Private Sailing Cruise to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island: A Unique Tour Aboard Mikros Naftilos
4.9
24 Ratings
Trachilos
Experience a private sailing cruise to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island aboard Mikros Naftilos. Avoid the crowds and enjoy a safe trip with excellent service, lunch, and unlimited drinks.
Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Departure point of sailing boats to Balos and Gramvoussa - With our sailing boat “Mikros Naftilos” we organise day cruises to Gramvousa Balos and other unique locations. Our journey starts from the Port of Kissamos, which is located just next to the Gramvousa Peninsula at the west side of Crete. After about 90 minutes of cruise we will reach our first destination, the lagoon of Balos, one of the most beautiful beaches over the Europe. The turquoise water invites you to swimming and snorkeling. We will spend next two hours there, while you can enjoy the beach and relax. We will have a pleasure to offer you traditional and light Cretan lunch on board. Our next stop is the island of Imeri Gramvousa. There you can enjoy the beautiful beach and take a bath in the crystal clear water.

Above the island, built at the rock, you will find old Venetian Castle, one of the most famous in Crete. The views from there are really breath taking. After a day full of sun and sea, we will start our journey back to the port. On board you have for your disposal the cover cabin to rest or sleep, bathroom with shower and covered dining area. We provide snorkeling equipment and umbrellas for the beach. In the price is included lunch, soft drinks, beer and wine.

What's Included
  • Beer and Wine
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Bottled water
  • Lunch
  • Use of snorkeling equipment
What's Not Included
  • Beach Towels
Additional Information

Our sailing vessel, ‘Mikros Naftilos’, schedules day trips to places like Gramvousa Island, Balos Lagoon, and other exclusive sites. With our customized tour, you can bypass the throngs and savour a more personal sailing adventure. Not only is our captain highly skilled at sailing, but his expertise also extends to the tourism sector as he owns a hotel and restaurant, ensuring a secure voyage with top-notch service. On the journey, we provide a lunch featuring regional delicacies and a limitless supply of drinks and refreshments.

Location
Departure point of sailing boats to Balos and Gramvoussa
You turn to enter the Kissamos port and you turn again right in 30m. Our boat "Izabela" is in front of you in 100m.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(24 Ratings)
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Jkvela2018
Oct 19, 2023
Amazing Experience! Highly recommend!! - This was one of the best days on our Crete adventure! We were originally scheduled for a Wednesday but George (our Captain) recommended we do another day due to the choppy seas, he was so very accommodating in finding us the best day to venture out. We ended up going out on a Sunday, and the weather and seas were just perfect, George had plenty of cold beverages awaiting us (wine, beer, Fantas, coke, water) and he was the absolutely best Captain throughout our experience. The lunch was simply delicious, one of the best meals I've experienced. I've sailed on quite a bit of boats around the world, and George is a top-notch professional and we loved watching him work the sails. He is a gracious host! All in my party (4 of us) would absolutely do this again and again given the opportunity!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ross_b
Oct 8, 2023
Relaxing day visiting Gramvousa and Balos - Amazing time going to Gramvousa Island and Balos Lagoon. After having to catch many plane rides, shuttles, buses and ferries during our vacation, having the flexibility to visit these places at our own pace was well worth it. Not to mention, the hike back up from Balos Lagoon looked pretty tiring after a long day. Yanni and Alex were courteous, professional, and great hosts. Would definitely recommend this to a couple looking to have a nice, relaxing day. Would give an extra star for the hilarious single negative review (as of 10/23) and response by the vendor (or employees themselves). I appreciate them backing up their employees and not giving a canned "thank you for your feedback, we're sorry..." response.
Review provided by Viator
Rachel_t
Sep 21, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed by all the group, an amazing experience - We all thoroughly enjoyed the day, an amazing experience. Beautiful sailing boat with plenty of opportunities to swim from the boat. George also provided a truly delicious lunch, catering for a vegetarian and also gluten free.
Review provided by Viator
Anna
Aug 11, 2023
Great boat trip for the whole family - We specifically booked a private boat tour because we didn't want to be on overcrowded ships with mass tourism. We were very satisfied! It was very nice even with small children and I would definitely recommend it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
696emmanuelr
Aug 5, 2023
Dream day with a caring crew - Boat in good condition, crew at the top, simple and good meal, we spent an excellent day on board and discovering these two wonders of the ridge.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Diana_s
Jul 5, 2023
A day in paradise - We had a wonderful day on board. The Crew were amazing so friendly and their english was perfect. They were great hosts and the traditional greek lunch was amazing! Way beyond our expectations. We highly recommend this tour. Thank you for the wonderful memories!
Review provided by Viator
Maryann_r
Jun 29, 2023
Beauty that moves you to tears - Wonderful sailing trip to Gramvousa and Balos beaches for our group of 8! George and Yanni were so kind and knowledgeable. The traditional Greek lunch dishes were excellent. Gramvousa is beautiful, a 1968 shipwreck is nearby to see, as well as a Venetian Fortress if you want to climb. Balos Beach’s beauty moved me to tears. Bring your water shoes, both shores have rocky areas. Your toes will thank you.
Review provided by Viator
David_r
Jun 10, 2023
Idyllic sailing day in the Greek Isles - Our sailing cruise with George was the highlight of our visit to Crete! The boat was beautiful and George was a fantastic and gracious host. The delicious hot lunch served while sipping chilled wine as we anchored off of Gramvousa Island was an unexpected bonus! The agenda for the day was perfect and 8 hours flew by. Before we knew it, our perfect day was coming to an end. If possible I would rate this even more than 5 stars and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this private sailing cruise to any friends holidaying on Crete. Thank you George!!
Review provided by Viator
Ramon_r
May 31, 2022
Amazing! - The scipers where very polite and served us everything we needed. The sailing vessel was bigger then expected and in really good conditions. It was clean and we had two rooms ans two bathrooms to our hand. The two spots we went to where amazing and had a stunning view! All in all totaly worth the money!!!
Review provided by Viator
Patrick
Oct 27, 2022
Good option for couples…not for families with younger children - We are a well-traveled family and have booked a number of boating excursions over the years. We’ve also grown up around the water and are experienced boaters ourselves. Prior to departure, we hadn’t been contacted so we called to confirm where to meet, what time and the name of the vessel. Upon arrival, as a family with children (boys ages 5, 9, and 11), this guide did not know how to interact with us and was very socially reserved, which made for awkward conversation. When we reached an island to swim, he tied the anchor line around a thin cable on the boat railing rather than the secure cleat on the bow of the boat. One of our boys noticed this and brought it to our attention while the captain was below deck. Moments later, to no surprise, the boat line came loose and the boat drifted into shallow water. The captain came to the bow and immediately started shouting our boys were “naughty” and accused them of untying the boat. We explained we had been with them on the bow the entire time and none of us had touched it. He said there was no way it came loose on its own and that our boys were the cause. The captain anchored his boat again (this time to a proper cleat). We were shocked and at a loss for words at his attitude. Needless to say, we were quite upset at the accusation and unprofessionalism. He was visibly frustrated when the children stood up on the boat for the remainder of the long boat ride back and did not want them moving about despite calm waters, a difficult thing for little ones at sea for a full day. We felt constantly on edge. He truly took the fun out of the day. Also worth noting, the adults enjoyed the food (all vegetarian with spices, heavier cheese) but there was nothing oriented specifically for children. We ended up buying them food at a hut on the beach. In the end, this would be a good option for adults/couples, but not recommended for families with school age children.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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June 2024
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