Self-Guided Day Trip to Balos Beach, Chania
Experience one of the world's best beaches with a day trip to the shallow, teal waters and white and pink sand of Balos Lagoon.
Overview
Discover one of Crete's most renowned (and photographed) beaches with a day trip to Balos Lagoon. This wild and picturesque location draws in thousands of visitors each year with its warm, turquoise lagoon that meets a shoreline of white and pink sand. You can reach Balos either by driving and then hiking for 30 to 45 minutes down to the beach, enjoying sweeping views of the lagoon along the way, or you can take a boat that stops at the famous pirate hideout, Gramvousa. Balos is ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing, and kids will love splashing around the shallow lagoon.
Highlights
- Swim and snorkel in one of Crete's best beaches
- Hike down to Balos, soaking in panoramic views of the lagoon
- Wade through the warm, shallow waters of Balos Lagoon
- Marvel at soft pink and white sand
- Visit the Venetian fortress and former pirate hideout on Gramvousa
Know before you go
Duration
8 hours
8 hours
Recommended for
All ages
All ages
Group
Self guided
Self guided
What you'll do
Enjoy a day at one of the world's best beaches with this trip to Balos Lagoon, whose white and pink sand and shallow, turquoise lagoon have made it a prime destination for visitors to Crete. Visiting Balos from Chania is an all-day activity whether you go by car or by boat, so it's best to begin your day early, particularly if you want to beat the crowds.
If you drive, it's about an hour and 15 minutes from Chania, with the last 30 minutes or so devoted to a 4 to 5-mile (7-8 km) stretch of a winding, bumpy, unpaved one-way road. Once you reach the parking lot, it's time to hike down to the beach. It's 1 to 1.5 miles (2 to 2.5 km) and takes about 30 minutes, so bring lots of water and make sure to have your camera ready for the sweeping panoramic views of Balos that you won't be able to get from anywhere else.
As an alternative to driving all the way there, you can take your car or a bus to the port of Kissamos and catch a ferry to Balos. Most boats include a stop at the uninhabited island of Imeri Gramvousa, about 15 minutes from Balos. If you choose this option, you can expect to spend 1.5 to 2 hours at Gramvousa, where you can relax on its picturesque beach or hike 20 minutes up to its 16th-century Venetian fortress that was turned into a rebel and pirate hideaway in the early 19th century.
Once you get to Balos Lagoon, you can set up at one of the paid umbrellas and sunbeds or find a spot for yourself. While there are some services at Balos, like a small beach bar and a few bathrooms, it's more unorganized than not, so be sure to bring snacks or sustenance or purchase them on the boat if that's your transportation method.
The shallow lagoon is ideal for young kids and children, who can play safely in its warm teal-colored waters. There are also rock pools and formations that adults and stronger swimmers can explore in the sea water, non-lagoon side, making this a great location for travelers of all ages.
If you drive, it's about an hour and 15 minutes from Chania, with the last 30 minutes or so devoted to a 4 to 5-mile (7-8 km) stretch of a winding, bumpy, unpaved one-way road. Once you reach the parking lot, it's time to hike down to the beach. It's 1 to 1.5 miles (2 to 2.5 km) and takes about 30 minutes, so bring lots of water and make sure to have your camera ready for the sweeping panoramic views of Balos that you won't be able to get from anywhere else.
As an alternative to driving all the way there, you can take your car or a bus to the port of Kissamos and catch a ferry to Balos. Most boats include a stop at the uninhabited island of Imeri Gramvousa, about 15 minutes from Balos. If you choose this option, you can expect to spend 1.5 to 2 hours at Gramvousa, where you can relax on its picturesque beach or hike 20 minutes up to its 16th-century Venetian fortress that was turned into a rebel and pirate hideaway in the early 19th century.
Once you get to Balos Lagoon, you can set up at one of the paid umbrellas and sunbeds or find a spot for yourself. While there are some services at Balos, like a small beach bar and a few bathrooms, it's more unorganized than not, so be sure to bring snacks or sustenance or purchase them on the boat if that's your transportation method.
The shallow lagoon is ideal for young kids and children, who can play safely in its warm teal-colored waters. There are also rock pools and formations that adults and stronger swimmers can explore in the sea water, non-lagoon side, making this a great location for travelers of all ages.
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In the systematic Eleftherna project, a team of archaeologists from the University of Crete led by Prof. N. Stampolidis has been in charge since 1984. Surveys and systematic excavations have revealed the city’s settlement patterns, sanctuaries and necropolis in Orthi Petra, even stone quarries in the surroundings of the Prines hill. The discovery of the remains of four females in Orthi Petra was declared one of top 10 discoveries of 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America. The Museum of Ancient Eleftherna, directly linked to the archaeological site, was inaugurated in June 2016.
The next stop will be at Margarites, a scenic traditional Cretan village. You will walk on the stone paths of the village and admire the pottery traditional shops around. Then, leaving Margarites, you ‘ll have lunch in Asteri village. The unique restaurant with the folklore private collection and the traditional Cretan delicacies will take your breath away.
The Arkadi Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery. The current catholicon (church) dates back to the 16th century and is marked by the influence of the Renaissance. This influence is visible in the architecture, which mixes both Roman and baroque elements. As early as the 16th century, the monastery was a place for science and, had a school and a rich library. Situated on a plateau, the monastery is well fortified, being surrounded by a thick and high wall. The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance of Ottoman rule during the Cretan revolt of 1866. 943 Greeks, mostly women and children, sought refuge in the monastery. After three days of battle and under orders from the hegumen (abbot) of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender. The monastery became a national sanctuary in honor of the Cretan resistance. 8 November is a day of commemorative parties in Arkadi and Rethymno. The explosion did not end the Cretan insurrection, but it attracted the attention of the rest of the world.
After that you will visit Eleftherna, an ancient city-state in Crete, which lies 25 km southeast of Rethymno. Archaeologists excavated the site, located on a narrow northern spur of Mount Ida, the highest mountain in Crete. It flourished from the Dark Ages of Greece’s early history until Byzantine times.
In the systematic Eleftherna project, a team of archaeologists from the University of Crete led by Prof. N. Stampolidis has been in charge since 1984. Surveys and systematic excavations have revealed the city’s settlement patterns, sanctuaries and necropolis in Orthi Petra, even stone quarries in the surroundings of the Prines hill. The discovery of the remains of four females in Orthi Petra was declared one of top 10 discoveries of 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America. The Museum of Ancient Eleftherna, directly linked to the archaeological site, was inaugurated in June 2016.
The next stop will be at Margarites, a scenic traditional Cretan village. You will walk on the stone paths of the village and admire the pottery traditional shops around. Then, leaving Margarites, you ‘ll have lunch in Asteri village. The unique restaurant with the folklore private collection and the traditional Cretan delicacies will take your breath away.