5 km Makrys Gialos
A long, shallow, sandy beach backed by pine and tavernas — the closest resort to Creta Sky.
Libyan Sea · Boat from Ierapetra · 15 km
Chrissi Island
A protected islet in the clearest of seas
The place
The island of Chrissi — also known as Gaidouronisi — lies about 9 nautical miles south of Ierapetra, out in the Libyan Sea. It is uninhabited and strictly protected, a flat ribbon of an island ringed by some of the clearest water in Greece.
Its interior holds one of the last natural juniper forests in the Mediterranean (locals call the trees cedars), some centuries old, and the famous Golden Beach (Chrysi Ammos) is made not of sand but of millions of crushed shells, pink-white beneath the shallows.
To protect the ecosystem, going ashore has not been permitted since 2022. The way to experience Chrissi now is a boat cruise from Ierapetra that circles the island and anchors in its designated marine zones for long swim and snorkel stops over the sandbanks — an easy, beautiful half-day on the water.
