Gramvousa Island & Balos Bay Tour: Enjoy White Sand Beaches and Clear Waters

Embark on a scenic bus and boat trip to Gramvousa Island and Balos Bay in Crete. Experience the stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters of this picturesque destination.

Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Gramvousa Beach - Discover the westernmost tip of Crete on a scenic bus and boat trip to Gramvousa Island and Balos Bay. Dip your toes in the soft white sand of some of the most beautiful beaches you ever have seen!
    After your escort gives you all the necessary information about the cruise, arrive at the port where the Gramvousa ferry is waiting…
What's Included
  • Modern air-conditioned coach for transportation
  • Convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off service
  • Inclusion of all legal taxes
  • Coverage by liability insurance
  • Professional driver at your service
  • Guidance in English and German
What's Not Included
  • Boat ticket to Gramvousa island and Balos lagoon(€30 per adult and children 5 - 12 years €14.50)
  • Personal expenses food and drinks
  • No pickup from remote hotels such as Grand Rimondi (pick up is from Creta star bus stop)
  • Entrance ticket to the Venetian Fortress (€1)
  • Sun Umbrellas (available to rent)
  • Photographer on the boat (at extra cost)
Additional Information

Embark on a picturesque journey by bus and boat to explore Gramvousa Island and Balos Bay, found at the extremities of Crete. Experience the differences a white sandy beach can make - some of the most breathtaking you will ever come across!

Begin your journey from Rethymno around 07:45 and move along the newly constructed national road to reach the…

Location
Gramvousa Beach
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
3.7
(15 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Marcela_f
Oct 3, 2024
Excellent experience - We spend a lovely day on beautiful beaches of Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa island. Trip was very well organized. Our guide George is amazing! Speaks english, german and french fluently, instructions were clear, he cares abour tourists needs. Thank you!
Review provided by Viator
Travelelfie
Jun 15, 2024
Rethymno, lovely town in Crete - The town is very beautiful. It is a historic town and the small streets are worth exploring. The beaches are beautiful and there are many of them. It is an ideal place to stay in the center of Crete and explore the whole island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anastasia_k
Jun 12, 2024
Spectacular - Fantastic excursion with such a great guide. Gramvusa and Balos are real paradise. Loved it from the start to the end. Everything was so well planned. Highly recommend to anyone.
Review provided by Viator
Go63583156682
Oct 17, 2022
Super - We enjoed very much. All was good. Buss trip, ship along the pepinsula, pirate island walk to fortress, beach!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexni7275wf
Aug 8, 2022
Nice trip with Platanos Tours - We decided to do the tour with Platanos Tours and booked via another site (not Platanos direct). That's why our tour on a Saturday was cancelled but we were able to than do it one day later. I think that it was not the fault of Platanos Tours but the provider inbetween. Therefore I must say it was an excellent communicaton via Mail and WhatsApp and on the day of the tour everything was great and I'm time. Lovely guide Pia and super driver Gregoris really did a superb job. Pia was always very nice and helpful and even spoke to all the guests in their own language (4 or 5 different I remember) while explaining and giving tips during the tour. Gramvousa Island and Balos Bay were lovely,not to crowded with the possibility to find a nice spot to relax. The flow with getting the tickets for the ferry went on without any problems as well as the save drive back to the hotel. The ferry itself was very very full (but it's of course not the fault of Platanos Tours) but it was possible to get something to drink and to eat. It wasn't that special but nice to have something ( but you might avoid the packed "hamburger" ! đŸ˜‰). All together a lovely day trip. EfcharistĂ³ poly and kind regards from Elias & Alexandra
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pinelopi_l
Aug 27, 2020
gramvousa island is amazing seven different collors the water and platanos tours is fantastic very helpful excellent! - gramvousa island is amazing seven different collors the water and platanos tours is fantastic very helpful excellent!
Review provided by Viator
Charlotte
Jul 22, 2024
Great snorkelling spot! - Bring snorkelling equipment!! That’s what you should do there. You can rent an umbrella at the ferry. Bring your own food at the ferry as the food there is super expensive and does not taste good. No need for extra shoes to hike in. The AC on the bus did NOT work great, so you should buy something to drink at the kiosk where the busses is parked before travel if home
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wolframt791
Jun 6, 2024
Beautiful beaches, useless tour guide - We were picked up on time in Rethymno, the "tour guide" gave us some information about the tour in English and French and got the necessary maps on site, handed them out and that was it. There was no opportunity to ask him anything on the boat because he was never seen again. It would be useful to have someone to look after us, especially when his "guests" are wading through the water on a rope, but he was just an accompanying person, and the driver could have done the same. The beaches themselves were a dream, the supplies on board and the friendliness of the staff there were better than expected. The trip itself can be recommended, but you can safely do without the tour guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lolo_juju
Aug 30, 2023
Overbooking on the shameful bus - The excursion to the 2 islands itself is fantastic, the places are sumptuous and worth the detour!!! on the other hand we did this tour with platanos tours and the bus was full when we got on (we were the last to be picked up) I found myself with my 10 year old son on my knees for a 1h30 transfer!! Even though we had paid for our tickets, it’s just a shame!! 2 days before we had done another excursion with them (Elafonissi) and we left at 2:55 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m. announced in the program.. suffice to say that we do not recommend this agency!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joelnx7267ow
Jun 14, 2022
Do not go with Platanos tours!!! - I was at the pickup point 30 minutes before the sheduled time and waited. When a hour had passed I called the busdriver and he told me that he already had been there and picked up other persons. I stood at the pickup point and nobody asked or called me. Do not go on a trip with this company!!! Of course no refund
Review provided by Tripadvisor