Day Trip to Gramvousa Island & Balos Bay from Chania

About the Activity

What to Expect

Begin your adventure with an exciting bus tour from Chania to Gramvousa Island and Balos Lagoon. Enjoy a comfortable pick-up from a location near your hotel as you set off westward towards the port of Kissamos Kasteli. Your knowledgeable escort will provide all the necessary details about the cruise and collect the money for the boat tickets, allowing you to bypass the lines at the ticket office.

Around 10:30 AM, board the ferry to Gramvousa. The ferry features a self-service restaurant with meals and snacks. Relax on a deck chair or in the lounge for the 45-minute journey. During the cruise, marvel at the rugged cliffs of Crete's wildest region and listen to the onboard commentary about the island's history, available in multiple languages.

Upon reaching Gramvousa, you can either swim in the crystal-clear waters or hike to the Venetian fortress at the island's summit. Spend 2.5 hours exploring Gramvousa before continuing to the Balos Lagoon, just 20 minutes away. At Balos Lagoon, you'll have nearly 3 hours to explore and enjoy the stunning surroundings. Return to the boat anytime for food or to rent an umbrella if the sun becomes too intense. In the early evening, board the ferry back to the port of Kissamos, where a bus will be waiting to take you back to your hotel area.

Highlights

- Comfortable pick-up from your hotel near the starting point of the tour

- Enjoy the scenic ferry ride to Gramvousa Island with onboard dining options

- Explore the historic Venetian fortress or swim in crystal-clear waters at Gramvousa

- Relax and explore the stunning Balos Lagoon for nearly 3 hours, with opportunities to rent umbrellas and enjoy local cuisine

Itinerary

• Departure from your accommodation or nearby location

• Gramvousa

• Balos beach and lagoon

• Arrival at your accommodation or nearby location

Pick Up

If you want to use our pick up service from around the area, please let us know after completing the booking. We will pick you up at a designated point at or very near to your accommodation at the scheduled pickup time. Note that the pick up is for free for the area of Chania. If you are located outside this area, a surcharge may apply and must be paid on site. At the end of the trip, we will go back to our starting point, and if you used our pick up service, you will be dropped off at the pick up point.

Characteristics of the bus

• Number of passengers: 75

• Restroom

Included Services

• Live tour guide in English

• Hotel pick up and drop-off from Chania area. If you are located outside this area, a surcharge may be asked to be paid in cash on-site.

Not Included

• Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon boat ticket (30€ per adult and 15€ cash per child aged 5-12, to be paid in cash on site)

• Venetian Fortress entry ticket (to be paid on site in cash)

• Lunch (7€ per person, available for purchase onboard)

• Sun umbrellas (available to rent)

• Photographer on the boat (available for a surcharge on board, to be paid in cash)

Bring Along

• Sunscreen, sunglasses and hat

• Swimwear

• Towel

• Comfortable shoes to take a small hike

• Cash and card

Good to Know

• Not accessible to wheelchairs and strollers

• Pets allowed

• Please note that depending on your pick up and dop-off location, the trip can take up to 15 hours.