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. 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. Gramvousa Island has a small beach with crystal clear water, absolutely gorgeous, however, access is a bit challenging over slippery rocks. I can tell you from experience that finishing 3rd in a regional Grade 8 track meet isnt good enough. Im sharing everything you need to know before you go so you have a easy, breezy and comfortable beach adventure! The north coast is typically cooler than the south and also gets a bit more rain. Cretes original hippie beach, lovely Matala Beach features a hillside of old caves that are well worth exploring for the beach views alone. 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. The rocky path descends gradually for the first half until you reach the main Balos Beach viewpoint, where youll definitely want to stop for some photos (and to just soak it all in, so much turquoise!). Thats right, I said ever. Directly south of Sfinari, this adorable little beach hemmed in by tall rocky promontories on both sides can only be reached on foot, either by hiking over Cape Korakas from Sfinari or down the gorge from Kampos. Boat trips are only available from April 30 to October 30. With a small town, lots of accommodation options and a massive beach it can be a good area to base yourself. . The drive on the gravel road lasts around 30-45 minutes and expect to drive at a speed of 10-20 km/h. This is a popular destination and arriving early with a rented car will allow you to enjoy it almost on your own till the tours arrive. To book your trip from Chania to Balos Lagoon, just click on the button below: Your 3rd option to visit Balos beach is to go on a day trip from Rethymnon. 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). Either way, though, Im not saying Balos Beach is the best, or biggest, or has the best swimming, or the warmest water, has the whitest sand (its okay to like white sand better than black sand, right?) To go from Chania to Balos, it takes about 90 minutes by car. It is the site we use to book all our own ferry trips. The ferry from Kissamos gets there around 1 PM or 2 PM. Anytime before noon youll miss the bulk of the tour groups and late risers, and if you stick around until after 4 or 5 youll see the place empty out again. Well unfortunately, it wont be possible, you wont be able to do any water activities in Balos because the area is a protected natural site. There are no restaurants in Balos Beach. And its pink sand gives it a lot of charm. Just click on the orange links to book: I will now explain all the ways to reach Balos Lagoon. For warm weather, minimal rain and fewer people, we would recommend visiting in the shoulder seasons. From the shack, the road turns into a rather rugged track with many stones and large potholes. Most of the buildings are down to barely recognizable ruins but some sections of the walls are reasonably intact and some of the old houses, cisterns and churches have been restored to their former glory. Even more impressive, Balos Beach is often listed as one of the best beaches in the world. (Which sucks after that horrendous car ride, but hey, its all part of the adventure, right?). Technically, there is no camping allowed in Greece except in designated campgrounds. You also need to pay a 1 Municipality of Kissamos per person fee for the privilege of visiting. The views that you get along the drive are stunning, except for the driver that will need to pay 100% of his attention on the route, which can be challenging on a few points. You can typically rent one from about 15-30 per bed, depending on the time of year and how busy the beach is. In this tourist-friendly Balos Beach guide, Im sharing with you, What I wish I knew before going How to get to Balos Beach by car (and alternatives if you dont have a car! Chania to Balos Beach: only 33 miles, but 90 minutes! Elafonisi is more easily accessible by car or bus (no track) and is much more developed: large car parks all around, restaurants. There is however the wind that can spoil your day. The cheapest way to get from Balos Beach, Kissamos to Elafonisi beach costs only 11, and the quickest way takes just 54 mins. This means the beach will be packed with countless visitors. More than 2,000 people turned out this year for the annual Balboa Bay Club Father's Day Car Show. ), this could have resulted in a 300 fine. Here is a list of the most important resources we use when planning our travels, all in one convenient spot. 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. June and September are practically perfect, with May and October appealing more to those who prioritize peace and quiet over hot beach weather. Kissamos to Elafonisi beach by taxi or car. Read our disclosure. The boats can get quite full, especially in July and August, but its somehow expected considering the popularity of Balos Beach. 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. So, lets plan your visit to Balos Lagoon! With the boat, you will visit also Gramvousa Island (2 hours stay) and the time in Balos is limited to usually 3 hours. Public transportation on Crete can be tedious so we highly recommend renting a car so you dont miss out on any of the best spots. Enjoy the place till 1-2 pm and make your way back to enjoy your lunch in the small town of Trachilos. The hike down Kampos Gorge is longer (roughly an hour one-way) but is relatively straightforward. of tiny, crushed shells (and sometimes not crushed, a surprising discovery when Laynni looked close enough). Located in a quiet spot between Kissamos and Kaliviani are the comfortable Viglia Beach Apartments. How to get to Balos Beach in Crete? Falasarna also gets its fair share of wind, making it popular with wind and kite surfers. 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. Youll get there eventually! Are you looking to visit Balos Beach and lagoon on the gorgeous Greek island of Crete? By boat Boat tours in Balos usually last 2-3 hours on the beach and also include a stop on the island of Gramvousa. First and most important, check the rental contract if you hire a vehicle. If you are with two or more people, it will be a much cheaper experience. Its a good change from the prices at the French Riviera where the beaches arent even as pretty as those in Balos! Its an excellent beach with translucent waters and pink sand on the waters edge. To get around this, you can rent a car thats specifically for off-roading, such as a Jeep. Many families stop at the Balos lagoon beach at the end of the trail rather than continuing on. The boats to Balos Beach also feature a snack bar where you can grab a bite or stock up for the beach and, somewhat surprisingly, the prices are actually a bit cheaper than at the beach hut. The hike is around 1.7 miles (2.7 km) out and back, so a little less than one mile to the beach from the car park. Not to mention, on a good day, the waters are calm and clear, giving you the perfect opportunity to soak in the shallows and relax in the sun. Routinely Nomadic is a comprehensive travel blog that features all the destination info, trip stories and travel advice you need to plan your next great adventure. Most board the pubic ferry at the Kissamos port in the village Kavonisi (3 km west of Kissamos). Keep reading to get all the deets on Cretes beautiful Balos beach and lagoon. You have the option also to hike up to thefascinating Venetian fortress on top of the hill (access is 1 Euro). Especially if youre there when the ferries and all of their passengers are there. The drive to Balos Beach ends at the parking place on top of Balos Beach. Finally, the hotel has a large swimming pool and a jacuzzi. Basically, if you see a sign that starts with poly youre probably on the right track. The Platano Tour is a great option from Chania. or even has the best holes (that is definitely Rincon de Guayabitos at Easter). It is usually busier due to the group size. There is also the pretty little Gramvousa beach, a small church and a relatively modern (20th century) shipwreck just off the beach that you can check out if you bring snorkelling gear. Unfortunately, it wasnt a good enough hiding spot as they were found and massacred, one of the most famous of the many atrocities committed during those wars. You might make some new friends while waiting in line for a Cretan pie at the boat snack bar. Watch for the Throne of Falasarna next to the road before you even reach the entrance. Heraklion is by far the best connected port in Crete, although there are also ferry terminals in Chania and Sitia. This epic journey is 18 km return with an exhausting 1,500m of elevation gain. If you dont have a car and want to visit Balos Beach, you have a few options. 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. You will probably even see some cute goats on your way there! If you drive to Balos Beach and hike to the beach, your eyes are basically assaulted with the most beautiful views ever. And in this day and age, too. This cave apparently holds historic significance as a place where women and children hid during the Turkish invasion. Basically, everything is paved and normal until Kaliviani. The accommodations are modern, spacious, bright and all have a kitchenette. 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. The booking fee does not include the boat ticket, as in all tours, however, you can buy it on the bus and skip the queue at the pier. *The order may be reversed: first Balos, then the stop at Gramvoussa. In addition to hiking to the top of Tigani, the end of Gramvousa Peninsula or just exploring down the coastline, snorkelling is also a popular activity in Balos lagoon. Find out how to visit at Seitan Limania: Guide to Cretes Most Unique Beach. Otherwise, you can do what we (unknowingly) did and just risk it! Anyway, before you know it, youll be there. Youre traveling to Crete? You can organise that as you leave your hotel or you can stop by the towns of Kissamos or Trachilos. You will avoid the cost of the organised tour. The 16th century Gramvousa Castle is located on the high point of the island, requiring a fairly short but strenuous hike. 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. However, I would have actually really liked to experience the beach in the morning! Often simply referred to as Gramvousa Island, it was formerly an ancient Venetian castle. So young. Discover all my articles about Crete: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Crete are listed there. *Privacy policy. 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). In this last week, both the United States Supreme Court . Beware, this road is minimally maintained, has no barrier (and a scary ledge) and can be insanely packed during peak tourist season. The practical information to get to Elafonissi is in my article: Visit Elafonissi beach. If you are considering visiting Balos Beach and lagoon by rental car, I would highly recommend checking with your rental provider on whether or not this is allowed. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip. Check out our complete list of The Best Beaches on Crete. Suggested Hotels in Chania: Kasteli Studios & Apartments(low budget),Casa Delfino Hotel(mid-budget),Semeli Studios(next to the beach, families). Chania is the closest major city to Balos Beach. A large part of the beach is private, with many Beach Clubs that offer deckchairs and parasols at reasonable prices. This is where youll have the best view of Balos Beach and the island of Gramvoussa. In some places, the sand even has a slight pink colour (similar to Elafonissi beach, another very famous beach in Crete), which gives the place even more charm. But this is up to you. Although it really looks like an island connected only at low tide, or a peninsula only separated at high tide, it is technically referred to as Cape Tigani. All in all, Balos Beach (and the entirety of Crete) is worth visiting. You can also take a nice boat trip to get there, which is not the case for Elafonisi. How long does it take to drive the road to Balos Beach? When travelling we always get SIM cards with data for our phones. How to get to Balos Beach Boat: Its more about having a quiet time and experiencing the local life passing by. The entire bus+boat tour takes around 11-12 hours, much more from the Heraklion/Hersonissos area. Balos Beach is located on the upper lefthand corner of Crete, near the area of Kissamos. If youre looking to stay near Balos Beach, here are a couple great hotel and resort options I found that you may like: There are of course tons of other accommodation options near Balos Beach! Balos Beach & Lagoon, Crete: Practical Tips for Your Trip by Adriana Famous Balos Beach is truly a gem and one of the best beaches on Crete island. Breakfast is included and you can choose between the pool or the nearby beach. Day trip to Balos Beach from Heraklion. Well done! Hiking from Kaliviani to the parking lot and back will mean 18 km of walking with 600m of total elevation gain most people should count on 5-6 hours of walking time. Nearby Gramvousa Taverna is beautifully decorated and serves delicious local dishes (including vegetarian options) and has a pretty good view over the olive trees. 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. If you are coming by car, you should arrive as soon as possible to get parking space. In this video, we are showing how to get to one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete, . Without a doubt, Balos Beach and lagoon is a freakin dream! If you have chosen a boat trip and you have therefore arrived directly by sea, you must make the effort to cover part of the trail that goes up to the car park. The perfect plan is to be there by 8-8:30 am. Of course, we visited in early November and I think there were only two loungers being used. A gentleman will tell you where to park your car. 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 . Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion). There are a few sections in cement, the typical old Greek way to build roads, but besides that expect a dirt road with rocks and potholes here and there. The Definitive guide! For more details, see Matala Beach: Cretes Original Hippie Village. Ill still give you my opinion to help you. If you are part of a larger group, I would definitely explore the option of renting a charter boat or going on a private tour. Tsk, tsk. Find the travel option that best suits you. The trip also includes an excellent lunch cooked on board and drinks. What are the best things to do in Chania? The boats depart three times a day, at around 10:20 am, 10:40 and 12:30. Suggested Hotels in Rethymno: Caramel Grecotel Boutique Resort (exclusive), thePalazzino di Corina(lovely place) orLeo Hotel(in a 1450 century house), You can find more suggestions on where to stay in Crete here. To be paid to the guard in a shack on the right of the road, about 10 km before arriving in Balos. There is also an airport in Sitia but it only handles domestic traffic from Athens and Karpathos and flights are only scheduled in high season. This information should help you plan the best possible trip here! Which means if you make a purchase through the links, this site receives a small commission at no extra cost to you. For the most part the road is actually quite wide plenty wide enough for two cars to pass each other, sometimes even with enough room for a small herd of goats as well. Visit Balos on foot 3. Im sure it was blissful with the morning sun, calm waters and desolate shores. For your visit to Chania, you must read my article right here: What are the best things to do in Chania? From the parking lot it will take most people around 20 minutes to walk down to the beach and around 30 min to come back up, although take as much time as you need, the beach isnt going anywhere. If youre feeling like a longer walk you can continue past Agnion all the way to Cape Vouxa at the far northern tip of Gramvousa Peninsula. It is just a few hundred metres away from the beginning of the path leading to the car park. While the isthmus is usually split by a small stream running into the ocean you can easily wade across to explore the rocky area leading up to the steep hill of Tigani. The cheapest way to get from Rethymno to Balos Beach, Kissamos costs only 16, and the quickest way takes just 1 hours. Here is a quick table that compares a visit to Balos Beach by car or with an organised tour. The short answer is yes, but you should be aware of a few things. If you have taken the classic boat trip from Kissamos, you can eat directly on the boat. Its the same as from Chania, with a bus that will pick you up from your hotel in Rethymnon, takes you to Kissamos to take the boat and go to Balos Lagoon. From the car park, you can reach Balos Lagoon on foot via a path that goes down about 1.2 km and descends 150 metres (which you have to climb at the end of the day, which is a little harder ). It has studios, apartments or suites for up to 4 people, all with a sea-view balcony/terrace. This makes it one of Cretes most popular beaches. This is really the best way if you dont want to bother with organisational issues, everything is taken care of from start to finish. Guests can choose between departure at 8:30 a.m. and a departure at 3:30 p.m. This is a much quicker option than the bus tour. To know the things to do in Balos, just read the rest of the article. Its really the shades of blue that we loved. There are three ways to get to Balos Beach boat, car and on foot. Note that you have to pay a sort of Balos Beach toll to get to the peninsula. But now lets get into it and remember to leave a comment if you need more information. On the map below, Chania appears close to Balos Beach, but the drive took us 90 minutes each way. Boat trip to Balos Lagoon from Kissamos. Chania and Rethymno are other two great towns to stay in, much busier and with a lovely Historical Centre. 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. On Balos beach, there is only one snack bar offering sandwiches and drinks. And you can entertain yourselves, like we did, watching cars squeeze by the massive old tree taking up valuable road space. If you do not feel ready for that, I highly suggest taking a tour (more on this later), a real no-worries trip. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Since Balos Beach is part of the sea, I would highly recommend getting a sea- and ocean-friendly sunscreen. Here are a couple private tours to check out: private tour to Balos Beach from Chania or private RIB cruise to Balos Beach from Kissamos. 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. The best cities and places to stay, Road trip in Crete: The best itineraries for 4, 5, 7, 10, and 15 days, 2 weeks in Crete: The Ultimate 14-15 Days Itinerary + My Best Tips, Visit Malta: Top 27 things to do and best places to visit, Visit Palermo: Top 21 Things to Do and Must-See Attractions, Visit Sicily: Top 20 Things to Do and Must See Attractions, A week in Sicily: Ultimate 6, 7 or 8 days Itinerary + My Best Tips, Visit Taormina: The 13 best Things to Do and See, Visit Geneva: Top 23 Things To Do and Must-See Attractions, Visit Nice: The 15 Best things to do and see, Departure from Heraklion by bus early in the morning, Arrival at Kissamos and boarding the boat. This guide contains everything to help you visit this paradisiac stretch of beach in the best possible way. Far too many to include here. In all honesty, this statement could apply to all of Crete, but still. The weather in Crete in summer is usually sunny, warm and beautiful. We stopped in Kissamos along the way for lunch, as youll find out below that Balos Beach has nearly zero facilities. By choosing this option, you will spend the day. of rental cars that are in the car park! However, your price does not change and we have only included products and websites that we can honestly recommend. You can check the KTEL website for the timetable. Bring your own food, as the snack bar soon sells out in the peak season - and it's exorbitantly expensive. In summer the parking lot typically fills up by 10 am but after that people just start parking along the side of the road. Many can be booked online or you could go down to the port in the evening when the boats have returned from Balos Beach and discuss your specific needs and negotiate a price and itinerary. However, in practice, fines only apply to people sleeping in tents. Either way, you win. This means no cafe, shop or proper toilets. Click the star to save this map to your Google Maps then find it under Saved/Maps (mobile) or Your Places/Maps (desktop). In our opinion, Sfinari is worth a visit for the road trip alone. It is an impressive site with just a 1 entrance fee, which is a bargain based on the views alone. Anyway, this very important historical site is located just 8 kilometres up into the hills from Kissamos along slow, winding roads with terrific views. Usually, tours arrive at Balos Beach around 12:30-1 pm. Then, there is also an entrance fee of 1 Euro per person. In a few words, the sooner the better. ), what you should know about visiting, and top Balos Beach travel tips. You will then leave for Gramvoussa where you can also swim or climb up to the fortress. What are the things to do around Balos beach? The drive itself can be great fun as well as a tiring and stressful adventure, based on your experience and level of confidence in driving on unpaved narrow roads. 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. Athens and Milos offer ferry connections to both Chania and Heraklion in different frequencies throughout the year. If you want to get the best views of Balos beach, you need to climb the steep footpath up the mountain towards the car park - the classic panoramic view of Balos, over the sands and Cape Tigani, is near the top of the walk. Every post has been written by us based on our personal experience (no sponsored posts), and every adventure is our own, even the boring ones. This is the biggest benefit. 3 ways to visit Balos Beach Staying somewhere on the west side of Crete will give you more flexible options for visiting Balos Beach. And by there, I mean a small, poorly designed car park that practically guarantees at least a car or two will get trapped in by other cars eventually. More details Public boats are cheaper but crowded, private boats are more flexible but also more expensive. 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. Find out how to get here (including tour options! From top you can see it all the bay, the beach, the lagoon, Cape Gramvousa, Imeri Gramvousa and Agria Gramvousa. And assume it will be a slow trip. The boat trip is exactly the same as the one I just told you about with a: At the end of the day, the boat returns to Kissamos where youll have to wait for your bus to take you back to Chania. The best view of Balos Lagoon when going down the path from the car is just before the gentleman who keeps the horses. Most people choose to bring their own snacks and drinks to enjoy on the beach and just supplement that as needed. The 30-minute hike from Sfinari can be tricky in spots but should be manageable for anyone comfortable with a bit of scree and steep slopes. There is also a restaurant (which I recommend! There are two ways to get to Balos Beach - by car, or by boat. Not much of it is still standing but there are still some impressive buildings and surviving walls dating back to its time as an influential port back in the 4th century BC. Despite the surrounding sand, the bottom is actually quite muddy which can sometimes give off an unpleasant smell at low tide. In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know to plan your visit: how to get to Balos Beach by car, by boat or with a guided tour as well as all my best tips for a perfect day. However you end up there, though, youll want to have decent walking shoes and hopefully enough energy to do some hiking. There is a basic beach bar on Balos Beach with a fairly limited selection and rather high prices. 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. We have made it our mission to seek out the most spectacular hiking and epic long-distance treks the world has to offer.
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