When have you ever been to a deserted island with wild sandy beaches? And no hotels or noisy crowds? How long ago? The island of Koufonisi awaits you! Silence, peace and no “civilization” and on its deserted sandy beaches with magically colored sea will be only you and your group – from a single small ship. If you decide to leave the beaches for a while and walk deep into Koufonisi, you will understand what it means to be completely alone on an island!
On this tour you will visit the following attractions:
Berofe getting to Koufonisi we need to go to the southeast of Crete, so in the morning we will have a bus ride across the island. Driving along the stunning coastline of Crete, passing through the southernmost city in Europe, Ierapetra, we arrive at Makrygialos, a small charming village in the southeast of Crete. In its port we will board a ship for our cruise to Koufonisi.
Koufonisi Island is located in the Libyan Sea in archypelago of small rocky islands surrounded by the small islets of Strongyli, Makroulo, Marmaro to the north and Trachilos to the south. This archypelago is situated in 9 nautical miles (16 kilometers) southeast of the village of Makrygialos and 3 nautical miles (5,5 kilometers) southeast of Cape Goudero. It is a small island of 6 kilometers in length and 5,25 square kilometers in area with sparse vegetation. The main thing is that its entire coastline is indented with bays, coves and sandy beaches of all shapes and sizes!
The ancient name of the island was “Lefki” (meaning “white” in Greek) because it has a lot of white limestone sand. The island is rich in history, with archaeological sites dating back to the Minoan era, extending through Roman times and later. Here you can find the ancient theater, Roman baths and a lighthouse on the north. Also in ancient times, Koufonisi was famous for its sponges and molluscs, which were used to make purple dye. Purple dye was a valuable commodity in those days – literally worth its weight in gold! Ancient artefacts from different periods have been found on the island, and some of its caves were used as secret chapels during the Ottoman persecution of Christians. In short, this island also has its place in Greek history.
Nowadays, Koufonisi is completely uninhabited, but you can find a small (but not very old) church dedicated to Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas) in the central part of the north coast of the island, that’s all. The important thing is that there are also no harbors here – no modern structures at all, except for this little church. The ship approaches the island at 30-40 metres, and you can only get to it by jumping straight off the ship into the crystal clear waters and swimming for a few minutes.
Every year the island of Koufonisi attracts groups of travelers mainly because of its excellent sandy beaches, unorganized and untouched by civilization. There are dozens of them on the island! Strictly speaking, 36. That’s why we go there every week in the summer!
Depart with us from Analipsi in the morning and stay the whole day – a boat trip and a great beach vacation await you!
If you want to go to the island of Koufinisi from Analipsi with an organized bus and boat trip, the price of the tour in 2025 is:
This tour is sometimes included in special promotions and sold cheaper for our followers – keep an eye out for discounts on Instagram!
Are you traveling as a big family or a group? Contact us in advance or visit our offices and we will try to make you the best offer.
You can buy an excursion to the island of Koufonisi from Analipsi online (see “How to book excursions in Crete”).
In 2025 the excursion to Koufonisi Island from Analipsi takes place from 01/07 to 31/08. Available tour days – Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Please note that trip schedules are subject to change, including cancellation. This is extremely rare and may be due to weather conditions. For example, heavy rains at the beginning (April and May) or end of the season (September and October) and other force majeure situations. If there are any changes, we will try to let you know as soon as possible.
Please make sure that you have correctly identified your vacation area in Crete and read the cancellation and refund policy.
If there is less than 24 hours before the trip, please contact the manager to check availability before you make a booking!
Firstly, you can come to one of our offices where booking for all services is available and payment can be made either by cash or card.
Secondly, in case of online booking you can choose cash payment (which is available for some areas only) or you can pay online by card. In the case of cash, we will arrange a meeting with our courier in advance, who will bring the prepared documents to your hotel or villa and collect the cash. Please note that this option is only available for bookings made well in advance (days or weeks before the trip!). In case of online payment, you will receive the tickets by e-mail or WhatsApp – as you prefer.
Please keep all documents and tickets until the end of your trip!
It depends on the location of your hotel or villa. In some cases a tour bus will literally stop at the front door of the hotel and you just have to be there, in others it may be a short walk to the nearest pick-up point. This is usually a large central street, bus stop, square, car park, etc. – somewhere where there is no risk of the tour bus getting stuck on a narrow one-way street or stuck in traffic.
You will receive full details of the time and place of the pick-up with your travel documents when you make your booking. Please read it carefully before the trip.
No. There are no mandatory long hikes, you can walk around the island if you like.
When traveling, you will be exposed to the sun for many hours. Take this into account. You will also travel by bus and ferry. This trip is not recommended for young children who are not comfortable traveling by bus or boat.
Since the tour starts early in the morning, you can order an early breakfast at the hotel restaurant or take it with you (lunch box).
In the morning you will have the opportunity to buy something to eat in the port or even spend some time in a local tavern or cafe. There is also a small restaurant on board where you can have a full lunch: salads, meat and fish dishes, fruits, etc. are on the menu. Remember that lunch is included in the price.
It’s a trip to the sea and the beaches! You will need to bring a swimsuit and everything to protect yourself from the hot sun: a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. If you decide to walk around the island, it is advisable to bring comfortable walking shoes.
Yes. During the trip you will have a guide on the bus and on the boat. He will help you organize your trip and answer any questions you may have. He will also give you some information about the trip and the places you will visit. Since this is a beach trip, don’t expect an highly informative excursion. We will be walking, relaxing, swimming and sunbathing!
It is more spectacular. A trip to Koufonisi is first and foremost a trip for the beautiful views and excellent wild beaches. The main job of the guide is to organize the group and make sure the trip goes exactly as it should!
Languages: English, German, French on any available day. On some days we can also organize excursions with Italian, Polish, Romanian and Russian speaking guides, so check the booking calendar or send us a request.
Please note that this is an approximate tour schedule. Times may vary depending on traffic and pick-up and drop-off locations. Exact times will be sent to you along with other information when you make your reservation and specify your hotel.
| Schedule of the excursion program | |
|---|---|
| 6:50 - 8:30 | Departure from the hotel |
| 11:00 | Arrival at the port of Makrygialos, free time and boarding the ship |
| 12:00 - 18:00 | Traveling by sea, visiting the island, swimming on the beaches and returning to the port of Makrygialos |
| 20:30 - 21:30 | Return to the hotels |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| up to 3 hours | From hotels by bus to the port of Makrygialos |
| 6 hours | Travelling by sea, visiting the island, swimming on the beaches |
| about 3 hours | Transfer by bus to the hotels |