Day Trips from Chania to Balos Beach and Lagoon

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.

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.

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.

Balos Beach and Lagoon and Gramvousa Island hold some of Crete’s most dazzling beaches. But they can be fiddly to reach independently. Skip the self-drive hassles and relax on this small-group day trip, which includes door-to-door transfers from select hotels. Enjoy a couple of hours on the soft white sands at Balos then a slightly shorter stop on Gramvousa Island. Please note, the boat to Gramvousa is at your expense.

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.

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.

This tour combines three of Crete’s greatest pleasures — crystal-clear waters, fine wine, and fresh seafood — in one seamless, private experience. You’ll travel in a comfortable vehicle with a personal driver, allowing you to skip the crowds and explore at your own pace. Swim in the turquoise lagoon of Balos, enjoy a seafront lunch at a local fish tavern, and end your day with a wine tasting at the family-owned Pnevmatikakis Winery. Tailored for couples, families, or friends seeking authenticity and exclusivity, this tour offers a perfect balance of nature, taste, and comfort - a premium Cretan escape designed just for you. What to Expect at Balos - Unreal colors: Shades of turquoise, emerald, and blue set against white sand. - Lagoon-style waters: Ideal for swimming and relaxing, especially for families. - Wild natural setting: Surrounded by rugged rocks and untouched landscapes. - Panoramic views: From the top of the hill, you'll enjoy one of the best photo spots in Crete.

With its turquoise waters and pale sands, Balos Beach and Lagoon is one of Crete’s most-photographed locations. Beat the crowds and discover it and Gramvousa Island from the water on this lively catamaran cruise with an onboard entertainer, snacks, brunch, and lunch included—as well as hot drinks, soft drinks, and water. Upgrade for a VIP package, featuring a reserved sunbed and towel on the sunny upper deck, plus priority boarding.

This cruise has everything – great scenery, beach time and a helping of medieval history. Everything starts at Kastelli on Crete's northwest coast, where a boat awaits to carry you across Kissamos bay to the Gramvousa peninsula and isles. And to round off the trip, you'll spend a few hours at the beautiful Balos lagoon. You'll sail past steep cliffs and caves before docking at Imeri Gramvousa isle – ‘Imeri' means ‘Tame'. Once a pirate hideout, this massive chunk of rock is crowned by a half-ruined Venetian fort. Here, you can stay sunbathing on deck, take a swim or trek up to the castle to drink in the views. Next, your boat will make its way back to Tigani on the peninsula. Lapped by the fluorescent turquoise waters of the Balos lagoon, it's a beach that looks like something from the Caribbean. Laze on the white sands, take snaps of the views or splash about in the warm water – it's really shallow and stays knee-deep for a long way out.

Your private escort-driver will pick you up from your hotel in a comfortable off-road vehicle for an exciting sightseeing tour through North-Western Crete lasting approximately 1.5hours. Enjoy panoramic views and hear local stories as you travel. After passing Kissamos, you’ll take an off-road route along Gramvousa Peninsula, reaching a spot above Balos Lagoon. From there, a 30-40 minute hike down the mountainside leads you to the stunning Balos Lagoon. Spend two-three hours relaxing on the white sandy beaches, swimming in the crystal-clear waters, and exploring the area. The return hike offers plenty of chances for incredible photos of Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island. This private tour combines off-road adventure with breathtaking scenery for an unforgettable experience.

Near Chania—on the Greek island of Crete—lies Balos Lagoon, home to crystal-clear waters and pristine sandy beaches. Swim, snorkel, and relax under the warm Mediterranean sun away from the crowds on this full-day small-group catamaran cruise stopping at the lagoon and Gramvousa Island, where you’ll find an old pirate fortress. Hotel pickup is available, and departures are offered on two catamarans with different group sizes.

Explore some of Greece’s natural beauty with this group tour from Chania that heads to both Gramvousa Beach and the bay of Balos’ turquoise lagoon. All the details are taken care of, like hotel pickup and drop-off, your boat tour, and your tour leader, so you just need to show up with your bathing suit, ready for a day on the water.

Skip the expense of car hire and relax with this convenient transfer service for scenic Gramvousa island. Your bus will collect you at one of a range of Chania locations, and drive you to the port of Kissamos. Here, pay for your prebooked tickets and a small municipality fee, board the boat, and explore the island. Catch the boat to Balos Lagoon before returning to Chania by bus.

Join this day tour of Gramvousa, an island that serves as a regional bird habitat. Enjoy a hassle-free roundtrip bus transfer from Rethymno to Kissamos port to board the scenic cruise to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island. Cruise without the stress of arranging local transportation.

On this personalized, small-group up to 6 people per vehicle. Travel in a comfortable 4WD drive vehicle to off-road locations that you wouldn’t be able to access by bus or minibus. Venture from Kaliviani village to a viewpoint above the spectacular Balos Lagoon and then on to Falassarna Beach. As an extra perk, a sunbed is reserved for you on the beach, and lunch is provided at a local restaurant.

Set out on a safari road trip in Crete with this full-day private tour to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Peninsula. Enjoy hotel pickup and admire views during the drive to Balos Lagoon. Visit a cove with a white sand beach and swim in the turquoise waters. The tour includes a gourmet Cretan meal with local wine. The itinerary can be customized according to your interests.

Balos Beach is a world-famous, exotic beach located on the northwestern coast of Crete, Greece. Renowned for its breathtaking beauty, Balos is often described as a natural paradise and is considered one of the most stunning beaches iThe beach’s unique landscape features soft white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and a shallow lagoon with shallow waters, which creates an otherworldly appearance. The lagoon is separated from the open sea by a small islet called Gramvousa, upon which sits an ancient Venetian fortress in Europe.