Spinalonga Tours and Tickets

A day trip that combines relaxation and history gives you the chance to visit the highlights of the Northeast part of Crete, where the picturesque town of Agios Nikolaos with the magnificent lake can be found. Elounda, a small village on the shore of Mirabello bay with spectacular views, is where the boat begins the cruise heading to Spinalonga island, a small uninhabited island used during the history as a fortress and later on as a leper colony.

Go beyond Heraklion to visit the island of Spinalonga on a day trip by coach and boat. Offering an easy way to get from the city to the scenic Elounda Gulf area, this excursion covers transport direct from your hotel, a boat ride, and a barbecue lunch, along with ample free time to explore the island, Kolokitha Bay, Elounda, and postcard-perfect Agios Nikolas.

Venture into the mountains of Crete and explore a smaller island on this guided tour, which also includes a thrilling speedboat ride. First, drive into a mountainous region surrounding Crete in a safe and secure 4x4 vehicle. Pass through valleys, villages, and tour an olive oil factory along the way. Coming back, take in picturesque views of the Gulf of Mirabello and the island you're about to visit. At the village of Plaka, board a speedboat for the short ride to Spinalonga, which once served as a leper colony. Take a short tour of the island before heading back to Crete.

Visit Elounda and ride a boat to Spinalonga Island on this day trip.  Travel to Elounda and cruise to Spinalonga in Mirabello Bay, where a Venetian fortress and old village once housed a leper colony. Explore the ruins where lepers were confined, and enjoy a swim and barbecue lunch. After docking back at Elounda, drive to Agios Nikolaos’ to see its harbor and reputedly bottomless lake. Pickup and drop-off from selected hotels included.

With a minibus your Eye Travel guide shows you the Spinalonga island and other interesting places. Our first stop is in Agios Nikolaos where we have a fantastic view over the "Bottomless lake". You have some free time for a coffee and a stroll along the most eastern main city of Crete. After passing Elounda it is time for SPINALONGA, the last leper colony of Europe. A typical Cretan fishing boat brings you to the island, this takes no more than 10 minutes. On the island you make a tour. After finishing the trip on Spinalonga, a fishing boat brings you back to the small village of Plaka. Plaka is a tiny harbor, so the unique opportunity to eat fresh fish. After our lunch we are heading to an olive oil factory. You get a guided tour through the factory. All facts about olive oil, the pressing methods and grades of olive oil are explained. At the end of the tour you can taste different olive oils and other local products.

From Elounda you take the boat and cruise along the bay to the island of Spinalonga (sometimes called the island of Tears). The guided tour on Spinalonga will both fascinate and haunt you as you learn the tragic history of this island which was once a Venetian fortress and was then the isolated home of many lepers up to 1957 when it was cleared by the Health Authorities, leaving the place uninhabited. The Venetians constructed a very impressive fortress with forty cannons which has been guarding the strategic bay of Mirabello since the 15th century. We get on board again and head for the sandy bay of Kolokitha. Here you will have time for resting or swimming and have lunch. The boat will take you back to Elounda to take the coach. Agios Nikolaos is famous for its picturesque ‘bottomless lake’. You will have some time to discover this pretty little town on your own, to stroll around the shops or just relax in one of the popular cafes and watch the world go by.

Spinalonga is a magnificent island with fortresses dating from the Venetian period. It is an island of legends, a triumph to survival in the early 20th century from the scourge of leprosy, now a place of great archaeological and historical significance. Nostos Cruises operates the only fully organized cruise to Spinalonga which includes detailed information from our experienced guides and onboard guided tours in English, German, Dutch, French, Russian, etc.

Visit the former leper colony and Venetian fortress on Spinalonga Island during this private tour. Sail to this rocky island, and explore the streets, houses, and ruined Venetian fortifications where lepers were confined from 1903 to 1957. Then, relax with a swim stop and barbecue lunch before cruising back to port. Return coach transport, the boat ride to Spinalonga, and select hotel pickup and drop-off in north-coast resorts included.

Be your own captain! You can rent a boat, without a speedboat license being necessary, and discover all the hidden and secluded beaches of our island, along with enjoying activities such as snorkeling and rod fishing. All boats are equipped with everything you need during your boat ride, so that you do not miss anything, but also be perfectly safe onboard!

Driving along the North East coast through the gorge of St George we reach the picturesque town of Elounda. Here we board a boat and Spinalonga Cruise starts. We reach the small sandy bay of Kolokitha, where the boat will be anchored. Here you have plenty of time for swimming at the crystal clear water. We proceed to the small island of Spinalonga. Spinalonga has had a very chequered history and today, although uninhabited, still echoes with ghostly reminders of the past. The Venetians constructed a very impressive fortress with 40 cannons which has been guarding the bay since the 15th century. At the beginning of 19th century human pain and sorrow was scattered around this islet. It became a leper colony, the last active leper colony in Europe, and it remained so until 1957. We then return to Agios Nikolaos where you have time to look at the shop windows and visit the bottomless lake, where the “Lotus Eaters” the well-known film was shot.

Visit Spinalonga Island and Elounda on this day tour. Your driver will pick you up and take you to Elounda Port, where you'll catch a boat out to Spinalonga for a guided tour. You'll then sail back to Elounda, where you'll sit down to an included Cretan lunch and have a bit of time to swim before returning to your hotel via the village of Agios Nikolaos.

Start at the traditional village of Mochos with its narrow alleys and colourful gardens, then continue to Krasi and visit the 2,400-year-old Writers' Plane Tree. Afterwards, the tour will ascend to the Diktaion Andron, an ancient cave believed to be the birthplace of Zeus. Take in the incredible view of the Lasithi Plateau. After that amazing experience the tour will take you to the vibrant city of Agios Nikolaos through a long-forgotten route where you get to see wildgoats from up close. There you can visit, surrounded by many legends, Voulismeni lake. Next, visit the villages of Elouda and Plaka with the beautiful beach where you can take a swim or/and visit the world-famous Spinaloga which is a short boat-ride away.

This Tour gives you the opportunity to visit on your own way so many places in one day that if not with a local guide it would be impossible to visit and find.We visit Monasteries, Churches, Agios Nikolaus City, Spinalonga island, visit an olive oil factory where we learn how olive oil is made with modern and old machines and we get to taste different kind of olive oil . we have a traditional Cretan Lunch in the old village of Mochos where we visit a few beautiful churches, After lunch we hit the road to get back where we started. We can customize this tour by skipping or adding extra places to visit if possible.

Uncover the fascinating history of Spinaloga Island on this full-day tour from Agios Nikolaos. Cruise around the island’s natural wonders and ancient ruins; hear about the Saracens pirates, Venetian armies, and leper colonies that have inhabited the island over the years; and enjoy lunch in the seafront town of Plaka. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

Elounda - a small fishing village on the shores of the bay of Mirabello Spinalonga Island - Guided tour around the Venetian Fortress, bay - swimming, sunbathing and BBQ lunch, Agios Nikolaos Elounda is a popular holiday resort, often visited by VIPs for the luxurious beach resorts, situated in the area. From there, the boat is heading the small island of Spinalonga. The history and the culture of the island of Spinalonga became one with human tragedy in the course of time. This small isle carries within the history of Ancient Greece, as it served as a natural guard for the ancient city of Olous; the history of the Saracens as a hide-out for their pirates; the history of Venetians as their fortress; the history of Turks as their settlement. After the guided tour of the island, the boat will be anchored at one of the bays nearby. Time for swimming at the crystal clear waters, tasting the BBQ served on board. Last stop Agios Nicolas. Visit the picturesque town with a bottomless lake

Spinalonga, Elounda Excursion, Agios Nikolaos is a trip not only to other places, but also a trip back in time, since it carries the sensation and the feel of another era. The route along the northern coast of the island takes us to the small fishing village of Elounda.

Navigating around Greece’s coastal highlights can involve a lot of research and planning, but with this tour, a full itinerary is organized for you with a mix of fishing villages, coastal scenery, and ancient sites. First, set off on a boat trip around Elounda’s pretty harbor area until you reach Kolokytha bay. Then, enjoy time to relax on the beach before continuing the journey to Spinalonga island and Agios Nikolaos—where you can enjoy a coffee near the Lake of Vouslismeni.

A fun and sun cruise with a barbeque by the sea, relaxing moments around the surreal Kolokytha Bay and an exceptional visit to the stunning and historic island of Spinalonga. Our Nostos cruise boat departs from the harbor of Agios Nikolaos at 10:am and after cruising across the beautiful Bay of Mirabello, arrives at the legendary Spinalonga. You have an hour and a half to tour around and explore the Venetian fortifications and the old homes of the victims of leprosy who lived on the island during the first half of the 20th century. All the necessary information and historical data about the island can be found in the printed guide we provide you free of charge.

Visit the impressive historical island of Spinaloga, the island of leprosy back in the early 20th century!

Our tour begins when our comfortable tourist coach picks you up at your hotel. On the way, our guides will tell you about the places you will pass through. First stop will be the town of Agios Nikolaos. Here, walking through the pedestrian city center, you will find a large number of tourist shops and cafes! You will have enough time for shopping or morning coffee! After leaving the city, we head to a small fishing village, where we board a tourist boat and sail to the island of Spinalonga. There you will have time to explore this island. On your return to the village, you can enjoy lunch at a traditional seaside tavern overlooking the island or swim on the pebbly beach. And in conclusion, we will stop at another fishing village and resort of Elounda. Here you can walk along the sea, enjoy beer or fresh juices, ice cream in local cafes or swim in the sea!

Through this route we will be captivated by the dream sunset at an altitude of 700 meters and enjoying the sun setting into the Cretan Sea, visiting traditional villages, enjoying local tastes, enchanting the view and ending up with beautiful destinations Our first stop in Agios Nikolaos, where we will have 50 minutes of free time to admire its amazing beauties or to shop from its beautiful market Then we head to the fishing village of Plaka and we will be enchanted by the view of Spinalonga. Arriving at Plaka we will have free time of about 20 minutes, which will give us the opportunity to enjoy and photograph the historic island of Spinalonga Then we climb to the traditional village of Vrouchas and climb to an altitude of about 700 meters where from the highest point of the area we will have the chance to see the amazing sunset with the sun set late in the Cretan Sea and create beautiful shades on the horizon. It's really a dream thing to see

Enjoy a day filled with pretty scenery, history and time to relax. You have seen it in pictures now you have the ideal opportunity to be part of it. A combination of beautiful landscapes with history and tradition. Within a day you will experience a time travel from the long past to modern everyday life. If there is a must-see on Crete, it is surely this multifaceted Tour.

From extraordinary landscape & culture to its legendary food & village life, Mirabello majestically captures the soul of Crete as our favorite Cretan getaway. Pair up with our top local insider & succumb to a bespoke service as we whisk you around the Gulf by the comfort of a luxury chauffeured vehicle at your disposal. Spoil yourself with tailored details. Hop on a private boat to discover the island of Spinalonga. Bask in azure waters of secluded sandy coves tucked under cave-studded mountains. Hop off in the village of Plaka to indulge in the seafood tastes of delicious tavernas on the waterfront. On the way to Agios Nikolaos, revel in luxurious panoramic scenes of Elounda's elite haven. Stroll the iconic town that oozes a chic vibe & soak up the splendor of the mythical lake as you unwind at the eclectic wine-cocktail bars. By the end of the day, visit a family olive oil production estate & let our producers immerse you into their techniques of producing delectable olive oil.

The trip starts from the port of Ormos Bay and the duration is 4 hours. The boat offering free soft drinks, water, snorkeling devices, music on board with Bluetooth connection, shower with fresh water, all these create a fantastic experience. There are many options where you can choose the route of your choice or on the contrary he can consult the experienced captains of our company. First choice can be Dianiskari Beach second choice Kolokutha Beach Third choice Skistra Bay, Fourth choice is San Fwkas beach where you can swim or do snorkeling or visit the wonderful beach. Even upon request there is the possibility of stopping for lunch in one of the restaurants in the area of Elounda based on your preference. Then we can visit the island of Spinalonga where you can admire the wonderful sights of the island. Then we can visit the Plaka village and the town of Elounda . Finally we will return to the base where we started.