Category Cruises & Boat Tours

Crete · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in Crete

233 tours

The best beaches on this island are easier to reach by sea, and half the coastline has no road at all. Sailing yachts out of Heraklion, catamarans from Rethymno and Hersonissos, the Kissamos ferry to Balos, speedboats to Chrissi. Below is what each trip includes, how long you spend anchored, and whether lunch and drinks are part of the price.

From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa

From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa - Gramvousa Island: the Venetian Castle views and the seaside church swim

Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop - Kolokitha Bay Swim Stop: Clear Water, Boat Anchoring, and Real-Life Tips

Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal - Getting there: Cafe Marina, timing, and pickup reality

3.Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

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

A 5.5-hour small-group sailing cruise from Heraklion to Dia Island, with swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and a Mediterranean meal.

“Here’s a smoother, more natural version of your text: This was the last day of our trip through Crete, and we ended it in the best way possible. The cruise was incredible, the weather was perfect, and the crew and food were fantastic. It was everything I wanted and more. We were having so much fun that we didn’t even have enough time to try all the activities - which is actually a good thing!”

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Hersonissos: Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling

Hersonissos: Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling - Saint George’s Bay Swim Stop: Cave-Like Water Time and Marine Life

Heraklion: Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch

Heraklion: Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch - The sail to Dia Island: a practical 1-hour rhythm

From Ierapetra: Cruise to Chrissi Island with Swimming

From Ierapetra: Cruise to Chrissi Island with Swimming - Your Chrissi Island Time, Without the Usual Island Wandering

6.From Ierapetra: Cruise to Chrissi Island with Swimming

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

Cruise from Ierapetra to Chrissi Island for swimming and snorkeling, with stunning sea views and snorkel gear, plus drinks onboard.

“The island is incredibly beautiful! It's definitely worth it to walk to the beach on the other part of the island to get a view of the Crete island and the turquoise water. But the boat trip wasn't that great. We were there at 10 am and left at 11:15. The crew waited for anyone who wanted to join. Considering the Coronavirus regulations, you could say the ship was overcrowded.”

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

Chania Areas/Kalyves:Gramvousa Island & Balos,Boat Tkt Extra - Getting from Chania or Kalyves to Kissamos without stress

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

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

Day trip from Chania to Gramvousa and Balos with coach pickup, ferry crossings, fortress views, and swim time in clear water.

“Really nice guide and welcoming, was a comfy ride to the port and back. Our guide was really friendly and kept us informed and updated with the itinerary and what to expect. The Gramvousa Island was amazing, definitely recommend walking up to the Fortress first and then spending the rest of the time on the beach. Note there are no cafes or food on the island, only one small souvenir shop. Spent 2.75 hours which was a good amount of time to do both. It’s worth noting that you can’t actually go into the Balos beach due to the new conservation rules unless you swim to it from the boat.…”

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Chania: Balos Gramvousa Cruise with Transfer and Boat Ticket

Chania: Balos Gramvousa Cruise with Transfer and Boat Ticket - Price and Value: What $47 Gets You

Heraklion: Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks and Meal

Heraklion: Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks and Meal - Before you go: what you need to know about pickup and boarding

9.Heraklion: Sailing Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks and Meal

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

Sail from Heraklion to Dia Island for snorkeling, SUP, fishing, and a full onboard meal with drinks, wine, and raki.

“The most magical and romantic experience to end our trip in Crete. Hosts were delightful, the snacks and drinks were excellent, the equipment and amenities provided for snorkelling, fishing and paddle boarding were amazing! The sights on the way and from the island were incredible - recommend the evening trip for the sunset. 100/10 couldn’t recommend more! So so worth the money!”

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Heraklion: Dia Island Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling

Heraklion: Dia Island Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling - Heraklion Departure: From Old Venetian Harbor to Open Water

10.Heraklion: Dia Island Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling

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

Sail from Heraklion to uninhabited Dia Island for snorkeling, paddleboarding, and wine, plus a simple Greek meal on a small yacht.

“Thank you for the nice sailing trip to Dia Island. We had a really great time, the staff has been super nice and caring! We had some nice food and our glutenfree and vegan wishes were considered. We would really recommend this trip and would love to come again one day.”

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From Ag. Nikolaos: Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch

From Ag. Nikolaos: Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch - Sailing Out of Agios Nikolaos: The Mirabello Bay Stretch

11.From Ag. Nikolaos: Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch

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

Spinalonga leper colony boat cruise from Agios Nikolaos with lunch at Kolokytha Bay, plus swim time in clear turquoise water.

“We really could have used more time to explore the island itself as the center and top were not well maintained trails and required more attention when navigating. We had to really hustle to get down which was not entirely safe to do.”

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Rethymno Area: Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra

Rethymno Area: Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra - How the day runs from Rethymno to Kissamos port

13.Rethymno Area: Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra

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

Bus to Kissamos, ferry to Balos lagoon and Gramvousa Island, optional Venetian Fortress climb, swim time, and Rethymno pickup.

“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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Chania/Almyrida: Balos Gramvousa Day Trip with Boat Ticket

Chania/Almyrida: Balos Gramvousa Day Trip with Boat Ticket - The drive to Kissamos: time well used, even before the boat

14.Chania/Almyrida: Balos Gramvousa Day Trip with Boat Ticket

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

Cruise from Chania to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa, with an air-conditioned bus, ferry tickets, swims, and a Venetian fortress climb.

“It was a great experience and I am happy that I booked this trip. Eirini was an amazing guide. She had a very friendly and positive attitude. I will always remember on the way back, after a day at the beach, she asked us if we would like to hear some interesting facts about Crete. We all said yes and she started telling us some nice things about the island, while the sun was slowly setting. It was a highlight of the trip for sure. Balos was beautiful and we also enjoyed the trip to Gramvousa Island. I highly recommend this day trip.”

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Rethymno: Sunset Cruise on a Wooden Pirate Boat

Rethymno: Sunset Cruise on a Wooden Pirate Boat - Meeting point and what to do right when you arrive