Pale dunes and turquoise shallows just off the Laconian coast.
Elafonisos is a small island best known for Simos beach, with a compact port village and the submerged prehistoric site of Pavlopetri nearby.
Simos forms two arcs of pale sand around low dunes and clear, shallow water, creating one of the Peloponnese region's most recognisable beaches. The fragile dune system needs protection from informal parking and camping.
Elafonisos village gathers around the short ferry crossing, with seafood tavernas and a working harbour. Across the channel, Pavlopetri preserves a submerged Bronze Age town that should be viewed without touching or removing material.
Practical information
Small vehicle ferries cross from Pounta in minutes. Summer queues are long; book legal accommodation, keep off dunes and follow archaeological-zone rules when swimming.
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