Even if you’ve come to your resort just to lie on the beach and get a good night’s sleep, we highly recommend a visit to the Gramvousa island and the Balos lagoon. The confluence of three seas, white sand and shallow water, clear and really warm water and dozens of shades of turquoise and blue in the sea… Some of the most beautiful beaches can be found here, and a trip to the Balos lagoon is a great way to see it all in one day!
On this trip you will see the entire north coast of Crete and experience two major attractions:
An excursion to Balos lagoon is a full day trip. We depart from Sissi and start our trip to the Balos lagoon and the island of Gramvousa early in the morning, as this is the most western point of the island of Crete. The bus ride to the ferry to Gramvousa alone takes almost 3 hours, but what a trip it will be! From the bus window you can see almost the entire north coast of Crete with its stunning coastline, bays and coves. Having traveled almost the entire length of Crete, you will notice how the island is turning green: as you approach Chania, the scenery around you changes from desert to forest, and the palm trees are gradually be replaced by cypress and pine trees.
You will then disembark from the bus at the port of Kissamos and the next part of the trip will be a boat trip to the Balos lagoon: a fast boat will take you to the island of Gramvousa with it’s pirate fortress and the lagoon with it’s sandy beaches and beautiful scenery. But before it keep your eyes wide open, because during a boat trip along the west coast you’ll have the chance to admire unusual geological formations with the western part of Crete rising out of the sea (phenomenon known as “land elevation”), see a huge cave that was probably an ancient shipyard, and if you’re lucky – seals Monachus Monachus, turtles Caretta Caretta and, of course, dolphins.
During this boat trip you will stop at the island of Gramvousa and have enough time to explore the Venetian fortress, which is located on the highest point of the island, on a surprisingly steep cliff, about 140 meters above sea level. The breathtaking panorama from its walls and the intriguing legend of a hidden pirate treasures invite you to climb to the top of the island – or to stay on the nearest beach and enjoy the warm sea and the view from below, if you wish 🙂
Another stop – let’s call it the Main Stop – is where the most important part of the trip begins: relaxing on the beach in Crete’s most famous lagoon! So… Enjoy a leisurely swim in shallow, warm waters that are perfect for young children, yet offer an exotic experience for adults. Bask in the sun on the white and pink sands and immerse yourself in the picturesque surroundings of this iconic Crete beach. Swim far, venturing beyond the lagoon’s edge into deeper waters in search of different species of fish, seals and turtles… Long story short – enjoy the lagoon of Balos. And don’t forget to take a camera with you!
Ready to go? We can take you from Sissi to the island of Gramvousa and the lagoon of Balos! During this excursion you will travel by bus, ferry, hike to the old fortress on the island of Gramvousa and of course relax on the beach of Balos and swim in the turquoise and crystal clear waters of the confluence of the three seas.
If you want to go to Balos lagoon from Sissi with an organized tour, the price of the trip in 2025 is:
This tour is sometimes included in special promotions and sold cheaper for our followers – keep an eye out for discounts on Facebook!
Are you traveling as a big family or a group? Contact us in advance or visit our offices and we will try to make you the best offer.
You can buy an excursion to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island from Sissi online (see “How to book excursions in Crete”).
In 2025 the excursion to the Balos Lagoon and island of Gramvousa from Sissi takes place from 13/10 to 30/10. Available tour days – Monday and Thursday.
Please note that trip schedules are subject to change, including cancellation. This is extremely rare and may be due to weather conditions. For example, heavy rains at the beginning (April and May) or end of the season (September and October) and other force majeure situations. If there are any changes, we will try to let you know as soon as possible.
Please make sure that you have correctly identified your vacation area in Crete and read the cancellation and refund policy.
If there is less than 24 hours before the trip, please contact the manager to check availability before you make a booking!
Firstly, you can come to one of our offices where booking for all services is available and payment can be made either by cash or card.
Secondly, in case of online booking you can choose cash payment (which is available for some areas only) or you can pay online by card. In the case of cash, we will arrange a meeting with our courier in advance, who will bring the prepared documents to your hotel or villa and collect the cash. Please note that this option is only available for bookings made well in advance (days or weeks before the trip!). In case of online payment, you will receive the tickets by e-mail or WhatsApp – as you prefer.
Please keep all documents and tickets until the end of your trip!
It depends on the location of your hotel or villa. In some cases a tour bus will literally stop at the front door of the hotel and you just have to be there, in others it may be a short walk to the nearest pick-up point. This is usually a large central street, bus stop, square, car park, etc. – somewhere where there is no risk of the tour bus getting stuck on a narrow one-way street or stuck in traffic.
You will receive full details of the time and place of the pick-up with your travel documents when you make your booking. Please read it carefully before the trip.
There are no obligatory long walks. On the island of Gramvousa you can climb up a stony path to the fortress at an altitude of 140 meters above sea level. If you don’t want to go up to the fortress and prefer the view of the confluence of the three seas from the top of the island to swimming in the sea, you can stay on the beach all the time.
After arriving at the port of Kissamos and until the end of the boat trip, you will be exposed to the sun for many hours. Please keep this in mind – it’s better to bring appropriate clothing and sunscreen. Also, remember that you will be traveling by bus and ferry, so this trip may not be suitable for young children who cannot handle long bus rides.
Since the tour starts early, you can order an early breakfast at the hotel restaurant or take it with you (a “lunch box”). There will also be a rest stop at a cafeteria along the way. There you can get a snack and a cup of coffee.
You can enjoy a meal on board, with options including salads, meat and vegetarian dishes. Lunch costs 12 euro per person. You can also purchase drinks, fruits, ice cream, etc. Please note that cash payments are not accepted; only credit or debit cards are accepted.
Make sure you have all the necessary sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, headgear, etc.), swimwear, towel and money for extras. If you feel seasick, it is advisable to take tablets one hour before departure.
Yes. On the way you will be accompanied by a representative of the tour company. Your guide will introduce you to the program of the trip, explain the organization and give you some information about these places. This trip is considered more of a beach trip, so there will not be a lot of information like on our excursions to archaeological sites or museums.
Partly. Mostly it’s the beautiful views, the sea and the beach.
Languages: English, German, French on any available day. On some days we can also organize excursions with Italian, Polish, Romanian and Russian speaking guides, so check the booking calendar or send us a request.
Please note that this is an approximate tour schedule. Times may vary depending on traffic and pick-up and drop-off locations. Exact times will be sent to you along with other information when you make your reservation and specify your hotel.
There are several ships operating between the port of Kissamos and the lagoon of Balos in 2025. The order, time and schedule of the sea part of the trip may be adjusted depending on the ship, so your guide will let you know the order of sightseeing stops before departure.
| Schedule of the excursion program | |
|---|---|
| 5:30 - 7:30 | Departure from the hotels |
| 8:00 | A stop at a cafe |
| 10:50 | Boarding at the port of Kissamos and departure to the island of Gramvousa |
| 12:00 | Arrival at the island of Gramvousa, free time |
| 13:30 | Departure to the lagoon of Balos |
| 13:50 | Arrival at Balos lagoon, free time |
| 16:30 | Return trip to the port of Kissamos |
| 17:30 | Arrival at the port of Kissamos |
| 18:00 | Departure to the hotels |
| 19:40 | A stop at a cafe |
| 21:30 - 22:30 | Return to the hotels |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| up to 3,5 hours | From the hotels by bus to the port of Kissamos |
| about 1 hour | Boat trip to Gramvousa Island |
| 1,5 hours | Free time on Gramvousa Island |
| 15 minutes | Transfer by boat to the lagoon of Balos |
| 2,5 hours | Swimming in Balos Lagoon |
| about 1 hour | Transfer by boat to the port of Kissamos |
| up to 3,5 hours | Bus transfer to the hotels |