A Balos day trip from Rethymno is a long day west across Crete by coach to the port of Kissamos, then by boat to Gramvousa island and the shallow lagoon of Balos, with time to swim before the drive back. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.
The sections below cover the trips you can book, the distance, pick-up, the boat, Gramvousa, time at Balos, the road option, inclusions, food, who it suits, the months and booking, with links into the Balos lagoon pages. The tours shown are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.
What is a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
A Balos day trip from Rethymno is a full-day tour to the far north-west of Crete. A coach or minivan drives guests to Kissamos port. A boat then carries them to Gramvousa island and Balos lagoon, and back again.
Each Balos day trip from Rethymno lasts between 9 and 13 hours. One coach trip starts at 07:30 from Rethymno. Another brings travellers back to their hotels at around 19:45.
The road part of a Balos day trip from Rethymno covers the drive west along the north coast. The sea part covers the boat ride, swim stops and a climb to the Venetian castle on Gramvousa.
Which Balos day trip from Rethymno can you book?
Five listings sell a Balos day trip from Rethymno on GetYourGuide and Viator. Four are shared trips, and one is a private trip by minivan. Two of the shared trips include the boat ticket in the price.
- Rethymno: Gramvousa & Balos Lagoon Day Trip with Boat Ticket: full day, boat ticket included, swim stops and a castle visit
- From Rethymno: Balos & Gramvousa Bus Transfer with Guide: 11.5 hours, bus and guide, Gramvousa first, then Balos
- From Rethymno: Balos & Gramvoussa Boat Cruise at Extra Cost: 13 hours, boat cruise paid apart, swims and a Venetian castle
- Chania/Rethymno: Balos & Gramvousa With Pickup & Boat Ticket: 9 to 12 hours, pickup and boat ticket included
- From Rethymno-Chania Areas: Private Trip to Gramvousa Island Balos: 11 hours, private minivan and driver, boat ticket extra
The Viator trip carries only the guests of one booking. Its minivan leaves Rethymno at around 08:30 with a professional driver. The Chania version of the same tour leaves one hour later, at around 09:30.
Local agencies in Rethymno offer the same route too. Platanos Tours runs a full-day Balos day trip from Rethymno with hotel pickup in eleven areas.
How far is Balos from Rethymno, and how long is the drive?
Kissamos port lies about 92 km west of Rethymno by road. A car covers it in about 1.5 hours. On a Balos day trip from Rethymno, the coach ride takes about 2 hours each way. Balos is then one hour away by boat.
The route follows the Northern Crete Road, the main highway along the north coast. It passes Souda Bay and the outskirts of Chania. The last stretch runs 42 km from Chania to Kissamos.
No direct public bus links the two towns. The regional KTEL bus leaves Rethymno every hour and changes in Chania. The whole ride takes close to 3 hours.
A Balos day trip from Rethymno skips that change, and nobody in the group drives. On one coach trip, the bus reaches Kissamos port at around 09:45.
Where does a Balos day trip from Rethymno pick you up?
A Balos day trip from Rethymno picks guests up in Rethymno town and nearby resorts. The pickup zone runs from Panormo in the east to Georgioupoli in the west. One coach trip uses a single meeting point at Rethymno port parking.
- Rethymno town and the village of Atsipopoulo
- Platanias, Adele and Missiria, east of the town
- Sfakaki, Stavromenos and Scaleta, further east
- Panormo, at the eastern end of the zone
- Kavros and Georgioupoli, at the western end
Travellers give their hotel name at booking. A voucher with the exact pickup point and time follows one day before the trip. On the Balos day trip from Rethymno that meets at the port parking, guests arrive 15 minutes early.
Visitors staying outside the zone reach the nearest stop by taxi or with one of the Rethymno transfers. The combined Chania/Rethymno listing collects guests in both areas. The private Viator trip also names Kavros and Georgioupoli among its pickup areas.
How does the boat part of a Balos day trip from Rethymno work?
On a Balos day trip from Rethymno, the coach stops at Kissamos port, also called Kasteli. Guests board a boat there, and the ride to the first stop takes about one hour. The boat ticket is either in the booking or paid separately.
The hop between Gramvousa and Balos takes about 20 minutes. The ride back to port takes about one hour. The coach then meets the group at the harbour of Kissamos for the drive home.
On trips without the ticket, guests pay for the boat on the day. One Rethymno coach trip collects the fare on the bus. Platanos Tours takes it in cash on the spot, and children aged 5 to 12 pay a reduced fare.
The eco fee is a nature charge for the protected area. Guests pay it in cash, and those under 18 do not pay it. On a Balos day trip from Rethymno, guests rejoin the boat at least 10 minutes before each departure.
What do you see at Gramvousa on a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
On a Balos day trip from Rethymno, the boat lands at Imeri Gramvousa, a small island. It lies off the Gramvousa peninsula in western Crete. Guests swim by the landing or climb to the Venetian fortress, about 137 m above the sea.
The climb is optional. A footpath of about 15 minutes starts where the boats drop passengers off. It passes the small church of Agioi Apostoloi on the way up.
The path climbs over stone steps, and visitors call the ascent hard work. Trainers or walking sandals suit it better than flip-flops. One Rethymno listing leaves a small fortress entrance fee out of the tour price.
On a Balos day trip from Rethymno, one itinerary gives about 1.5 hours on Gramvousa. That covers the climb, a swim and the walk back to the boat. The Gramvousa island page covers the castle and the island in full.
How long do you get at Balos on a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
A Balos day trip from Rethymno gives about 2.5 hours at Balos, as one Rethymno itinerary states. The boat reaches the lagoon about 1 hour after leaving Kissamos port. It then sails on to Gramvousa in about 20 minutes.
The order of stops changes between boats. On other runs, the boat calls at Gramvousa first for about two hours. It then goes on to Balos for the second stop.
The boat sets the time at Balos on a Balos day trip from Rethymno. One listing asks passengers to be back on board at least 10 minutes before departure.
Sun umbrellas are for rent on the beach. The local municipality collects a small fee from visitors over 13 years old.
Can a Balos day trip from Rethymno go by road instead of by boat?
Yes, a Balos day trip from Rethymno can go by road, but only to Balos. Drivers cover about 93 km west to Kissamos. A dirt road then runs from Kaliviani to a car park, and a path leads down on foot.
- Rethymno to Kissamos: about 93 km, about 1 hour 25 minutes by car
- Kaliviani to the car park: 8 km to 12 km of dirt road, 30 to 40 minutes
- Car park to the beach: 1 km to 1.5 km of steep, rocky path
- Walk to the sand: about 20 minutes each way, with no shade
The dirt road is rough and slow. One travel guide says a 4WD is needed for it. Another says a standard car manages the road at low speed.
Parts of the path get slippery on the way down. No direct bus links Rethymno and Kissamos. The bus trip via Chania takes about 2 hours 55 minutes.
Gramvousa is an island, so the road route leaves it out. A Balos day trip from Rethymno by boat covers both stops in one day. The Chania to Balos route uses the same dirt road from the west.
How long does a Balos day trip from Rethymno last, and what is included?
A Balos day trip from Rethymno lasts 9 to 13 hours, depending on the tour. The listed tours start in Rethymno and drive guests to Kissamos port. The boat ticket is included on two tours and costs extra on one.
- Full-day trip with boat ticket: both stops by boat from Kissamos
- 11.5-hour bus transfer with guide: Gramvousa peninsula, then Balos
- 13-hour trip with the boat at extra cost: swims and the Venetian castle
- 9 to 12-hour trip with pickup and boat ticket: from Chania or Rethymno
- Private trip from the Rethymno and Chania areas: one group only
Departure times run from 07:00 to 08:00, depending on the listing. The bus drive from Rethymno to Kissamos port takes about 2 hours.
On a Balos day trip from Rethymno with the boat extra, guests pay in cash on the spot.
Another listing includes the return bus and the boat ticket. It leaves out a small eco fee, paid in cash. The Balos boat trip from Kissamos covers the boat part on its own.
What do you eat on a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
On a Balos day trip from Rethymno, food comes from the boat or from your own bag. The large boats from Kissamos run a self-service restaurant-bar during the cruise. It sells food, drinks and ice cream to passengers.
One boat listing offers a lunch option with one main course, a salad and bottled water. Payment on board is by card only on that listing.
No title for a Balos day trip from Rethymno names a meal. The titles name the transfer, the guide and the boat ticket. One boat listing names lunch and drinks as not included.
The listings state that Gramvousa and Balos have no shops ashore. Passengers can return to the ship at any time during the stops to eat or drink.
Who suits a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
A Balos day trip from Rethymno suits families, couples and older travellers with moderate fitness. The shallow, warm lagoon water works well for children. The trip is not wheelchair accessible, and the Gramvousa fortress climb is optional.
Boats dock by Tigani, and a 5-minute path leads to the sand. The road option means a 1.5 km walk down with no shade. On Gramvousa, about 400 steps climb to the fortress at 137 m.
Seasick travellers face about 1 hour at sea each way, plus a 20-minute hop between the islands. Seats come indoors, semi-covered or on the open deck. The private Viator trip is not recommended for pregnant travellers.
Which months suit a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
A Balos day trip from Rethymno runs from late spring to October, when boats sail from Kissamos. No boats sail in winter. Kissamos adds midday sailings from mid-June to mid-September, and July and August bring the biggest crowds.
The west of Crete is windy. On a Balos day trip from Rethymno, the boat deck catches that wind all day. Big waves splash the front seats on rough days.
Rough seas stretch the crossing and cut the time on Gramvousa. On windy days, the boat’s water slides stay shut. A tour cancelled for bad weather moves to a new date or gets a full refund.
What do you bring on a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
Bring swimwear, sunscreen, walking shoes and a warm layer on a Balos day trip from Rethymno. Add water, cash and your ticket. Shade is scarce on the sand at Balos, so a hat and a cover-up help.
- Swimwear for the swims at Balos and Gramvousa beach
- Sunscreen for long hours on the deck and the sand
- Walking shoes for the island paths and the fortress steps
- A warm layer for the cold deck in the afternoon
Hiking shoes suit the rocky ground on Tigani, the islet beside the lagoon. On the road option, carry water, since the trail from the car park has none.
Cash covers the small eco fee at the site, which Rethymno bus tours leave out. The private Viator trip also leaves out the fortress entry on Gramvousa.
How does a Balos day trip from Rethymno compare with one from Chania or Heraklion?
A Balos day trip from Rethymno sits between the two other bases. Chania trips start closer to Kissamos, since Rethymno buses drive past Chania on the national road. Heraklion trips start further east and spend longer on the road.
From Chania, the bus ride to Kissamos is the shortest of the three bases. Tour 419482 picks up guests in both Chania and Rethymno.
From Heraklion, coaches cover the whole stretch to Rethymno first. The Balos day trip from Heraklion has the longest drive to the same Kissamos boats.
From Rethymno, the bus needs about 2 hours to reach Kissamos. The town also sends coaches on an Elafonisi day trip and a Samaria Gorge day trip.
How do you book and cancel a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
Book a Balos day trip from Rethymno on GetYourGuide or Viator with your hotel name for pick-up. The private Viator trip refunds in full up to 24 hours before departure. A local Rethymno bus tour has the same 24-hour rule.
- Pick a format: boat ticket included, bus only or private minivan.
- Choose a date between late spring and October.
- Enter your hotel name and address at checkout.
- Wait at the pick-up point 15 minutes early.
Pick-up details arrive by email before the trip day. The private Viator trip takes one ticket per booking, shown on a phone or on paper.
On the GetYourGuide boat-ticket trip, adults are aged 13 to 99, and children are 12 and under. Formats without the boat ticket leave the fare to pay at Kissamos or on the bus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which languages do the guides speak on a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
One Rethymno operator sends a guide who speaks English, German and French. The coach comes from the blue IAKOVOS bus company and runs to Kasteli, the other name of Kissamos. That Balos day trip from Rethymno includes the bus and the guide.
Does a Balos day trip from Rethymno run every day?
Not with every operator. One guided Rethymno bus trip runs on Sundays only. Its boat leaves Kasteli at 10:30 and lands back at 17:40. The Kissamos boats sail one to three times a day in summer. The other formats show their open dates on the booking calendar.
Can you snorkel on a Balos day trip from Rethymno?
Yes. One Rethymno tour offers snorkelling at a shipwreck off Gramvousa. Rocks sit in the water at Gramvousa beach, so swimmers step in with care. The listed inclusions for a Balos day trip from Rethymno leave out snorkel gear. Pack your own mask.
How deep is the water at Balos?
Balos beach has two sections, with deeper water between them. In places, that water reaches close to hip height on an adult. A dry bag keeps phones safe on the crossing. On a Balos day trip from Rethymno, children cross that channel only with an adult.
What happens if you are late back to the boat?
The boat sounds its horn 10 minutes before it leaves each stop. The horn gives you time to walk from the sand back to the jetty. On a Balos day trip from Rethymno, the bus home leaves Kissamos after the boat docks.
Can you drive to Kissamos and take only the boat?
Yes. The boat-only cruise from Kissamos is one of the Crete boat trips on the island. Parking at Kissamos port is free. Arrive 40 minutes to 1 hour before the morning sailing. This swaps the coach for your own car on a Balos day trip from Rethymno.