The Cruise of Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island

From: 31

Value for money

Either you book the shared or the private option the endless beauty of Balos & Gramvousa will surprise you without breaking your bank.

A unique experience

The breathtaking view from Gramvousa castle & the turquoise crystal waters of Balos lagoon proves that paradise exists… You just can’t miss this place!

You can't miss this place

A must-do of a visitor of Chania is the cruise of Gramvousa and Balos. The unique fortress on the top of Gramvousa island and the spectacular panoramic view from up there cannot be described with words.

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Tour Overview

Tour Highlights

  1. Once in a life-time experience
  2. Explore the fortress of Gramvousa pirate island
  3. Experience the turquoise crystal water of Balos lagoon
  4. Swim to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world
  5. Bus round-trip to the port of Kasteli & regular boat day cruise
  6. Full-day cruise with optional lunch at the self-service restaurant

Description

A must-do of a visitor of Chania is the cruise of Gramvousa and Balos. The unique fortress on the top of Gramvousa island and the spectacular panoramic view from up there cannot be described with words. The breathtaking environment of this jewel in northwest Chania is a place you need to put on your bucket list. Balos is one of the most popular destinations in Greece. The magnificent turquoise crystal water of the lagoon and the white & coral-pink sand is attracting people from around the globe. The place is large, and even if there are many visitors, there is always a quiet spot to enjoy paradise on earth. Don’t miss it! Our trip starts from your hotel or a near location by bus, and the destination is the port of Kissamos. As soon as we reach the port, you go aboard the ship, ready for the cruise. The ship departs from the port at 10:20. An hour later, you reach the small island of Gramvousa. The ship stays on the island for two and a half hours. The castle of Gramvousa is to be found at the top of the island. It was built by Venetians on top of steep cliffs to fortify the island. Today it offers the visitors a mouthwatering view of the amazingly blue waters of the Cretan sea. If you wish, you can hike up the path towards the castle (20 minutes short hike). If not, you can swim on the beach. The ship departs from Gramvousa island at 13:30. One of the most highlighted beaches of Crete, the lagoon of Balos the next destination. The journey is short and lasts only 20 minutes. You will stay in Balos for three hours. Words can’t possibly describe the wild beauty you will experience in Balos. The white and at some places pink sand, the turquoise warm and shallow waters – all these amazing elements come together to create a heavenly landscape, which you are bound to want to keep returning to! The ship departs for Kisamos Port at 16:30. Onboard and throughout the journey, you can enjoy your meal in the self-service restaurants of the ship, where traditional Cretan dishes are being offered, or at the ship’s bar (all optional). You reach Kissamos port an hour later. Our bus will be waiting for you there, in order to take you back to your hotel. If you wish to explore more options return to the The Incredible Beaches of Crete page.

Inclusions

  1. Hotel pick up and drop off from selected areas
  2. English speaking guide
  3. Air-conditioned bus transportation

Exclusions

  1. Gratuities (optional)
  2. Boat ticket (20€)
  3. Local taxes (1€)

Guest Stories

Great Tour What a great tour! We chose the tour on a windy day in Chania and were so glad we did! It was excellent. Andreas was so knowledgeable about the area and the wine and he answered all questions we had. The group was small enough that it felt personal and the wineries we visited were absolutely brilliant! We loved the stop off at the oldest olive tree too. Great way to spend a day of our holiday!
Ems
15/04/2024
The World War II battle for Crete Yanis, our driver and guide, was very knowledgeable and accommodating. He shared a lot of facts and photos of the battle for Crete and he explained the significance of each stop along the tour. The stop at the military collector’s mini museum was excellent. There were many unique and rare items in his collection that are tied to the battle. The pace and timing of tour was just right, along with a fresh sandwich from a local shop. I would recommend this tour to any interested in the history of the battle for Crete.
Rich S
12/04/2024
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Battle for Crete. As a former New Zealand Army officer I was very much looking forward to this tour and it did not disappoint. The whole tour was excellent and covered so much ground literally and figuratively. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and a great person to spend the day with. Being able to visit the actual battlefield sites really put so much into context. Highly recommended.
Tata C
02/04/2024
Fantastic cooking class on Crete Everything about this experience was wonderful! The driver, Nikkoli was very knowledgeable and hospitable, the hosts for the class were gracious and warm, the good was amazing and the other guests were terrific. I am so lucky to have found this class and highly recommend!
Sue T
27/12/2023
Relaxing excursion This was such a nice relaxing tour. Very simple and easy day! We were picked up at our hotel, it happened to be one of the pickup locations luckily. We drove to two different wineries but also made some stops along the way for cool lookout spots and even a 3,000 year old olive tree.
Sarah S
12/12/2023
Cooking in Crete!!! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The staff and tour were excellent. We had such a good time being taught how to cook stuffed peppers, zucchini and tomatoes. I highly recommend this tour. The food that we created was simply delicious. Just a high quality experience.
Mobile562656
16/11/2023
Top bloke as guide Our guide had superb knowledge about the area we went to. He was friendly and accommodating. Despite our lack of knowledge and messing this company around we still got to Di our tour.
Compass52027796678
03/11/2023
It was a great tour! This tour allows you to learn more about the culture and history of Crete. They will explain in detail about the food and the background to it. I thought it was a little pricey due to the strong yen, but it was a valuable experience that money can't buy. I'm really glad I participated. I recommend it.
ゆか
03/11/2023
Awesome Wonderful experience. We were taken up into the mountains of Crete to a host house. Over the next 4 hours, we had a tour of the house, learned about Cretan history, had a local wine tasting, and made an incredibly delicious meal. It is vegetarian friendly and comes with a few surprises. I gained a newfound appreciation for olive oil—there can never be too much. One of the highlights of my trip.
Richard Z
28/10/2023
A Real Cretan Cooking Experience Yannis led us on a wonderful trip to a farm in the countryside with great views, warm and gracious hosts and cooks, and a night of fun and friendship. This was well worth the time to learn about Crete style cooking and Greek history
Todd W
24/10/2023

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