Gramvousa Island and Balos Bay Full-Day Tour from Chania

based on 44 reviews

Duration:10 hours (approx.)
Location: Chania, Crete

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Discover the westernmost tip of Crete on a scenic bus and boat trip to Gramvousa Island and Balos Bay. Dip your toes in the soft white sand of some of the most beautiful beaches you ever have seen!Upon arrival, climb aboard a boat and cross to Balos Bay at the northernmost tip of the peninsula. Relax on the 1-hour boat trip, and get 2.5 hours at Balos Bay to enjoy the soft white sands and unique blue and green waters of the lagoon.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

✓ Free time to explore Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island
✓ Hotel pick-up and drop off (at Perivolia, Halepa, Akrotiri, Halidon Street Alpha Bank, Chania center, Kladissos, Nea Chora, Agioi Apostoloi, Xrysi Akti, Daratso, Galatas, Kalamaki, Stalos, Agia Marina, Platanias, Gerani, Kontomari, Pyrgos, Psyionfrou, Maleme, Tavronitis, Kolymvari, Minothiana, Paraniana and Kamisiana)
✓ All the legal taxes
✓ Air-conditioned vehicle
✓ Liability insurance coverage
✓ Professional Driver
✓ Professional English guide

✗ Boat ticket to Gramvousa island and Balos lagoon(€30 per adult and children 5 - 12 years €14.50)
✗ Food and drinks
✗ Personal expenses
✗ Entrance ticket to the Venetian Fortress (€1)

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Gramvousa Beach
Discover the westernmost tip of Crete on a scenic bus and boat trip to Gramvousa Island and Balos Bay. Dip your toes in the soft white sand of some of the most beautiful beaches you ever have seen. Drive towards the west side of Crete in order to reach the port of Kissamos Kasteli. After your escort gives you all the necessary information about the cruise, arrive at the port where the Gramvousa ferry is waiting for you to start the cruise. About 10:20 AM set off for the island of Gramvousa which takes approximately 45 minutes. Once you arrive at the island of Gramvousa you can either have a swim or you can take a hike to the top of the island to the Venetian fortress. There you have 2.5 hours before you continue to the lagoon of Balos which is 20 minutes from there. As soon as you arrive at the lagoon you will have about 3 hours to enjoy.When you have enjoyed a swim and relaxation at the lagoon, the boat will take you straight back to the port of Kissamos.
2. Balos Lagoon
As soon as we arrive at the lagoon you will have about 3 hours to enjoy . When you have enjoyed a swim and relaxation at the lagoon, the boat will take you straight back to the port of Kissamos. As soon as you arrive at the lagoon you will have about 3 hours to enjoy. You may at any time go back to the boat for food or also hire umbrellas if the heat is too intense. When you have enjoyed a swim and relaxation at the lagoon, the boat will take you straight back to the port of Kissamos. This is a great photo opportunity as the sun will be behind you as you look out to the scenery of the island. At 6:00 PM the ferry arrives at the port and the journey in this small paradise comes to an end. Return time in Chania approximately: 7.00 PM. From Wednesday 21st June and for a short period of time the ships will not possible to disembark in the Balos lagoon.The cruise schedule will be as follows:2 hours & 15 minutes stay in Gramvousa .About 2 hours stop for open swimming at the beach of Balos.
3. Kastelli Kissamos Old Port
Drive towards the west side of Crete in order to reach the port of Kissamos Kasteli. After your escort gives you all the necessary information about the cruise, arrive at the port

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : Fiona_K
The most stunning trip. The tour guide lady also (futurura tours with red converse shoes) she was very good at her job. The day couldn't have went more smoothly. The sea water is clear and white sand. A trip you could only dream of. Thank you!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 14:49:35

Posted By : geash_m
Fun trip. lagoon was beautiful would recommend bringing crocs as walk from boat is very rocky other than that great trip and fun
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-31 14:18:50

Posted By : Kelly_v
Balos and gramvousa are beautiful! Only book this tour if you are capable of swimming to the beach from the boat. It doesn’t go all the way to balos.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-26 15:47:58

Posted By : Deborah_G
Received two different pickup locations in Chania from the company so I followed the directions of the most recent email. Waited an hour to be picked up and when I rang the company they told me it was the wrong location. Not impressed as having two people send different instructions is confusing. I missed out on the tour and the only thing good about it was I ended up organising it myself the following day and realised I didn't need Viator at all. Catching the local bus and buying the ferry ticket was easier than dealing with the company and i had a great time at Balos Lagoon.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-09 04:58:58

Posted By : Alex_M
Beaches are amazing. The itinerary goes as scheduled. You have enough time at each beach to enjoy what they have to offer. Kind of a must see if you visit this are of Crete.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-07 14:48:03

Posted By : Joanne_M
The boat ride was wonderful, we enjoyed the scenery along the way. The beach at Gramvousa was very nice, crystal clear turquoise waters. But Balos was difficult, lounge lounge chairs are no longer allowed and most of the beach is rocky or has wet sand, so it's difficult to relax.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-07 14:00:12

Posted By : tomsS1735SF
The staff and hosts were friendly and nice. The people moving parts of the tour detracted a lot however. The bus from Chaina stopped many many times to pick up tourists. The time on the bus was more than twice the time it would have taken just to drive straight to the harbor. Then the ferry to Granvousa Island and Balos Beach was absolutely packed, and traveled quite slowly in the water. It was hard to move around without bumping into people left and right. Way too many people on the ferry. Balos Beach sunbeds and umbrella.. 20 euros for the 2 hours we were there. We had a rental car parked in a garage at our hotel in Chania. I wish we had taken it. The journey would have been a lot less stressful.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-10-25 03:37:24

Posted By : 139spencerd
We booked this tour as a special Anniversary celebration day about 3 months before our holiday to Greece.
Then exactly in the 24 hours before the trip I get an email comfirming a different pickup location to what we had booked from the dropdown menu on Trip Advisor, and so on the day a confused driver asked where we was and no-one was able to pick us up, and we was unable to even be taken on the trip we paid for.
No further responses from the tour operator for a refund.
So essentially scammed for a non-existant trip. AVOID BOOKING WITH THESE.

(Just to note another company on a different booking did not have this problem and picked us up from our pickup point no problem.)
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-10-16 08:11:55

Posted By : robtraf
The weather, the sea and the transportation. Simply the whole trip was an experience. Great people and fantastic tour guide!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-08-09 13:00:08

Posted By : Dai_D
Even though the bus passed by our hotel, this company requested us to come to the meeting point where is far from our hotel. We had to walk 15 minutes.
In the meanwhile, others seem to be picked up close to their hotel. We didn't make sense.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-07-26 14:18:28