A white sailing yacht glides silently over the azure waters. You are sunbathing on the deck in the open sea, your face exposed to the sea breeze. An experienced skipper is at the helm. A trip of a few hours lies ahead of you: sailing trip, a stop at the lagoon near the island of Dia, lunch on board and swimming in a quiet bay await you… Sounds good, right? Let’s make this dream come true every day of the Cretan summer with the Crete.life sailing team. Let’s go from Malia to the old port of Heraklion and set the sails on a yacht near the fortress of Koules!
You will visit the following attractions on this tour:
The official name of this island is Dia Island, but it has the second name from ancient myths and legends – Island of Zeus. It is a remote and uninhabited island off the coast of central Crete. It boasts crystal clear waters, small gulfs and rugged yet picturesque terrain. This environmentally protected area is home to endangered species, preserving its natural beauty and biodiversity. In addition, remnants of the ancient Minoan civilization are scattered along its shores, adding a layer of historical and mythological intrigue to the untamed landscape of the uninhabited island.
This is a half day sailing trip in a small group (up to 8-10 people). What is the plan for the day? Okay, look: sailing, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, sunbathing and lunch on deck with a full menu!
The sailing will be led by an experienced Greek captain, a certified instructor and teacher at the Crete Maritime School. The yacht will set course for the island of Zeus and you will spend a total of about four hours in the sea and bays near the island.
If you wish, the captain will let you take the helm and teach you how to handle the yacht. During the trip you will be able to do a little fishing, snorkelling and diving with flippers – all the equipment is on the yacht. You will also have lunch or dinner during the trip – the yacht has everything you need!
From the port of Heraklion we organise morning and afternoon group cruises: two in low season and four in high season. We can also pick you up from your hotel in Malia and take you to the yacht in the old sea port of Heraklion near the fortress of Kules. Do you have a rental car? Then we’ll help you park in a special parking space.
Please note that all our yachts can also be booked for a full day just for you – apart from the captain, you and anyone else you wish to invite will be on board!
If you plan to go from Malia to participate in a sailing yacht trip to Dia Island, the price of the tour 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.
Absolutely! We will be happy to run this sailing yacht trip for you on any day of the week. No other tourists, pick-ups, drop-offs or waiting – just you, your family or friends and the captain – just tell us everything you want beforehand! You can ask us in advance – and we will organise everything for you.
You can book tickets for a sailing yacht trip to Dia island with transfer to the port of Heraklion from Malia online (see “How to book excursions in Crete”).
In 2025 sailing yacht trips from the Venetian port of Heraklion to the Dia island take place from 03/04 to 31/10. Available sailing days – daily.
ATTENTION: sailing trips are very popular and sailing yacht does not take many passengers on board. As a result, during the season, the seats for the next few days are booked up very quickly. Please book this tour in advance. Please note that reservations must be paid in advance, otherwise places on the yacht are not guaranteed. If you are paying for the trip close to your desired date, please check with our managers for availability.
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!
Lunch or dinner is served on the boat and is included in the price. The menu includes roasted chicken fillets, vegetable risotto, Greek salad, fresh bread, seasonal fruits, soft drinks (Cola, Sprite, soda…), local wine and bottled water. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options (like Portobello mushrooms, rice with vegetables, Greek salad, seasonal fruits) can also be arranged upon request.
You should have the original, a copy or at least a photo of your passport with you, e.g. on your mobile phone. It is a good idea to bring a hat and all the sunscreen you need. Don’t forget your swimwear and a towel! You can also bring a light shirt or jumper for an evening walk. We only go to the sea when the weather is calm and nice. However, in case you are prone to seasickness, you may wish to bring some motion sickness tablets.
No, not this time. Your captain is a top professional, a long-time sailor and a qualified sailing instructor. In case of bad weather, the sea trip will be canceled and rescheduled for another day.
It depends on the wind and sea conditions. The captain will only decide if it is possible to sail if the weather conditions are suitable, so there will be no heavy rocking or rolling. Safety comes first!
Our captains speak excellent English.
In the low season we have two trips a day and in the high season we have one more morning and one more afternoon trip. Additional sailings start one and a half to two hours later in the morning and afternoon respectively.
| Schedule of the sailing trip with morning departure | |
|---|---|
| 08:00 - 9:00 | Departure from the hotels |
| 09:00 - 09:30 | Boarding the yacht, departure from the Venetian port of Heraklion, sailing to Zeus Island |
| 10:30 | Anchoring at Saint George's Bay near the island of Zeus |
| 10:30 - 13:00 | Free time for snorkeling, swimming, fishing, relaxing on board and lunch |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Sailing back to Heraklion, return to the Venetian port |
| 14:30 - 15:30 | Return to the hotels |
| Schedule of the sailing trip with afternoon departure | |
|---|---|
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Departure from the hotels |
| 14:00 - 14:30 | Boarding the yacht, departure from the Venetian port of Heraklion, sailing to Zeus Island |
| 15:30 | Anchoring at Saint George's Bay near the island of Zeus |
| 15:30 - 18:00 | Free time for snorkeling, swimming, fishing, relaxing on board and dinner |
| 18:00 - 19:00 | Sailing back to Heraklion, return to the Venetian port |
| 19:30 - 20:30 | Return to the hotels |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| up to 1 hour | Transfer by minibus from hotels to Heraklion port |
| about 1 hour | Sailing to the island of Zeus |
| 2,5 hours | Swimming in the sea, lunch or dinner |
| about 1 hour | Sailing to the island of Crete |
| up to 1 hour | Transfer by minibus from Heraklion port to hotels |