The most famous and most photographed beaches on the island of Crete, known for their exotic water and majestic natural environment, are the heavenly lagoons of Balos at Gramvousa peninsula and Elafonissi, which lie in the southwestern edge of the island. Between them, lies the virgin beaches of ancient Falassarna. For those looking for seclusion, there is the hidden paradise of Kedrodasos and White Lake near Elafonissi and the African seascapes of Agiannis and Lavrakas on Gavdos island.
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#BeachAttributesOur ratingGavdos island
![Koundoura Beach](/media/k2/items/cache/83c2446a0896df0a1f4af01c940ae1d9_M.jpg)
The beach of Agia Kyriaki is located 88km south of Chania, 7km west of Paleochora and 0.5km west of the peninsula Grammeno. The beach is mainly known as Koundoura, because it is located at the Koundoura area. The climate in the region is very warm and is full of greenhouses.
![Lakoudi beach in Gavdos](/media/k2/items/cache/8dc425b2acbf9c68064b8a63eae1ffbc_M.jpg)
1km south of Korfos settlement, at Gavdos island, there is a very quiet beach with amazing bottom, Lakoudi, accessed only by walking from Korfos or by boat. Lakoudi is one of the nicest beaches on the island and surely deserves a visit.
![Kalivaki beach](/media/k2/items/cache/c8ad2db3db77b401fb41b1b591aa2c31_M.jpg)
Kalivaki is the westernmost beach of Georgioupolis bay, located 38km east of Chania and 21km west of Rethymnon, near the exit of Almyros river which has water all year round lies the nice beach of Kalivaki. It is a beautiful sandy beach and water, due to the rivers is very cold.
![Karave beach in Gavdos](/media/k2/items/cache/47e29f9fe96a1771642fb05ac8a8fd00_M.jpg)
Karave beach has round pebbles and heads south to Korfos bay. It is not organized, but is the only choice for those who want to swim near the port. The water is crystal clear and quite deep. Karave is not very special about swimming, especially if you compare with the rest beaches of Gavdos.
![Gylisma Beach](/media/k2/items/cache/1698b847c2e4fe98c05adcdc9d420590_M.jpg)
Gylisma (or Kambos beach) is located 69km southwest of Chania and 29km south of Kissamos, close to Kambos village. The beach is also known as Afratolakoi.
![Filaki caves at Plakakia](/media/k2/items/cache/4d48445cf701469812740b1814080890_M.jpg)
If you head east of Fylaki beach, you will soon (100m only) reach the exit of the Sfakiano Gorge, with a nice pebbly beach formed. The area is called Plakakia and hosts some of the most spectacular beaches in Crete, formed on small narrow fjords. Indeed, some of them are formed inside small caves! There is a tricky dirt road leading close to the beach.
![Kokina Grema Beach](/media/k2/items/cache/5483e331a9bace540b3a2478fc014e25_M.jpg)
The secluded beach of Kokkina Grema (i.e. Red Cliffs) is located 55km west of Chania, 28km southwest of Kissamos and 3km west of Platanos village. The beach is named after the huge reddish peninsula at its north end.
![Agios Vasilios and Skotini beaches](/media/k2/items/cache/1937e92fe6e374fad96065dfaf6eb069_M.jpg)
In the area between Ravdoucha and Nopigia several secluded bays with small beaches are formed, mainly with pebbles and rocky bottom. From Nopigia the road runs along the coast through a spectacular seascape till the church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa at position Choni and stops a little further.