Boat Trip from Kissamos to Balos Beach with Swimming Stop"It's an exceptional place if you're looking for a survival activity. The cruise was really great, and even more so when you take it on the way back because you know there'll be shade. Thank the Greek gods I decided on the 5-hour excursion instead of the 7-hour one, because otherwise I'd be back in a pine box. It's a wonderful and truly beautiful beach, but there's a small problem with the sunbeds and umbrellas. With 20 pairs to share among the 500 people there, it just doesn't add up. It's an ideal place for families with children who can move around on their own, as the water doesn't rise above their knees on most of the beach. So it's a perfect place to take the kids with a ball and leave them there to play around, because by the time they get back, they'll be exhausted. If you want to go with your baby, you can, but make sure you pitch a tent for some shade and give the stroller a good engine to turn it into a 4x4, because otherwise you'll find yourself carrying the stroller with your baby in it as if it were a procession of Holy Week. I can tell you, I've seen more than one family's expressions of penitence, and I even suspect some families returned with fewer children than they had. It's an idyllic, unspoiled beach, but unspoiled. The only ones who come back screwed are the tourists. There were three of us, and it's a good thing we wore hats, because with no shade at all, we looked like three geckos sunbathing—we almost had a heart attack. Everything was very beautiful and wonderful if you're prepared as I mentioned. I sincerely suspect there were more people with the same experience as me, when I saw that on the way back it looked like the line at the INEM (National Institute of Employment). People were so tense trying to get back on the boat that it felt like the slightest hint of "THE HUNGER GAMES BEGIN!" was enough to get them into a fight to get on, whether it was on that boat or another. The idea was to get out of there. It's a great experience, and a beautiful beach that allows for some great photos, but personally, I won't go back there. If you want a truly GREAT beach, Falassarna is the beach for you. Above all, you can't miss the sunset there; it's magical. And if you want a similar beach with shade, without the hassle of traveling, with beach bars, affordable prices, and without having to risk the number of family members, go to Elafonissi!"Patricia, August 26, 2025