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Gramvousa and Balos Cruise from Chania
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From $41.39
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Gramvousa and Balos Cruise from Chania
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation
- 24 hours prior100% refund
- Within 24 hoursNo refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Learn more about cancellations
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Safety measures
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking?
Vaccine? Quarantine? Masking? We know, there’s a lot to keep track of. Be sure to check local guidelines so you’re aware of all travel requirements before you go.
More questions?
(888) 651-9785
Safety precautions are provided by the tour operator and are not checked by Viator for accuracy
10 to 12 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Overview
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From $41.39
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What's Included
Pick up/Drop off with air-conditioned luxury bus from select spots in Chania
Visit to Gramvousa
Visit to Balos
Municipality fee (1 euro for adults, free for children)
Personal expenses, extra beverages or meals
Customary tips to your driver
Boat tickets to Gramvousa and Balos (19 euros per person)
Departure & Return
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8:00 AM
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Remember to bring the following items: sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, camera, swimsuit and beach towel
- You are advised to bring appropriate shoes for the hike up to Gramvousa Castle
- Rubbish disposal as well as removing seashells from the beach is prohibited
- Due to Covid regulations the capacity of the boat is approx.900 person in total
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 900 travelers
- OPERATED BY Fantasy Travel
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Learn more about cancellations.
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Reviews
4.0
32 Reviews
5 stars
21
4 stars
3
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Reviews by Viator travelers
Showing 1-8 of 32 reviews
Boat left late which...
Annakarin_O
, Oct 2021
Boat left late which meant we had less time on each island.
The conditions we had to travel through when getting off the boat at the lagoon were extremely dangerous!
Massive health and safety issue. I saw one lady twist her ankle walking on the rocks!
We were not made aware of the rocks on the day trip information, only when we were told to get off the boat and exit right on top of the rocks!
Did not have 3 hours at the second stop like we were told and paid for!
Only had an hour and a half.
Very disappointing.
Great trip with friend
Carmella_K
, Sep 2021
Amazing Balos & Gramvousa day trip
gaetana_c
, Sep 2021
Timely pick up at meeting point with very nice bus and taken to port for boat ride to Balos & Gramvousa. Ferry very comfortable seating inside and outside. Has good food service for breakfast and they even served hot delicious food for lunch. It's a 2 hour ride with beautiful scenery on the way. Once arrived a Balos you still have quiet a walk over volcanic rocks and wading through knee high water to get to lagoon and beach area but well worth it. Bring water shoes which made my walk much easier. Amazing place!! There is no shade so you can rent umbrellas 5 Euros on the boat and there is an area already set up with sun chairs to set up umbrella. After lunch we arrived at Gramvousa another amazing place and beach. You can climb up to the Castel or just relax on it's beautiful beach. Ferry back to bus and dropped off. Every thing was clean & excellent from bus, ferry, food and places visited.
Beautiful sights, but just a bus ride to a stand-alone tour you can purchase separately.
Dawn_P
, Aug 2021
The cruise was amazing. Both Balos lagoon and Gramvousa island were beautiful. In my opinion this wasn’t really a tour. It seemed all this helped with was just a ride to and from the kissamos port and the bus driver purchases the boat ticket for you once at the port. There were no tour guides or anything. Once on the boat you are on your own, as the expedition itself is a standalone cruise through Cretan daily cruises. So as long as you were able to find transport to the port there would be no need to purchase this “tour” package. There was no explanation of what you were seeing on the tour or where you were going. The volume of the announcements on the cruise was very low so it was difficult to hear the instructions for meeting times. It also would have been nice to have more time on Gramvousa as it felt very rushed. The bus driver was very friendly and funny though.
Lots of walking, especially the hike up to the castle so if you have difficulty walking I would not recommend.
Response from Host , Aug 2021
This tour includes the transfer from Chania city to Kissamos and the boat tickets to Gramvousa and Balos.
This gives the opportunity to the visitor to have everything organized, pick up from the hotel or close by plus the boat ticket. Of course you can choose driving by your own but keep in mind that the road for a normal car is not so easy as the last 10 kilometers, starting at Kissamos, are off-road and bring you along a steep cliff edge.
Regarding the duration of stay in Gramvousa and Balos is described in our program as it is, approx 2 hours in Gramvousa and 3 hours in Balos. We also refer that only pre-recording guide in the boat is included.
For climbing at gramvousa castle, you need shoes as it is very high.
Thank you for the kind words for the bus driver as we always want to provide high-quality service for our customers.
Stay safe and enjoy the rest of your holidays!
Gramvousa and Balos experience
Karen_B
, Aug 2021
The places themselves are worth visiting. However, the cruise boat due to its size, embarks the passengers in a very rocky spot which you need to cross to reach the sandy lagoon. Definitely not ideal for anyone of any age!. I would recommend that you do not wear flip flops, best to wear comfortable close fitting beach shoes. If I had to redo this tour I would try to book a tour for less people, with a smaller boat that can enter the lagoon if possible. Gramvousa is a nice little island whose sandy beach is much more easily reached on foot. It also offers a few trees for shade near the beach. Great spot.
Karen from Malta
Response from Host , Aug 2021
Please note that there is only 1 company that operates all the ferries for Gramvousa & Balos.
In order to go with smaller groups, unfortunately the only way is by going private or by travelling in low season where the beaches are not so crowded.
Unfortunately, for climbing at gramvousa castle, you need shoes as it is very high.
As for Balos, the vessel used is the largest one of the company. The reason we use it is because there are larger open spaces so that people are not so crowded.
Also, please keep in mind that if you use the other vessels, you have to disembark via a tender boat which makes it a little more uncomfortable.
We would like to thank you for your comments!
Nice Place to See but Go ohne your own
Heidemarie_R
, Jun 2021
The Place is very nice but until the Ferrys departure 3 Hours where gone.
No Guide Even no Audio Guide with explanation where included. Nice Place but to much Time and to expencive for the Service included. The Bus driver was very friendly
Response from Host , Jun 2021
Dear Heide,
Thank you for your feedback. I am really sorry to hear that your experience was poor as this is not the level of satisfaction we expect from our customers. Regarding the pre-recorded guiding on board which is included, I have already contacted the boat to check if for a reason that day was a problem but it was working normally. Regarding the duration of stay in Gramvousa and Balos is described in our program as it is, approx 2 hours in Gramvousa and 3 hours in Balos. I am happy to hear that you liked the place at it is a top-rated destination in Crete . I am also happy to hear kind words from the bus driver as we always want to provide high-quality service for our customers.
I wish you a safe and nice stay in Greece
Kind Regards
Ria
Amazing place to visit
Macarena_C
, Aug 2020
The places that we been to were amazing. Really worth to do this trip. The only thing I was expecting less people as mentioned in the advertisement. If you plan to have less people around you, specially with COVID I would recommend to maybe choose different option. However, overall we had a very good day and experience with the people who where arranging the trip
Response from Host , Aug 2020
Dear Macarena.
Thank you for your review and for choosing our services! I’m happy that you enjoyed the tour.
We follow all the regulated measures as prescribed by the regulation for Covid-19. This also means that we are permitted a dedicated number of passengers in the bus this summer. If the demand is high, we use bigger buses to cater for the needs of our customers while still maintaining their safety. Gramvoussa is a top rated destination in Crete and likely to draw more people during high season, we do though still highly recommend it since it is an open area where a person can control social distancing while on vacation. Your comments are valuable to us to ensure that a sound level of safety is enforced at all times.
Enjoy the rest of your holidays and stay safe.
Kind regards
Ria
1 traveler found this review helpful
Pire excursion jamais faite !
Vanessa_A
, Aug 2021
2h en autocar pour aller au port, en ramassant les gens au fur et à mesure, guide pratiquement inexistant présent uniquement pour pointer les noms des clients et pour ramasser les sommes éventuelles dues, et chauffeur de l'autocar hyper désagréable sans bonjour ni rien en réponse à votre salutation ! La "croisière" en bateau dure 1h mais il faut compter encore 1h le temps que tout ce monde (plein à craquer en cette période covid-19) monte à bord ! Le lagon Balos est remarquable, mais plein de gens partout ! L'île de Gramvousa (île de pirates) : plage trop petite pour que tout ce beau monde puisse se baigner, et la montée pour accéder au château est longue et plutôt difficile, la descente pire, le tout en restant dans le temps donné par le bateau afin de ne pas rester sur l'île LOL ! 2h pour le retour à l'hotel le soir, à nouveau... Au final vous passez énormément plus de temps dans les transports que sur les sites. De toutes les excursions faites cet été avec Viator, celle-ci est la pire.
Response from Host , Aug 2021
At that day we had 2 buses running the excursions. I started inside the city and one in the outskirts for faster pick-up.
Passengers got in the bus by 08.00. Last stop of the bus was at 08.45. Bus was at Kissamos Port by 09.22 and all boat tickets were handed over to the clients by 09.35.
Our guide Orestis, did mention all the information needed (schedule, boat, bus number on return as well as basic info for Balos & Gramvousa) mentioning also that there are multilingual pre-recorded instructions aboard as we clearly mention at our description
Due to covid-19 protocols, all buses are required by the ferry company to be at port at least 1 hour before vessel departure (for safe embarkation).
Boat departed at 10.40 from Kissamos Port, following the route mentioned.
All vessels loaded, are monitored by the Port Authorities who are responsible for numbering the passengers that enter the vessels (and which at no case shall excel 85% of the vessel nominal capacity as per current National Health Protocols for vessels)
By the way, we demanded from the ferry company to put our clients in the biggest vessel available in order to avoid cases of seasickness (as there were rough sea conditions on Saturday) and they kindly did
Indeed in Balos there were many people but as it is the peak of the season, it is considered normal all over August….
The same for Gramvousa. As for the path to Gramvousa, the responsible authoritiy for the condition of the path is the Ministry of Culture and neither is the transportation, nor the ferry company
On the way back, the bus did 1 hour and 50 minutes to return but this was only due to heavy traffic conditions. Even if the client had gone to Kissamos Port by taxi, in the very best case, this would have taken them 1 hour and 30 minutes while costing them at least triple the money just for transportation.
In regards to the unpleasant driver and bus, we would like to point out that our driver, Leonidas is with us since 2008 with amazing comments from everyone (Tour Operator reps, guides and clients) and the bus he is driving is a 3 year old Mercedes Bus which we think is kind of strange to be mentioned as unpleasant.
Enjoy the rest of your holidays.
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