The extreme south-east coast of Crete offers a gem with topography of sweeping cave-filled mountainsides, pausing briefly to house Xerokambos itself before two long sandy beaches and great swimming in beautiful waters. There are but a few places to stay, the same with tavernas. There are two roads to go to Xerokambos. The road from Zakros to Xerokambos is a dirt track road (9 km). From Sitia, drive the Makrigialos and Piskokefalo road. After 10 km, in Episkopi, turn left to Handras, Ziros, Hametoulo and Xerokambos (45 km from Sitia, on a new surfaced road). There is a small temporary lagoon (dry from the end of May). In March and April tavernas are not necessarily open. Xerokambos beach life at its most tranquil in a dramatic setting.
Two accommodations are very close to each beach, the rest are between 150 and 400 metres away, a shortcut can always be taken on foot through olive groves if you are up to it. There is hardly a village at Xerokambos, each place to stay and each taverna is widely separated. Without a car or motorcycle there is a long walk if you want to eat at any but the nearest taverna to where you are staying – but you need a vehicle to get to Xerokambos anyway.