David Angel 2023-03-23 Greece You can save & share this post At some point during your holidays in Crete, you're probably going to want to know how to get to Balos beach Crete and lagoon. But now lets get into it and remember to leave a comment if you need more information. This isthmus (say that three times quickly, then try to work in something about Christmas, too) divides the area into a warm, shallow lagoon on one side (south) and a relatively sheltered bay on the other (north). The road can be narrow in a few points but overall doable. Here is a Wikiloc GPS you can follow if you decide to try it: Like most of Crete, Balos Beach enjoys a very mild climate year-round thanks to the surrounding Mediterranean Sea. Its definitely worth a visit but can be quite the drive to get to! Even though I know we usually like to wait a few months to really let a place soak into our long-term memory and see what sticks before making any broad proclamations. In both cases, this lets you have a much quieter time in Balos because the big boats arrive later in the morning and will already be gone if you choose the afternoon departure. I highly suggest sun cream, a hat, a lycra t-shirt for kids (and maybe for adults too) and water for the day, besides some food as the bar has only a few sandwiches that typically are sold out by 1:30-2 pm. Most of the Balos boat trips include 2 hours on Imeri Gramvousa and then around 3 hours on Balos Beach. This is a website that compares the best deals from local and global companies providing the cheapest prices available. Women and adults . Its also a great idea if you want to visit Balos with family or friends and have a quiet time, deciding your own schedule and where you want to swim. Check out more places to stay in Chania with the best areas. on foot + time to enjoy (even if it is a minimum of one hour), plan a minimum of half a day. Take the ferry from Kissamos Port to Balos Beach (30 roundtrip for passengers who are 13+), Go on an off-roading tour to Balos Beach (like this one), Rent a charter boat to take you there on a private tour (ranges from 500-1,000 per group, depending on where youre departing from), Join a boat group tour from your area (e.g. Recommended Bus, taxi Take the bus from Heraklion to Chania Take a taxi from Chania to Balos Beach 3h 44m $91 - $115 Cheapest Bus Breakfast is included and you can choose between the pool or the nearby beach. Take the ferry from Kissamos Port to Balos Beach (30 roundtrip for passengers who are 13+) Go on an off-roading tour to Balos Beach (like this one) Rent a charter boat to take you there on a private tour (ranges from 500-1,000 per group, depending on where you . Overall, it isnt that bad but I would still recommend wearing decent walking/hiking shoes and carrying your flip flops down in your bag. There are boat trips to Balos from several Cretan towns. This guide contains everything to help you visit this paradisiac stretch of beach in the best possible way. One morning, though, on our way to the Balos Beach parking lot there was a herd of goats who literally wouldnt move until Laynni got out of the car and chased them off, yelling nonsensically (a creative choice) and arms akimbo (an obvious choice). How to get to Balos Beach in Crete? Between swims, you can relax on your deckchair under a parasol. There is however the wind that can spoil your day. Coming from Balos, on the road that goes down to Falassarna, you also have several taverns with a very nice view. There are two peninsulas that jut north from the rest of the island. ) What time of the day to go What you should take with you What to wear when visiting Balos Beach Where to stay near Balos Beach And a few other tips you need to know. In all honesty, this statement could apply to all of Crete, but still. Otherwise, you can do what we (unknowingly) did and just risk it! Finally, the hotel has a large swimming pool and a jacuzzi. So, it all depends. Just click on the orange links to book: I will now explain all the ways to reach Balos Lagoon. However, along with the exceptionally good comes a few not so great things that you should know before you visit. We can probably rule out Sitia because of the distance but taking the ferry to either Chania or Heraklion is reasonable. For those coming by car: between the return journey on the track, the descent (and the ascent!) There are many small fish and sea creatures hiding among the rocks and Neptune grass. Even though it isnt the easiest beach to get to, sometimes the journey is half the fun, as they say. Athens and Milos offer ferry connections to both Chania and Heraklion in different frequencies throughout the year. My biggest tip here is to make it early in the morning because although the parking area seems big, it gets very busy if not full by 10 am. It's enormous. How to visit Balos Beach? Driving means braving the difficult road along the Gramvousa Peninsula. For instance, if you see a beautiful, secluded beach off in the distance, you can ask your boat driver to take you there. Day trip to Balos Beach from Heraklion 5. The practical information to get to Elafonissi is in my article: Visit Elafonissi beach. 4. The easiest way is to rent a boat in Kissamos. Balos belongs among the most beautiful places of the whole Mediterranean. If you are not too keen on the 4-5 hours drive from Hersonissos/Heraklion then you should consider the day trip to Chrissi Island, much closer and so amazing too. The cheapest way to get from Balos Beach, Kissamos to Elafonisi beach costs only 11, and the quickest way takes just 54 mins. It has studios, apartments or suites for up to 4 people, all with a sea-view balcony/terrace. If you drive to Balob Beach early in the morning you will be very unlikely to meet anyone coming back which makes things so much easier with the narrow road. Return by boat and bus to Heraklion in the evening. But the highlight is the Byzantine fort at the very top of the hill featuring panoramic views of the entire regions which, in the past, would have allowed it to survey its domain (including the ports of Kissamos and Falasarna). The best way to get from Rethymno to Balos Beach, Kissamos without a car is to bus via Kolimbari which takes 2h 37m and costs 25 - 35. Full disclosure, when you use any of these links to reserve or sign up for something, we receive a small commission which is greatly appreciated. The parking cost is 3 Euro/car, doesnt matter where you park your car, which means that even if you leave it along the unpaved road you will have to pay. After extensive research I have decided that, If youre interested in local guided tours, including everything from city tours to cooking lessons to adventure activities, check out the huge range of options at. As rough as the drive is in parts, the views are absolutely stunning, and taking a boat trip gives you a chance to include Imeri Gramvousa. And the Balos Beach tour means you: There are also downsides to a boat cruise, though (which you probably saw coming): Of course, if you are willing to splash out for a private boat you can theoretically avoid the worst of the crowds by planning to arrive earlier or later than the main boats. Far too many to include here. Local SIM cards are sometimes a bit cheaper but if you have a relatively new smartphone (iPhone XR or newer, Samsung S20 or newer) you can just buy an eSIM online, get a QR code by email and youre good to go. Besides, if you break your flip-flops, well good luck with the walk. You will take the first boat at 10:20 am and in 45 minutes you will be on Gramvousa Island for a couple of hours, swimming and sunbathing at the beach (or hiking up to the Venetian Castle). Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion). The clear, cold water of the river runs down to the ocean, forming a pretty lagoon that splits the beach in two. Are you choosing between a day at Balos or at Elafonissi? There are usually 3 departures per day with the last heading north at around noon. Additionally, theres a small shop in the parking lot that sells food and drink options. FYI: Some of the posts on this blog include affiliate links. This past year, when Dan (the wanderful husband) and I went on our honeymoon to Greece, we spent one week on the beautiful island of Crete and had the amazing opportunity to visit Balos Beach, experiencing it in all its glory. The best view of Balos Lagoon when going down the path from the car is just before the gentleman who keeps the horses. Here is a list of the most important resources we use when planning our travels, all in one convenient spot. Elafonissi Beach is known for its pink sands, sandy shores and crystal-clear blue waters. Despite the surrounding sand, the bottom is actually quite muddy which can sometimes give off an unpleasant smell at low tide. Snorkelling equipment (mask, snorkel, flippers) is also provided. Usually, tours arrive at Balos Beach around 12:30-1 pm. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Tigani is rocky and interesting all along the coast but it is well worth climbing to the top for fantastic panoramic views. This epic journey is 18 km return with an exhausting 1,500m of elevation gain. Balos Beach and its magnificent turquoise lagoon is simply one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete. We stopped in Kissamos along the way for lunch, as youll find out below that Balos Beach has nearly zero facilities. With Crete being a rather large island (it takes like four to five hours to get across the entirety of it! However, if youre like me and you plan to drive to Balos Beach, I would highly recommend wearing some proper shoes and comfortable clothing. You just have to cross the sandbar to get to Cape Tigani. The water is crystal clear and occasionally interspersed with patches of Neptune grass. Psst, this post contains affiliate links. The Greece sun is hot and spicy, and she can burn you quite easily if you have sensitive skin and are prone to sunburns. A travellers guide to Balos Beach, Crete's incredible beach (updated 2022) Post updated 04-08-2020 | Crete is well-known for its white-sanded beaches and crystal clear Mediterranean sea, Balos Beach is no different. Do you have any other questions about traveling to Balos Beach on Crete? If you love Balos Beach, you should probably check out at least a few of the other beautiful beaches on Crete. For checking out flights we usually find that SkyScanner is the fastest and most accurate site. To get to Balos Lagoon, here is a summary of all the options: Balos Lagoon is located at the far north-west of Crete, at the end of the Gramvoussa peninsula. Its really the shades of blue that we loved. If you have a choice I would pick a spot close to the road and park facing out so youre ready to roll when the time comes. Because Balos Beach is quite remote, there are very minimal facilities and amenities there. Famous for its beautiful turquoise water (even among the many, many beautiful turquoise bays in Greece), what sets Balos Beach apart is the narrow sandy isthmus connecting mainland Crete to tiny Cape Tigani. Olive Tree apartments are a fantastic value for well-equipped units set among the olive groves just outside Kaliviani. The first sight is the little Chapel of All Saints, a Greek Orthodox church. The Platano Tour is a great option from Chania. The Wanderful Me is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It passes a pair of small churches, one right on the road and another on the steep slopes down below the road. During peak tourist season, Balos Beach can get super busy! June 30, 2023 3:01 PM PT. But even if you see cars parked on the road dont assume the lot is full many people just come for a short visit and may have left already. . Many thanks! The beach is around a 10-15 minutes walk from the jetty and 25 minutes from the parking on top of the mountain behind (see the map below for a better view). Ive included a handy Google map below that points to its exact location. Typically, you will see the first cars back around 1 pm, sometime earlier. Tour cost includes everything in the cost that is going to be higher if you are travelling in more than two people (similar in just 2). Were Dean and Laynni, two Canadians who quit our jobs to travel in 2008 and have been exploring phenomenal destinations around the globe ever since. It will then take you to Kissamos where you will take the boat to Balos. If you find a quiet spot where you arent bothering anyone, dont have a fire, leave no trace and can trust the weather enough to just use your sleeping bag under the stars you will probably be fine. First and most important, check the rental contract if you hire a vehicle. Falasarna also gets its fair share of wind, making it popular with wind and kite surfers. This means no cafe, shop or proper toilets. It can be steep and possibly dangerous with flip-flops. When determining where to stay on Crete, I would definitely recommend Chania. I book my cruise to Balos lagoon from Heraklion now! You will avoid the cost of the organised tour. Note that if its windyand Balos Beach can get very windythe umbrellas might not be possible to put up. The time on the boat is 45 minutes to Gramvousa Island, 20 minutes from there to Balos Beach and around one hour back to the Kissamos pier. If you have taken the classic boat trip from Kissamos, you can eat directly on the boat. There is also a restaurant (which I recommend! No matter where youre staying, youre going to have to take the notoriously bump Balos Beach road. Find the travel option that best suits you. However, it is an important nature refuge and home to the vast majority of the flora and fauna mentioned earlier, and it looks great in photos. Thats why no car rental company in theory allows you to take this track to Balos in a rental car. Find the travel option that best suits you. You will then leave for Gramvoussa where you can also swim or climb up to the fortress. Of course, if you arrive by boat you will actually be let off at the Tigani dock (although you still face the same dilemma to get across to the beach). If you cant get a Balos beach umbrella because they are sold out you can sometimes find some shade by the bigger rocks lining the Balos Beach lagoon. You can buy food and drinks on board at comparable prices to the Balos Beach bar but keep in mind these boats can get very full and sometimes the lines for snacks can be pretty long. For more info, check out Vai Beach: Stunning Palm Forest and Ancient Ruins. This is about a 3.5 mile (5.5 km) stretch of sandy, rocky road. Read our full disclosurehere. Copyright The Wanderful Me 2017-2022 | All Rights Reserved Worldwide, one week on the beautiful island of Crete, YOUR GUIDE TO VISITING BALOS BEACH ON THE ISLAND OF CRETE, How to Get to Balos Beach by Boat or Ferry, What You Should Bring With You to Balos Beach, private RIB cruise to Balos Beach from Kissamos, 25 important things you should know before going to Greece, Sensational stay at the beautiful Monastery Estate Retreat in Greece, Spending 4 days on the captivating island of Corfu, Greece, Wandering the ancient ruins of Athens, Greece, 13 remarkable things to do in Athens, Greece, Discovering the Adriatic gems of Dubrovnik, Kotor and Budva, Visiting Balos Beach on the Greek island of Crete, Beach umbrella (if youre prone to sunburns). Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel . Bottom line, it is pretty rough and you should go slowly, especially if youre driving a tiny, little rental car like most visitors to Crete. The road runs along the outside of the ridge with amazing views of the Bay of Kissamos. Personally, I wore my beloved Teva sandals and they were great for navigating the pebbly hiking trail, as well as the decline and incline to and from the beach. But this is up to you. Personally, we rented a car through Kayak when visiting Crete and drove to Balos Beach from Chania. Called Wild Gramvousa because of its primitive, rugged landscape, Agria Gramvousa is surrounded by rocks and dangerous coves, making it inaccessible to tourists except from passing boats. Try instead to plan a day trip to another destination in Crete (see my post on the best places to visit in Crete, with a few hidden gems). If you dont have a car and want to visit Balos Beach, you have a few options. Allow 7-8 hours. Nearby Gramvousa Taverna is beautifully decorated and serves delicious local dishes (including vegetarian options) and has a pretty good view over the olive trees. Its a good change from the prices at the French Riviera where the beaches arent even as pretty as those in Balos! They have studios with and without views, plus a family apartment. The sunbeds and beach umbrellas are usually free of charge if you buy something from the bar/restaurant (like a frappe coffee for example, or just water). Or heck, even join my sustainability challenge! This is why I recommend bringing everything you need with you, including: If youre taking the ferry to Balos Beach or a private boat tour, you can easily slip on a swimsuit, a sundress or shorts, some flip-flops and be just fine for the beach adventure. Gramvousa Island has a small beach with crystal clear water, absolutely gorgeous, however, access is a bit challenging over slippery rocks. . If you do happen to hit a windy day, the shoreline on Cape Tigani usually offers the most sheltered areas (depending on wind direction, of course). Here is my selection of the best places to visit near Balos beach. Snacks and drinks are included in the fare. Heraklion is by far the best connected port in Crete, although there are also ferry terminals in Chania and Sitia. Find out how to visit at Seitan Limania: Guide to Cretes Most Unique Beach. Anyway, long story short, I really hope you think the photo was worth it (because Im pretty sure Laynnis only pretending it was to make me feel better). More than 2,000 guests were very happy at a . What are the best things to do in Chania? This is where youll have the best view of Balos Beach and the island of Gramvoussa. The Definitive guide! As such, most restaurant-type constructions are forbidden to preserve the place. Most board the pubic ferry at the Kissamos port in the village Kavonisi (3 km west of Kissamos).