Full-Day Boat Tour: Koufonisi Island Exploration from Heraklion
3.0
7 Ratings
Heraklion
Embark on a full-day boat tour from Heraklion to Koufonisi Island. Sail the Libyan Sea, explore ancient ruins, and swim in crystal clear waters. Limited access to the island for environmental protection.
Duration: 14 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

  • Heraklion - We will start collecting participants from pick-up points in the morning.
    Depending on the place of your hotel/apartment the bus ride will differ.
    Bus Ride: 1.5 - 2 hours

  • Ierapetra - Driving along the beautiful coast of Crete we will drive at the southernmost town of Europe, Ierapetra. A picturesque town in the South-East of Crete where we will take the boat and start the cruise.

  • Koufonisi - From 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, accompanied by pleasant melodies, we embark on a Southbound voyage, guided by the serene Libyan Sea. Watch in awe as herring gulls gracefully glide alongside the ship, and if fortune smiles upon us, maybe we catch a glimpse of playful dolphins.

From 12:00 pm to 3:45 pm, as we approach the island, marvel at the magnificent beaches, mystical caves, and magical bays sculpted by the gentle caress of seawater on its soft rock formations. Our ship will anchor 30-40 meters away from the shore, at wind-sheltered beaches, offering a perfect opportunity for a revitalizing swim stop.

Indulge in a delightful lunch on board, savoring delicious flavors amidst the splendid sea backdrop.

Our return journey to Ierapetra begins at 3:45 pm, as we bid farewell to the enchanting Koufonisi Island. Arriving back at the port of Ierapetra at 6:15 pm, you’ll take with you cherished memories of an unforgettable seafaring adventure filled with scenic beauty and natural wonders.

  • Ierapetra - Return to Ierapetra and back to resorts.
    Embarkation in the buses and drive back to the hotels where we gathered participants in the morning.
    Depending on traffic and on the pick-up places of each one, the time of journey back to the hotel will differ.
    Bus Ride: almost 2-3 hours
What's Included
  • Boat Cruise
  • Liability Insurance Coverage by ALLIANZ
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Tour Guide
  • Professional Driver
  • All fees and taxes included
What's Not Included
  • Umbrellas
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Experience a memorable day cruising the Libyan Sea and visiting the deserted Greek islet, Koufonisi. Engage with its enticing golden sandy beaches and immerse in the pristine waters. The island is adorned with ancient ruins tracing back to the Minoan era and the post-Byzantine period. The islet of Koufonissi, previously known as Lefki (translates to ‘White’), got its name from its remarkable white sand and rocks.

KEY DETAILS:
Based on recent official announcements from local authorities, due to environmental preservation efforts, boats are discouraged from taking passengers ashore until further instructions are received. Boats will now anchor at a distance of 30-40 meters from Koufonisi’s coastline, and visitors can opt to dive or swim in the clear waters, or swim to the island using the boat’s ladder.

Location
Heraklion
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.0
(7 Ratings)
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Elodieo449
Jul 2, 2022
Surreal experience- must do day trip - Amazing experience would recommend 100%. The day trip was so well organised and ran very smoothly, even better is that they pick up from everyone’s hotels. This makes the journey slightly longer but it is so worth it for the beautiful beaches. Only slight problem is that as the island is inhabited you do have to swim to shore and this was quite a challenge for me who isn’t a strong swimmer however they do provide life jackets to help you out! This is better than the over- populated tourist trips to santorini which are 4x the price!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Spd2001
Jun 7, 2022
So much fun! - 100% Recommend this trip I’d you are trying to see some beautiful blue water and go swimming ! The staff & trip coordinators were very kind and easy to work with.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vacationer669507
Jul 23, 2022
Disappointing - Nice lunch and got to swim in the sea. However, boat was rammed full, so we couldn't get a seat and ended up sitting in 31 degree heat with no shade, eventually went downstairs for food and had to sit on the floor to eat it as no space. We were told we would swim in 2 different places, however when we got there they said the wind was too strong so only got to swim in 1 area. We found out a couple of days before they wouldn't sail up to shore so we would have to swim to the beach, which meant leaving your valuables on the boat alone, so we had a quick dip and then went back on the boat. We stayed in that area for 3 hours before sailing anywhere new. We were expecting to see lots of caves and to be able to explore them, however we sailed past one and then we got taken back to shore. The transfer back to the hotel was over 2 hours which was longer than it took to get there, the booking said it was a 10-11 hour day and we should have been dropped back around 8ish, however we didn't get back til after 9. Very long day and yes was nice to swim in the sea, but a lot of money to pay (and we found out some people payed less when we met people on the boat) to not even have a seat and have to eat lunch on the floor. Wouldn't do again, reps didn't introduce themselves, they offered no help to find people seats or ask people to make more space, instead they got their swimming costumes on and went and sunbathed on the beach, yes we saw some lovely places, but you can do that by going for a walk and not spending hours on a coach.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W2092svjamesa
Jul 21, 2022
Crete Odessey - Weather cancelled the boat tour, but the company offered a beach trip, plus a partial refund. Although they can’t guarantee weather, the customer service was a mixed bag. Guides were great, but the transportation was disorganized and the drivers surly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anna
Jul 30, 2022
Save yourself the money - Terrible. They only told us a day in advance we wouldn’t be driven to shore, and got given plastic bags for personal belongings to swim to the shore 50 metres away!!! We were all crammed into the boat and only once we departed they told us we would only stop at one place, not two as advertised. We stayed in one place for 3 hours. Definitely NOT worth the price. If you want to experience this, either pay more for a nice experience elsewhere or swim in a similar beach without paying for a boat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
July 2024
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