The 15 Best Boat Trips in Crete

From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa - The crossing from Kissamos Port

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 6,755 reviews · 7 hours · from $47Our pick

Sail from Kissamos Port to Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon on a large, comfortable ferry. Swim in clear water, hike to a Venetian castle, see a shipwreck and cave, and buy food aboard. The route may reverse, and Balos landing conditions can vary.

“Fantastic, very well organised and the team on board worked hard to keep everything clean and tidy which given the size of the vessel and the number of passengers is a big task. We had a great trip. The food was delicious and it was great value. Balos and Gramvousa are incredibly beautiful. There are pros and cons to being on whats essentially a cruise ship vs a smaller boat. In this case I think they did it very well and I would recommend it. The only thing I would change is the music haha but hey some people like euro pop so fair enough.”

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Agios Nikolaos Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Spinalonga Island Tours, Spinalonga Island Tours in Agios Nikolaos, Tour Reviews

Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

2.Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,031 reviews · 4h 30m · from $29

Join Nostos Cruises at Agios Nikolaos for a guided afternoon to Spinalonga. Cruise Mirabello Bay, swim from the boat in Kolokitha Bay, hear about Barbarosa’s cave and Olous, then explore the Venetian fortress with an English or Dutch guide, or audio guides in French and German.

“A really well equipped sail trip, caters for all generations from food, drinks and languages.”

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Crete Sailing Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dia Island Cruises, Heraklion Tours, Sailing, Sailing Trips in Heraklion, Tour Reviews

Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

3.Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,579 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $95

Sail from Heraklion’s Old Venetian Harbour to protected Dia Island aboard a small yacht for up to 14 people. Captain Petros and crew members such as Sofia, Giannis, Mariana, and Manos may host your trip, with swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, a Mediterranean meal, unlimited drinks, and sunset options.

“Fantastic few hours in the Greek sea, lovely crew DELICIOUS food and gorgeous sunset! Love love love”

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Crete Snorkeling Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hersonissos Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hersonissos: Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling

4.Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,385 reviews · 1 hour · from $53Top rated

From Hersonissos Port, Captain Kostas or another experienced skipper takes you on a fast, family-friendly jet boat ride with optional 360-degree turns. After about 30 minutes, stop at Saint George’s Bay for swimming, snorkeling, and a look inside its cave-like shore setting.

“It was a really nice ride, and the captain was really friendly”

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Crete Sailing Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dia Island Cruises, Heraklion Tours, Lunch Experiences, Sailing, Sailing Trips in Heraklion, Tour Reviews

Heraklion: Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch

5.Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,287 reviews · from $90

Join a small shared cruise or private sailing trip from Heraklion to Dia Island. Swim and snorkel in Saint George Bay, try fishing, enjoy lunch and unlimited drinks, and sail back with an attentive crew such as Marcos, Vasilis, Dimitris, or Alexandra.

“A beautiful and relaxed boat trip including a lovely little meal. I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks to captain and skipper and also the other travelers.”

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Chrissi Island Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews

From Ierapetra: Cruise to Chrissi Island with Swimming

6.Cruise to Chrissi Island with Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,040 reviews · 6 hours · from $47

Sail from Ierapetra to Chrissi Island aboard the ARISTOVOULOS, with a 70-minute crossing, a swimming stop near shore, snorkeling gear, boards, and sea views. You cannot enter the island’s interior, but you can swim to the beach, relax near the coast, and buy food and drinks by card.

“Everything went very quickly and smoothly. The ship was very clean and good.”

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Balos Lagoon Cruises, Balos Lagoon Cruises in Chania, Chania Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews

Chania Areas/Kalyves:Gramvousa Island & Balos,Boat Tkt Extra

7.Gramvousa Island & Balos,Boat Tkt Extra

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 992 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $23

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Chania, Kalyves, Almyrida, or nearby resorts to Kissamos, then cruise to Gramvousa and Balos. Swim, hike to the Venetian fortress, and enjoy guide-led logistics. Boat tickets cost extra on most Chania departures, so check the final price carefully.

“Sooooo beautiful place! I would only want to stay there a bit more (than 1h on Balos and 3h on Gramvousa) but apart from that it was an unforgettable experience :)”

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Balos Lagoon Cruises, Balos Lagoon Cruises in Chania, Chania Tours, Crete Private Transfers, Cruises & Boat Tours, Private Drivers, Private Transfers in Chania, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Chania: Balos Gramvousa Cruise with Transfer and Boat Ticket

8.Balos Gramvousa Cruise with Transfer and Boat Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 925 reviews · from $47

Spend a full day sailing from Kissamos to Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon, with hotel-area pickup from Chania. You get time to swim, hike to a Venetian castle, and enjoy the boat’s bar and open deck. Staff names praised by visitors include Elvira, George, and Hope.

“Everything worked according to the plan, the bus came at the indicated hours, an the ferry as well. is just that the food on the board is below average, so I recommend to get something packed from outside.”

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Crete Sailing Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dia Island Cruises, Heraklion Tours, Sailing, Sailing Trips in Heraklion, Tour Reviews

Heraklion: Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks and Meal

9.Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks and Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 778 reviews · 6 hours · from $106

You’ll sail from Heraklion’s Old Venetian Harbor to Dia Island with a certified crew, often including Stelios, Celia, Captain Nick, Kristina, or Iorgu. Swim, snorkel, paddleboard, fish, hike, and enjoy shrimp spaghetti, salad, fruit, wine, soft drinks, and raki aboard a small-group yacht.

“Lovely chilled boat cruise with two swimming stops… the island is uninhabited just some goats but it’s all about boat life!! Lush food, beer and wine and soft drinks flowing all day and raki shots for the hard-core”

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Crete Sailing Trips, Crete Snorkeling Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dia Island Cruises, Heraklion Tours, Sailing, Sailing Trips in Heraklion, Snorkeling, Snorkeling Trips in Heraklion, Tour Reviews

Heraklion: Dia Island Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling

10.Dia Island Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 742 reviews · 4.5 - 7 hours · from $82

Sail from Heraklion with a professional crew, often including Ernesto and George, to uninhabited Dia Island. Swim in clear bays, snorkel, paddleboard, and enjoy Greek salad, tzatziki, seafood pasta, fruit, wine, and soft drinks. Choose a half-day or full-day trip, with small groups of up to 18.

“A really enjoyable and relaxing day. The group was small and everyone chatted with eachother and also with the two crew who were great. It was my first time on a sailing boat which I really enjoyed as well. Would highly recommend!”

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Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Spinalonga Island Tours, Tour Reviews

From Ag. Nikolaos: Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch

11.Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 735 reviews · 5h 30m · from $35

Set out from Agios Nikolaos at 10:00 for a scenic cruise across Mirabello Bay. Explore Spinalonga with a booklet and map, swim at Kolokytha Beach, then eat pork or a vegetarian tortilla with salad, bread, fruit, and wine or juice aboard the boat.

“Nice sailing to Spinalonga, but a bit too many people on the boat.”

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Agios Nikolaos Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews

Agios Nikolaos: Semi-Submarine Cruise

12.Semi-Submarine Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 670 reviews · from $18Best value

Board an air-conditioned semi-submarine at Agios Nikolaos port for underwater views around Agioi Pantes Island. A multilingual audio guide explains the marine life, while the crew feeds fish near the viewing windows. Later, move to the main deck for bay and mountain views.

“Really lovely way to spend a few hours; and the air conditioned boat helped tremendously. The tour is given in English, French and German and is worth listening to. We got to see lots of fish, sadly missed the turtles :( one fish was huge, looked to be just under 1m long! The guides were friendly. There is a snacks and drinks dispenser machine onboard but be aware that it takes coins only.”

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Balos Lagoon Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Rethymno Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Rethymno Area: Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra

13.Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 594 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $20

Travel from Rethymno to Kissamos by air-conditioned bus, then cruise to Gramvousa and Balos. You get time for swimming and photos at both stops, plus an optional climb to the Venetian fortress. English, German, and French guides are available on selected days, with pickup from many nearby resorts.

“The trip was overally very nice. Logistically-wise everything was very good organised, both the bus and the boat were on time all the time. The only minor issue was the boat. It was very loaded with people and sometimes you would need to stand for the entire ride. Also, the bar on boat was super crowded and you had to wait 20-25 min to get a bottle of water. Both Gramvousa and Balos were very beautiful.”

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1-Day Tours, Balos Lagoon Cruises, Balos Lagoon Cruises in Chania, Chania Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Chania/Almyrida: Balos Gramvousa Day Trip with Boat Ticket

14.Balos Gramvousa Day Trip with Boat Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 590 reviews · 12 hours · from $64

Spend a full day sailing from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island, with air-conditioned transport from Chania-area pickup points. Swim in shallow turquoise water, see the Dimitrios P shipwreck, and climb to Gramvousa’s Venetian fortress. Guides such as Vicky, Irene, and Eva are often praised for clear help.

“Everything was well-organized. Even though it was plenty of other people on boat our guide Vicky was always visible and even gave her number. She was supernice🧡🤗 Everything was explained perfectly. Balos was gorgeous, with crystal clear water and pink sand. Gramvousa nice to see, but it didn’t wanted to hike, that’s why enjoyed the beach, the only issue, there were lots of slippery stones, i guess it’s better to bring special water shoes for this I remember i was scared to return back from sea, but one kind woman noticed me and helped me 💛”

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Crete Sunset Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, Rethymno Tours, Tour Reviews

Rethymno: Sunset Cruise on a Wooden Pirate Boat

15.Sunset Cruise on a Wooden Pirate Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 581 reviews · 1 hour · from $29

Board the wooden pirate boat Captain Hook at Rethymno port for a one-hour sunset cruise past the Venetian Port and Fortezza Castle. You will see the Cretan mountains and city lights from the water, with one beer or soft drink included. Bring a jacket and arrive 30 minutes early.