Balos Lagoon & Falassarna Beach 4WD Day Trip & Lunch, Chania

5.0 (5 reviews)
Take a scenic, off-road drive to two of Crete's most beautiful beaches, stopping for sunbathing, swimming, and a taverna lunch.
Show all photos
D
David B.
Oct 16, 2025
I could not make this trip as I was sick that day. Everyone else loved it.
M
Maureen D.
Oct 15, 2025
The Balos Lagoon & Falassarna Beach 4WD Day Trip with Lunch was amazing. There were just four of us, which made it feel really personal. Our... Read more
Janice
Janice F.
Oct 09, 2025
Our driver was THE BEST. Vas (Vasilly or Vasillius?) was the coolest dude ever. He mastered the skill of telling us lots of interesting things without... Read more
J
Jody G.
Oct 01, 2025
Both of these places offer views of the unbelievably beautiful sea waters.
M
Melissa K.
Jul 10, 2025
Our family loved this day trip! our guide was Vasili, he was very knowledgeable, great with the kids, took us to great spots for photos and... Read more
Previous Next
See all reviews

Overview

Perfect for travelers who like some adventure alongside their beach time, this day trip from Chania takes you to two of Crete's best beaches with the help of an expert driver and a 4WD vehicle. Follow dirt tracks to reach the remote beauty spot of Balos Lagoon, where you'll take a short hike to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the white sands and turquoise sea. Then, hop back in the Jeep and continue to Falassarna Beach, where reserved sunbeds and umbrellas await. After plenty of time for sunbathing and swimming, you'll wrap up in classic Greek style with a traditional meal at a local restaurant.

Highlights

  • Traverse a rugged route through the Cretan countryside by 4WD
  • Take a short hike to a scenic viewpoint overlooking Balos Lagoon
  • Relax on reserved sunbeds and umbrellas at Falassarna Beach
  • Sit down to a traditional Greek lunch at a local restaurant

Know before you go

Duration
8h
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group, 6 people or less
Food & Drink
Lunch Included. Coffee, soft drinks, and lunch with wine or beer

What you'll do

Your day trip begins in the morning when your driver/guide picks you up from your Chania hotel in an air-conditioned, 4WD vehicle. Get settled in with the rest of your small group (the vehicle seats up to six) and set off on a scenic route to Balos Lagoon, only accessible by off-road vehicles and by boat. It's an adventurous drive along rough roads and rugged terrain, and you'll want to keep your camera handy to capture shots of grazing goats dotting the landscape. Upon arrival, take a brisk 10-minute hike to the area's best viewpoint, where you can look out over the turquoise lagoon and its white-sand beaches.

After you've soaked up the views at Balos, it's time to enjoy some sun and sand yourself. Hop back in the vehicle and head to Falassarna Beach, consistently ranked as one of the top 10 beaches in Europe. Reserved sunbeds and umbrellas await you on this long stretch of soft sand, and you'll have three hours to spend here swimming and sunbathing. Coffee, water, and soft drinks are included during your beach time, and later on, you'll head to a local restaurant just behind Falassarna for a lunch of traditional dishes accompanied by wine or beer. After lunch, put your feet up and enjoy the views on the return drive.

Start times

  • Daily
    8:30 am

What's included

  • Round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned seven-seater 4WD vehicle
  • English-speaking local guide/driver
  • Bottled water
  • Sun bed and umbrella at Falassarna Beach
  • Coffee or soft drinks
  • Lunch with wine and beer

Like what you see?

Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

Get started

Traveler photos
See all photos

Traveler reviews

5 total ratings, 5 with reviews
5.0
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
5.0
Food
5.0
Guides, Drivers and Staff
5.0
Transport
5.0
D
David B.
Phoenix, AZ | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2025

I could not make this trip as I was sick that day. Everyone else loved it.

M
Maureen D.
Bedford, NH | Reviewed on Oct 15, 2025

The Balos Lagoon & Falassarna Beach 4WD Day Trip with Lunch was amazing. There were just four of us, which made it feel really personal. Our guide was fantastic, knew so much about the history and the local area, and was easy to understand. We had a great balance of sightseeing and relaxing at the beach, followed by a wonderful lunch. Everything was taken care of – truly a fabulous experience.

Janice
Janice F.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Oct 09, 2025
Our driver was THE BEST. Vas (Vasilly or Vasillius?) was the coolest dude ever. He mastered the skill of telling us lots of interesting things without telling us too much. He knew how to read his audience. He also knew when to stop talking and when to give our group of 4 time to ourselves. Vas expertly drove a very scary road out to and back from Balos Lagoon overlook. We saw hundreds and hundreds of goats - all over the roadsides and hillsides, which was great fun. Vas pointed out... Read more

Our driver was THE BEST. Vas (Vasilly or Vasillius?) was the coolest dude ever. He mastered the skill of telling us lots of interesting things without telling us too much. He knew how to read his audience. He also knew when to stop talking and when to give our group of 4 time to ourselves.

Vas expertly drove a very scary road out to and back from Balos Lagoon overlook. We saw hundreds and hundreds of goats - all over the roadsides and hillsides, which was great fun. Vas pointed out the sea onion plant that was just beginning to bloom all over the mountains above the lagoon. The view to the lagoon itself was AWESOME. The word gorgeous doesn't do it justice. A sight to behold. Pretty windy on the ledges, though.

Falassarna Beach was possibly the most user friendly beach I've ever experienced: water at a perfect temperature, as clear as sea water can possibly be, no rocks, no seaweed, no seashells, soft sand. Wow. Vas took us to our reserved lounge chairs and left us alone for a couple of hours. We later met him at the beachside restaurant where he arranged a huge, delicious lunch for us (kindly accommodating my pescetarian diet). It was a FABULOUS day.

Tips for future travelers

If you appreciate gorgeous, aquamarine water and beautiful beaches, this day trip is for you! The jeep riding was fun too (not terribly rough, but a bit precarious at times).

Quality of Experience
Food
Lunch at the beachside restaurant was DELICIOUS
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Vas, our guide and driver was EXCELLENT - kind, funny, great English, sensitive to our desires, accommodating.
Transport
J
Jody G.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Oct 01, 2025
Both of these places offer views of the unbelievably beautiful sea waters. Read more

Both of these places offer views of the unbelievably beautiful sea waters.

Tips for future travelers

This is a must see!

Quality of Experience
Food
Some of the best we experienced on our 2 week trip
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Vas is a seasoned guide that shared not only the history of Crete, but also local folk lore. His laid back, fun attitude made the two days we spent with him some of the most memorable of our trip.
Transport
M
Melissa K.
Australia | Reviewed on Jul 10, 2025
Our family loved this day trip! our guide was Vasili, he was very knowledgeable, great with the kids, took us to great spots for photos and was very friendly. Lunch was amazing. Good to experience having your own deck chairs/umbrella already arranged as part of the tour. Highly recommend. Read more

Our family loved this day trip! our guide was Vasili, he was very knowledgeable, great with the kids, took us to great spots for photos and was very friendly. Lunch was amazing. Good to experience having your own deck chairs/umbrella already arranged as part of the tour. Highly recommend.

Tips for future travelers

Definately add if you are wanting a bit of time at the beach but with no hassle! Really enjoyed by whole family.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

Like what you see?

Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

Get started

Chania Experiences

Show more Chania experiences
Previous Next

Greece Experiences

Show more Greece experiences
Previous Next

Best of Chania

Best of Chania
Previous Next

Trip Planning Essentials

Previous Next