Greek Island Hopping In Elafonisos, Greece.

When searching for an idyllic island escape, few places can match the untouched beauty and tranquillity of Elafonisos in Greece. Hidden in a tiny corner of the Peloponnese, Elafonisos is a picture perfect snapshot of slow paced island life and it practically invites you to step away from the rest of the world and immerse yourself in a quiet, unspoiled paradise, and it was an invitation I was all too happy to accept.

This is a paid article written in partnership with Mythical Peloponnese, with products or services supplied by them. Full editorial integrity is maintained at all times. The views and opinions expressed are entirely the authors own based on personal experiences when travelling and are honest and factual without any bias.

The Greek islands aren’t short of destinations that can claim to be paradise. Nestled in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean sea, a plethora of islands sparkle like jewels carefully placed onto a cerulean tapestry by the gods themselves, and whilst popular islands like Mykonos and Santorini often steal most of the limelight – and the crowds – there are a few lesser known diamonds that give travellers willing to seek them out an authentic and serene escape from the bustling mass tourism crowds. Elafonisos, a small island located on the southern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula, is one of those islands. A true paradise that has managed to retain an untouched charm away from mass package tourism and overdevelopment.

Getting to Elafonisos was a breeze. Like most islands in Greece a ferry is the only way to get around, and after an early morning drive to the port town of Pounta, buying our tickets without the need to pre book or the inflated prices of some of the more mass touristy islands, and a short ten minute ride later where the stresses of modern life melted away as quickly as the mainland behind me, I was stepping off the ferry onto the quaint and relatively picturesque dock that was a far cry from some of the larger, crowded ports on many islands.

Elafonisos is one of the smaller islands in Greece, measuring just seven square miles, and is easy to get around on a rented bike or car. This made exploring the islands three main beaches, Megalos Simos, Mikros Simos and Nisia Tis Panageas easy too, as you can easily drive between them in minutes. It was to these beaches, one of the main reasons for visiting the island, that I made a beeline for as soon as I arrived. I was eager not just to get into the cool, inviting water, but experience the true sense of escape that only beaches like this can give you.

Elafonisos boasts the only ‘Caribbean style stretch of sand’ in Europe at Simos beach and countless accolades as the best beach in Greece, if not Europe itself, with an endless expanse of pure white sand, framed on one side by the vibrant turquoise and cerulean hues of the ocean, and on the other by untouched sand dunes and a forest of cedar trees.

It was too tempting not to head straight to the ocean and take a dip in the cool water, the soft sand enveloping my feet and the sound of the waves lazily rolling onto the shore instantly washing away the lingering effects of societal pressure and starting my re emergence into full island time, my happy place.

Elafinisos is as much a paradise underwater as it is above it, with an enchanting world of underwater caves, coral reefs and marine life just waiting for scuba divers or snorkellers to explore, but that was for another day. The first experience at a new beach should be savoured lazily. Sit in the soft sand, close your eyes, take a slow walk along the waters edge. I love adventure activities, and the island offers plenty of them in spades, but the whole point of island time is not to rush things!

Right next to Megalos Simos is Mikros Simos, quite literally big and small Simos beach, and it is an easy and pleasant walk across a narrow stretch of white sand to get between the two. Mikros Simos is more developed than Megalos Simos in the sense that it has organised sunbeds and other facilities, making it perfect for families or those who want more organised experiences, but there are still plenty of hidden spots and quiet stretches with no crowds at all.

There are a few other beaches on Elafisos island to explore, but perhaps the most striking part, and probably the reason the island is still so serenely untouched, are the dunes themselves. They are a protected part of the Natura 2000 network, a listed system of core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, sites of specific scientific or ecological interest and some rare natural habitat types which are protected in their own right that stretches across all EU countries.

I’m hardly an expert on the specific scientific interest allocated to these dunes by those far more knowledgeable than me on the matter, but simply knowing it has been designated as such is enough. The fact that these truly stunning beaches are both part of a unique and special environment and protected from development because of it just adds to the islands special charm, a natural charm that distinguishes it from much of the development and mass tourism that has scarred most of Europe’s beaches.

But true to form it wasn’t long before hunger started to get the better of me, and being on an island means that this was the perfect opportunity to get some fresh seafood, and Elafonisos did not disappoint! Finding one of the many local tavernas overlooking the ocean, it was here I began to experience the next stage of island life, the pure welcoming friendliness, this time layered with a healthy dose of traditional Greek hospitality!

Having lived on many islands in the past it is often the only time I really indulge in seafood, as I promise you that you will not taste any fresher, more natural or tastier seafood anywhere than when it is literally caught and cooked right there in the same spot, and it does definitely ruin it for you if you try to recreate that taste back home or inland!

Starting with the almost ubiquitous bread and wine, the traditional Greek way of eating meant sharing plate after plate of delicious food over open conversation where you stop feeling like a traveller for just a moment and start feeling like a genuinely welcome guest. We were inundated with a feast of traditional Greek dishes and homemade treats, culminating in a seafood pasta that I genuinely could have had over and over. There was no rush to finish, no eagerness to get the meal done so we could get on with the next activity or adventure, there was just pure enjoyment in the moment, a perfect synthesis of island time and Greek time creating a balm from the hustle and stress of the world on the other side of the sea.

Whether from the sun, the clean fresh air or the sheer amount of food consumed at lunch, it wasn’t long before I felt the need to retreat to my guesthouse, a small, traditional family owned hotel in the middle of the islands laid back village. Time itself didn’t matter as much as doing what felt right in the moment, and this is the definition of island life! There was more than time enough for exploring the narrow streets of the town and its traditions on another day. I could spend a lazy afternoon on the beach with a book, enjoy some snorkelling or simply soak up the sun from my balcony tomorrow. For now, I was on island time, and I was loving it!

I think that in the hustle of mass tourism, many travellers miss out on this vital part of island life when they are hopping around the Greek islands. The never ending search for that perfect Insta photo, that nebulous recreation of some Mamma Mia worthy moment, the crowds, the hassle of pre booking crowded ferries and the worry about the cost of it all, all that does is take away from what Greek island hopping is supposed to be about!

Elafonisos offers the perfect antidote to all of that and takes travellers back to a simpler time of island hopping, offering a perfect escape from the modern world, a panacea for the soul. Put down the phone, forget Instagram exists, disconnect from your digital life and reconnect with the beauty of the island and yourself. This is what island life in Elafonisos looks like.

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