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

5.0 (1 review)

Take a scenic, off-road drive to two of Crete's most beautiful beaches, stopping for sunbathing, swimming, and a taverna lunch.

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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

See review

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

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See alternatives

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Discover one of Crete's most popular beaches with a day trip to Balos Lagoon, which draws thousands of visitors each year for its warm, turquoise waters and white-pink sand. From Chania, take a scenic drive and then a hike down to the beach to admire sweeping views of the lagoon, or take a boat to Balos, stopping at the famous pirate hideout, Gramvousa, along the way. Spend an idyllic day at the beach, which offers excellent swimming and snorkeling with a shallow lagoon that kids will love.

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Experience one of Crete's best-kept secrets with a visit to Seitan Limania on the Akrotiri Peninsula. Located just 35 minutes from Chania, this beach is known for its white limestone cliffs, S-shaped inlet, and clear blue waters that are perfect for cliff diving. Seitan Limani is a wild beach with no services, so be prepared to bring your own refreshments, which you'll need after driving a winding mountain road and taking a short but steep hike down to the small pebbly shore of this picturesque cove.

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Escape to one of Greece's most picturesque beaches with this full-day excursion. Perfect for nature lovers and sun seekers, the day starts with a pick-up from your hotel in Chania, where you'll set off on a scenic drive through Crete's quaint villages and the Topolia Gorge. Stop to stretch your legs at the ancient cave of Agia Sofia (Cave temporarily closed for maintenance), then continue to the pink sands of Elafonisi. You'll have three hours to relax, swim, and soak up the sun around the beach, its sheltered lagoon, and the adjoining island nature reserve. Break up the return trip in the village of Elos, where you can savor a lunch of Cretan cuisine at a local taverna.

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Traveler reviews

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

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

Take a scenic, off-road drive to two of Crete's most beautiful beaches, stopping for sunbathing, swimming, and a taverna lunch.

Overview

Highlights

Know before you go

What you'll do

Start times

What's included

Like what you see?

See alternatives

Self-Guided Day Trip to Balos Beach

Self-Guided Day Trip to Seitan Limani Beach

Coastal Fishing Adventure with Local Fishermen

Private White Mountains Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings

Private Excursion to Elafonisi Beach

Day Trip to Elafonisi Beach

Cretan Village Cooking Experience

Private Traditional Cretan Cooking Experience

Private Akrotiri Peninsula Visit & Boat Trip

Private Olive Oil, Wine & Beer Tasting Day Trip

Traveler reviews

Like what you see?

Chania Experiences

Greece Experiences

Best of Chania

Trip Planning Essentials