Greece · Peloponnese
Yacht Charter Elafonissos
A double bay of white sand joined by an isthmus, and the oldest sunken town in the world in the channel.
Georgios Michalagas · CC BY-SA 4.0
Elafonissos is a small island off the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese, separated from the mainland by a channel a few hundred metres wide. It was joined to the mainland until the Middle Ages. In that channel lies Pavlopetri, a town that went under about five thousand years ago and is the oldest submerged settlement known anywhere — streets, house plans and courtyards, lying in three or four metres of clear water.
Pavlopetri
It was mapped in 1968 and turned out to be older than anyone had assumed: a Bronze Age town with a street grid, at least fifteen buildings, and chamber tombs, laid out well enough to read from the surface with a mask.
It is protected and unmarked on the water, and the shallowness that makes it visible also makes it fragile. Anchoring over the site is not done.
Simos and the island
Simos is two crescent bays back to back, joined by a low sandy isthmus with dunes and juniper on it — white sand and water that goes from clear to deep blue in a few metres. It is regularly called the best beach in Greece and it earns it.
The village is small and works as a fishing port. Kythira is south across open water, Monemvasia is north up the coast, and Gythio lies west round the cape.
Practical notes
- The channel to the mainland is a few hundred metres wide; the island was joined to it until the Middle Ages
- Pavlopetri, in the channel, is the oldest submerged town known anywhere, at about five thousand years
- The site is protected and lies in three or four metres of water; anchoring over it is not done
- Simos is two crescent bays joined by a dune isthmus; Kythira is south across open water
Reached from: Monemvasia, Kythira and the southern Peloponnese
Where to dine
A table by the water
Ta Kalamia
SimosBehind the dunes at the isthmus, and the only kitchen within reach of the beach.
Psarotaverna Elafonisos
VillageOn the harbour front, run by a fishing family, and the catch is theirs.
Sarakiniko
VillageAt the end of the quay, doing the day's fish over charcoal and little else.
What to do
Anchorages & excursions
Pavlopetri
The oldest submerged town known anywhere, about five thousand years old, in three or four metres of water.
Simos
Two crescent bays back to back, joined by a sandy isthmus of dunes and juniper.
The channel
A few hundred metres of clear shallow water between the island and the mainland.
The village
A small working fishing port, and the only settlement on the island.
The fleet
Yachts available for Elafonissos
Vessels that operate here, from flagship motor yachts to smaller crewed boats. Every rate is quoted on enquiry.
Good to know
Questions we are asked about Elafonissos
- What is Pavlopetri?
- A Bronze Age town in the channel between Elafonissos and the mainland, submerged about five thousand years ago. It has a street grid, at least fifteen buildings and chamber tombs, and lies in three or four metres of water.
- What is Simos?
- Two crescent bays back to back, joined by a low sandy isthmus with dunes and juniper. It is regularly named the best beach in Greece.
- What does a yacht charter to Elafonissos cost?
- It depends on the yacht, the season and the crew, so we quote on enquiry rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most weeks.
Destinations
Nearby destinations
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Enquire about a charter on Elafonissos
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with the right yacht and a full quotation.