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!

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details. Learn more
Duration 12 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide: French, English, German
Pickup included: • Hotel pickup is available in the areas of Panormo, Scaleta, Adele, Platanias, Missiria, Rethymno town, Atsipopoulo, Kavros, and Georgioupoli • Pickup is from your hotel or the closest point accessible by a vehicle • You'll receive specific pickup information in a separate email from the activity provider • All the pickups from Rethymno Old Town will be from the bus stop of the church of four martyrs

Highlights

Swim in the crystal clear waters of Balos Bay lagoon
Climb the Venetian Fortress on Gramvousa Island for unique views
Relax on gorgeous Gramvousa Beach

Full description

Depart Rethymno at approximately 07:45 and travel by bus along the new national road towards the westernmost tip of Crete. Pass the bay of Souda and the former Cretan capital of Chania before your arrival in Kissamos. 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. Next, take a 20-minute boat ride to Gramvousa Island for plenty of time to enjoy an unforgettable swim in the crystal clear waters. If you are feeling energetic, take an optional 137-meter climb up to the 16th-century Venetian Fortress for an incomparable view of the surrounding surroundings. Enjoy approximately 1.5 hours at peace on Gramvousa Island, and then take a 1-hour boat ride back to Kissamos. Upon arrival, continue to Rethymno by bus at the end of the laid-back tour.

Includes

Bus ticket and transfers by modern fully air-conditioned coach
Hotel pickup and drop-off (Panormo, Scaleta, Adele, Platanias, Missiria, Rethymno town, Atsipopoulo, Kavros, and Georgioupoli)
Guide in English, German, and French (Tue-Thu-Sun)
All the legal taxes
Professional Driver
Liability insurance coverage
Free time to explore Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island

Boat ticket (€ 29)
Entrance ticket to the Venetian Fortress (€1)
Lunch (available for purchase on boat)
Personal expenses
Sun Umbrellas (available to rent)
Photographer on the boat (at extra cost)
Pickup from remote hotels such as Grand Rimondi

Not suitable for

Wheelchair users

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Important information

What to bring

Comfortable shoes
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Towel
Sunscreen
Water
Beachwear

Know before you go

Walking shoes are necessary for the climb to the Venetian Fortress

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 355 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.5/5
Transportation
4.5/5
Value for money
4.3/5
Safety
4.5/5

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A nice day trip but a very long day from Rethymnon. Bus and boat well organized. And Gramvousa and Balos are beautiful, really worth it! I thought less good that you had to pay in cash eur 28.00 pp while you could pay with the shipping company. The boat was also too full, a family with 2 small children had to sit on the stairs because of too few chairs, the hot food was already finished before we could take something.

July 16, 2022

The trip was well organized. It's good that we were at the hotel 10 minutes before the actual pick-up time - otherwise we would have missed the bus... overall the trip was very nice. However, it is also a major tourist attraction and as a result, the ferry to Balos is very crowded.

June 4, 2022

Everything worked out great, the bus ride was entertaining thanks to the multilingual tour guide. The predicted times were met. All in all, we liked the trip very much and if you don't want to be just the two of you and want to get to know the country and its people, I recommend it.

May 31, 2022

Rethymno: Balos and Gramvousa Day Trip Without Boat Ticket

Rethymno: Balos and Gramvousa Day Trip Without Boat Ticket

About this activity

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