What characterizes the area of Elafonissi and makes it such an exotic place, are the little sand islets formed, the shallow turquoise waters of the sea, which at a point looks like a lagoon, and certainly the fine white sand, pinkish at several spots because of the crushed shell powder.

Chrysoskalitissa Monastery is a 17th-century Orthodox Christian monastery located on the island of Crete, Greece. Located on the south-west coast of the island, in the municipal unit Innachori, it lies some 72 kilometres south-west of Chania. Built up on rocks some 35 metres high, it overlooks the Libyan Sea. According to local tradition, the name of the monastery is derived from one of the ninety steps which lead there, which is said to be golden (“chryso” in Greek) and visible only to devout Christians.The monastery is dedicated to the Holy Trinity (“Agia Triada”) and the Dormition of Virgin Mary (“Koimisis Theotokou”).