Main SitesKissamos to Elafonisi, Crete: West Coast Road Trip (Self-Guided Driving Tour)
Here we go! Our road trip down Crete's rugged west coast begins. We're starting on the seafront of Kissamos, in the far northwest corner of Greece's largest island. Over the next 40 miles, about 65 kilometers, we'll drive all the way to Elafonisi, a lagoon of pink sand at the island's southwest tip. Along the way, you'll meet pirates who ruled from an island fortress, and an ancient harbor that an earthquake lifted clean out of the sea. It's stranded in a field today. You'll hear how sponge divers off these coasts found a 2,000-year-old bronze computer. Keep an eye out for Crete's wild goats on the cliffs. And at the end, we'll visit a monastery with a golden step that, legend says, only the faithful can see. There's time for a swim, too. Falassarna and Elafonisi are two of the finest beaches in Greece. The stories play by themselves as you reach each place, and a short direction comes before every turn. The roads are narrow and winding, so take your time and enjoy the views. Kaló taxídi, which means have a good trip. Let's go!