 h	31 °C	0 mm
August	22.5	234 h	31 °C	0 mm
September	16.0	173 h	28 °C	4 mm
October	9.0	82 h	24 °C	36 mm
November	8.0	80 h	21 °C	97 mm
December	8.5	68 h	18 °C	137 mm

Photo gallery of crete | elafonisi

This spot is waiting for its first images

Ridden here? One photo or video, and the spot comes alive for everyone discovering it.

Technical details of crete | elafonisi spot

The spot works with winds from W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot functioning

⚠️ PROTECTED Natura 2000 SITE. Kitesurfing may be restricted or prohibited to protect the environment and swimmers. Check current regulations before sailing. The beach is extremely crowded in summer with tourists.

If permitted, the shallow lagoon offers interesting flat water for foiling. Launching is tricky due to the crowds of swimmers.

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Intermediate

On the water

Shallow lagoon between the coast and Elafonisi island – flat warm water, pink sand bottom. Beyond the lagoon, open sea with chop and waves. Exceptional turquoise water.

Parking

Large paid parking in high season (very busy). Elafonisi is one of Crete's most visited beaches – arrive very early in summer (before 10am). Winding access road from Kissamos or Palaiochora.

Wind specificities

Meltemi wraps around the southwestern cape and arrives from NW/WNW as side-onshore. Typical strength 12-22 knots in summer. Wind is less reliable than on the north or east coast but can surprise with its strength on some days.

The lagoon between the coast and island is relatively protected, but the offshore area is fully exposed. Possible coastal thermal effect supplementing the Meltemi.

Hazards

PROTECTED ZONE – strictly respect regulations. Very dense swimming crowds in summer – collision risk. Very shallow sandbar – do not attempt passage with fins. Rocks around the island. Possible current between the lagoon and open sea.

Respect protected fauna and flora (turtles, migratory birds, endemic plants).

Something out of date? Suggest an edit

Live

Currently, there is no weather station at this spot. If you want to change this, help us fund one: Weather Station Project

All the details of your session on windtracker.app

Webcams near crete | elafonisi

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: Greece

Comments 0

No comments yet.

Log in to comment

crete | elafonisi kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot