Balos Day Trip, Pickup Included

Balos Day Trip, Pickup Included, 9 - 12 hours, rated 4.3 across 3,141 traveller reviews.

Overview

This full-day outing from Chania or Rethymno bundles the two big west-coast sights into one trip: a bus ride to Kissamos Port, a cruise to Gramvousa Island, and free time at Balos Lagoon. Expect an air-conditioned bus and a large comfortable boat with an open deck and a bar-restaurant.

The shape of the day is simple. After roughly two hours on the coach there is a short break at Kissamos, then an hour-long cruise along the coast with sheer rock faces visible from the water. Whether Gramvousa or Balos comes first depends on the itinerary on the day. At Gramvousa you get about 105 minutes for swimming, photos, and an optional hike up to a Venetian castle perched on a 137-metre rock. The boat then continues for around 20 minutes to Balos, where the white and pink-tinged sand and turquoise water earn the lagoon its reputation. Free time there is about 2.5 hours, long enough for a proper swim or some snorkelling.

It suits travellers who want both famous landmarks in a single organized day, and one reviewer called it the most beautiful of all their day trips in Crete. Families manage it fine, though the castle hike calls for real shoes and some legwork. A reviewer who travelled in late September or early October still recommended booking at least a couple of days ahead, since space is limited and demand stays high.

What's Included

Included

Boat cruise tickets
Hotel pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points in Chania and Rethymno
Round-trip transportation by air-conditioned luxury bus transpotation
Multilingual tour guides
Professional local driver
Skip the ticket line
Fully insured transport and cruise
Free time in Balos (approximately 2.5 hours)
Free time in Gramvousa (approximately 2 hours)

Not Included

Sun Umbrellas (available to rent if option selected with guarantee of 5 euros until return )
Photographer on the boat (at extra cost)
Lunch (if option selected). The lunch is a choice of main dish of chicken with potatoes or pork with rice or stuffed tomatoes, etc, a small Greek salad, and a 750 ml bottle of water.

Itinerary

Pickup and coach transferMeet the bus at a chosen pickup point in Chania or Rethymno. The coach ride to Kissamos Port takes about 2 hours.
Kissamos Port breakA 20-minute break at the port before boarding, where tickets are handed over without waiting in line. Bring 1 euro in cash for the municipal environmental fee.
Cruise to the first stopA 1-hour sightseeing cruise along the coast on a boat with an open deck and a bar-restaurant.
Gramvousa Island105 minutes for swimming, photos, and free time. An optional 20-minute hike leads up to the Venetian castle on a 137-metre rock.
Cruise to BalosThe boat reaches Balos Lagoon after approximately 20 minutes.
Balos LagoonAbout 2.5 hours of free time for swimming, snorkelling, and photos on the white and pink sand.
Return cruise and drop-offA 1-hour cruise back to Kissamos, a 20-minute port break, then the coach returns to the drop-off points.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the day more than the scenery does, so it helps to know them before booking.

Footwear. Bring comfortable shoes, and hiking shoes if the castle climb is on the agenda. One reviewer's tip was to have comfortable shoes on the island.
Sun and weather. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and plenty of water all appear on the operator's packing list. One reviewer's tip was blunt: pick a sunny day for this trip.
Food and drink. Lunch is not in the base price, though a lunch option can be added, covering a main dish such as chicken with potatoes, a small Greek salad, and a 750 ml bottle of water. The boat also has a bar-restaurant, and one reviewer found the self-service food better than expected.
Cash for the fee. Carry 1 euro in cash for the Kissamos environmental fee. The operator asks passengers to have it with them, so it is worth sorting before departure rather than on the day.
Group feel. This is a group tour on a large comfortable boat, with transport by air-conditioned bus. Reviews describe good organisation overall, with several travellers calling the day well run.
Language of commentary. The tour advertises guides in Greek, English, Arabic, German, French, Russian, and Polish. Some reviewers who booked Polish commentary found it was delivered in English on the day.

Common issues. The most consistent complaint in recent reviews is missing language guides, specifically travellers who chose a Polish-speaking option and got English commentary instead, which mattered most to older participants who could not follow departure times and meeting instructions. One reviewer noted the bus was old, if still comfortable, and space is limited enough that late-September booking still needed to happen days ahead. The environmental fee, lunch, umbrella rental, and boat photographer all cost extra. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure.

Common Questions

is pickup included?

Yes, but from designated meeting points rather than door-to-door hotel collection. You choose your pickup point when booking, from locations across Chania and Rethymno, and a confirmation email with your exact pickup details arrives from the operator at around 20:00 the evening before. Be at the stop at least 10 minutes early, since the bus waits only 5 minutes.

what does the price cover?

The boat cruise tickets, round-trip transport on an air-conditioned bus, hotel-area pickup and drop-off from the designated meeting points, a multilingual guide, a professional driver, skip-the-line ticket collection, and insurance for both transport and cruise. Not covered: lunch, umbrella rental, the onboard photographer, and the 1 euro environmental fee payable in cash.

how long is the day?

Between 9 and 12 hours in total. The coach transfer takes about 2 hours each way, the cruise is 1 hour each way, and you get roughly 105 minutes at Gramvousa and about 2.5 hours at Balos.

is it suitable for children?

The operator lists it as family-friendly, and it is built around swimming and beach time. The hike to the Venetian castle on Gramvousa is optional and takes about 20 minutes up a steep rock, so families with small children can simply stay near the water instead.

can I cancel?

Yes, cancellation up to 24 hours in advance gets a full refund.

what should I bring?

Comfortable clothes and shoes, hiking shoes for the castle walk, swimwear, a towel, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, a credit card, and cash, including 1 euro for the environmental fee. Pets, weapons or sharp objects, and alcohol or drugs are not allowed.