Balos Beach and Lagoon Tours and Tickets

On this small-group tour, travel in a comfortable four-wheel drive vehicle to off-road locations that you wouldn’t be able to access by bus or minibus. Venture from Kaliviani village to the spectacular Balos lagoon and Falassarna beach. As an extra perk, a sunbed is reserved for you on the beach, and lunch is provided at a local restaurant with beer or wine.

Discover Crete by water with this private boat trip to Balos Lagoon. Climb aboard a boat for a scenic excursion in the Mediterranean Sea to Gramvousa Beach. Go snorkeling off the boat with provided equipment or swim and sunbathe. The itinerary and tour length can be customized according to your individual interests.

With so many islands and hidden beaches in Greece, it can be hard to shortlist the best places to visit. Save the research time and go to Balos Lagoon—an unspoiled nature spot situated between Cape Tigani and the Gramvousa peninsula. The trip takes roughly one hour from Kissamos with plenty to explore—from cliffs to hills to pristine golden beaches. Also, visit Gramvousa Fortress—a castle that dates back to 1579 and offers incredible panoramic views.

After we pick you up from various locations around Chania we will drive through West Crete until we reach the Kissamos port. After approximately 1 hour, the boat arrives at the port of Gramvousa. On top of a steep rock on the highest point of the island, lays the Venetian castle built during the late 16th century. You will have plenty of time to explore the island and swim in its coast before we board the boat that will take us to the Balos lagoon. Fantastic azure waters fill the lagoon creating an rare amalgamation of serenity and ild natural beauty. At around 16:30 we will board the boat back to the port of Kissamos and eventually return by bus to the designated spots you were picked up from.

Set sail and explore the beauty of Crete and its nearby islands with this private boat trip. Starting in Chania, head towards Balos in a private vessel with experienced skippers to take care of driving the boat, so you can focus on the sightseeing. Along the way, pass by Gramvousa Fortress, Balos Lagoon, and one of Crete's most beautiful beaches. Conveniently, snacks and alcoholic drinks are included.

The premise of getting lost in Crete is simple. We will get you ‘lost’ in one of the world’s most spectacular and awe-inspiring seascapes. Wild but with a soft heart. Hosting a palate of ever-changing blues. Perfectly mixing fossilized pink shells with soft white sands. And teeming with extraordinary wildlife. Balos Laguna is an unforgettable must. The ultimate experience is to discover this Great Cretan Seascape on your own relaxation rhythm without being bonded to ferryboats. Let us take you along the off-road route of Gramvousa Peninsula. When the road ends, prepare to hike down to the mountainside until you reach the paradise of Balos Lagoon. Now imagine yourself basking in the warm waters of heaven on earth. Not to mention how much your Instagram feed will be thanking you. This is your Balos escape. Dreamed by you, planned by us.

Balos Beach and Gramvousa Island are considered among Crete’s top attractions, but organizing transportation to visit independently cuts into valuable sightseeing and sunbathing time. On this tour, reach both sites with ease by air-conditioned coach in a day and discover the natural beauty of Crete. Follow winding walking routes at your leisure, soak up the rays by the lagoon, and upgrade to enjoy pickup and drop-off at your Chania hotel.

We travel by bus from Rethymno to the outskirts of Chania and the port of Kastelli. A boat will be waiting to take us to the island of Gramvousa and the beautiful lagoon of Balos. When sailing you will have the chance to see a large cave, which is thought to be an ancient shipyard. At the end of the bay, you will see an impressive geological phenomenon. In Gramvousa you will see a rusty shipwreck. This is “Dimitrios P”, a motor ship that sank in 1968. From the Venetian fort on the island of Gramvousa there is a breathtaking view over Balos. The boat continues to Balos (or the other way around depending on the itinerary). This exotic beach-lagoon and rare natural monument is situated between the Gramvousa peninsula and Cape Tigani. The boat is open to enter at all times and the self-service bar is open throughout the cruise, offering Cretan traditional delicacies and other dishes. Don’t forget your swimwear for our stay in the white/pink coral sanded lagoon of Balos.

Want to spend an unforgettable day away from the hustle and bustle of cities, in complete relaxation of the soul and body? Enjoy the one-hour cruise from the port of Castelli to the island of Gramvoussa, on the open deck liner from which you can admire the bright natural phenomenon of twelve shades of the sea of the Bay of Balos. After landing on the pirate island of Gramvousa, go to the top of Venetian fortress which was built in 1597 with sweeping views of the Bay. The ascent takes about twenty minutes. Experience Balos Lagoon one of the most beautiful beaches of Crete with pink and white sand.

Popular for the Venetian castle and turquoise warm and shallow waters and white sand beach, Gramvousa & Balos full-day cruise is a major hotspot for visitors to Crete. On this tour, all these amazing elements come together to create a heavenly landscape!

Explore Crete by sail with a scenic day cruise to Gramvousa and Balos. Get picked up at your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and admire views during the drive to the west edge of Crete. Climb aboard a boat and sail to Gramvousa, or Pirates Island. Cool off with a swim in the turquoise waters of Balos Lagoon and get to know Crete from a fresh perspective.

Discover Gramvousa Island and Balos Beach on a full-day tour from Rethymno, with free time to enjoy two gorgeous destinations. Visiting Gramvousa Island and Balos Beach means coordinating overland transport with boat departures from Kasteli. Since this tour handles all the planning, you can focus on exploring. Hike to the Venetian Gramvousa Fortress, swim in turquoise water, and lounge on a pristine beach before returning to your accommodations.

Starting early, heading west and after a short breakfast stop near Rethymnon, driving past Chania, we reach the port of Kissamos. Here we take our boat for approximately a one hour pleasant sail along the coastline. Arriving in the port of the ex­-pirate island of Gramvousa we hear how, during the Turkish occupation, the residents of the island started looting passing boats thus giving the island its pirate reputation. It is a protected biotope and is host to more than 400 plant species and over 100 birds species. Don’t miss out on a visit to the Venetian castle on top of a steep rock as this is one of the most impressive castles in Greece. There is plenty of time for swimming or lunch on board. Our boat then departs for the Blue Lagoon of Balos, a shallow and warm water lagoon which brings to mind similar lagoons in the Caribbean. Here the crystal­ clear, azure coloured sea water in combination with the white sand makes this place unique.

You will enjoy a private Safari tour to 2 of the best beaches in Crete with a comfortable and airconditioned Jeep while skipping the hustle and the overpopulation of the boat. Customize the tour based entirely on your own preference.

Nature and history lovers will enjoy this action-packed day tour to Gramvoussa and Balos. Visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, watch birds on the uninhabited island of Gramvoussa, and cool off with a swim in the lagoon at Balos. Learn about the history of Gramvoussa and find out why it’s nicknamed Pirates’ Island.

An intriguing history surrounding by azure waters! This is an opportunity to see the rare geological formations of the Western coast of Crete, combined with a visit to the island of Gramvousa, famous for its pirate castle and the lagoon of Balos across from it.

Enjoy some of Crete’s most beautiful beaches without the self-drive hassles on this guided small-group tour. Travel direct from your door to Kissamos, where you board a boat for Balos Beach and Lagoon, then savor the soft white sands. Next, ride a boat to Gramvousa Island (own expense), swim in the clear waters, and opt to hike to the 16th-century fortress. Your guide will drop you directly to your door.

The boat departs from Kissamos Port and sails for about an hour in the bay, against a stunning backdrop of steep cliffs and rocks, incredible secluded beaches and the infinite blue. At the end of the bay, the boat will sail between Gramvousa Island and Cape Vouxa. The boat shall arrive at the small port of Gramvousa, where you shall stay for about 2 hours. The highest point on the island, atop a steep rock, at an altitude of 137 mtrs, is dominated by the famous castle of Gramvousa. You may also swim in the area next to the Church of Agioi Apostoloi, stay on the ship to relax or have some fun on the water slide.After a 2hr stop on Gramvousa, the boat will depart for the Balos Lagoon, which will be reached after approximately 20 min. You can swim in the lukewarm, turquoise blue waters, relax on the pink sandy beach or admire the natural beauty, the rocks and the cliffs rising above you. You will have the chance to stay in this paradise for about 3 hrs.

Spend a wonderful sunny day at the amazing Balos & Gramvoussa islands, known as the Cretan Caribbean!

Join this 12-hour day tour of Gramvousa, an island that serves as a regional bird habitat. While there, take time to explore the local castle, then head over to Balos Lagoon. Swim and relax at the lagoon with your group before heading back to Rethimno. The island of Gramvousa is associated with the struggle to liberate Crete from the Ottoman occupation. Three thousand revolutionaries used the island as their shelter for 3 years. To solve the problem of food scarcity, they took to piracy. Gramvousa nowadays is an important bird habitat in the Eastern Mediterranean region and is located along one of the bird migration ways in this part of the world. It is the habitat of over 100 bird species and 400 kinds of plants. Built 137m above sea level on this rocky island, it is one of the most impressive castles in Crete.

After jumping onboard, our first stop on this full day trip is Balos beach, a lagoon of outstanding natural beauty located at the far tip of Gramvoussa peninsula, the most western point of Crete. The whole area is been declared a protected area by the Natura 2000 programme and conservation of the area is our top priority. Leaving only our footprints in the pink-white sand, we take a swim in the turquoise waters of Balos and Gramvoussa island before heading to our next stop, Menies. This hidden cove is located on the northeastern shore of the Rodopou peninsula, parallel to Gramvoussa. Menies is located on the site of ancient Diktynna, that was the most important temple of the goddess Vritomartis, which is believed to be goddess Artemis. After a refreshing swim on the pebbly beach, we make our way back along the coast towards Chania. We cannot miss the opportunity of making a stop alongside Thodorou island, a protected haven for the endangered wild Cretan goat (or easier, “kri-kri”).

Set out on a safari road trip in Crete with this full-day private tour to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Peninsula. Get picked up at your hotel and admire views during the drive to Balos Lagoon. Visit a cove with a white sand beach and go swimming in the turquoise waters. Relax over a traditional Cretan lunch complete with wine. The itinerary can be customized according to your interests.

Depending on your level of ability - and the local weather at the time of booking - Fit in Crete can suggest a kayak and/or snorkel tour that will suit you. With many years of experience sea kayaking and snorkelling around West Crete we can choose the location & the sights so you have a great day! Make sure to contact us to clarify the details of your trip when booking.

An amazing day in paradise and a great adventure for all the family! This excursion leads you to the western point of the island. West of Kissamos and north of the beautiful village of Kaliviani, stretches the impressive Gramvousa Peninsula. Starting from the port of Kissamos, followed by a pleasant voyage, we will reach Gramvousa where the ancient shipyard Tarsanas will catch your attention, as well as the geological phenomenon of land elevation by 6 to 9 metres above the sea level. Here you will have the opportunity to either enjoy the beach with crystal clear water and the amazing view of never ending sea lagoon; or climb on the top of the steep rock to see the Venetian castle. Afterwards we take a 2nd short boat trip to the fabulous lagoon of Balos, shallow and warm water lagoon and one of Crete's loveliest spots. Here you can enjoy plenty of swimming in the inviting crystal clear waters of western Crete and sunbathing at the white sandy beach.