Balos & Gramvousa Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Premium Meal
$200per person
See dates & pricesCrete, Greece · 256 trips compared
Crete excursions: lagoons in the west, palaces in the east
Crete is about 160 miles long, so the best Crete excursions depend on where you stay. Lagoons and gorges lie in the west near Chania, the Minoan palaces and Spinalonga in the east. Here are the trips travellers rate best.
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Compare at a glance
Which Crete excursion fits your day?
Start times and lengths are typical for the tours listed below. Prices are the lowest per-person price among them on 12 November 2026.
| Excursion | Starts | Takes | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balos and Gramvousa by boat | Morning departures from Kissamos | 7 to 9 hours | $44 | Turquoise lagoon and a Venetian fort |
| Elafonisi | Morning pick-up | Full day | $30 | Pink sand and shallow water |
| Samaria Gorge | Very early pick-up | Full day | $34 | A 16-kilometre hike to the sea |
| Knossos | Morning | 2 to 4 hours | $37 | Europe's oldest city |
| Spinalonga | Morning pick-up | Half or full day | $33 | Fortress island and lagoons |
| Jeep safaris and food | Morning pick-up | Full day | $99 | Mountain villages and Cretan cooking |
West or east: the best trips from your base
Where are you staying?
Pick your area to see the trips that start close to you, so you spend the day on the trip and not on the bus.
Best trips from Chania and Rethymno
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Limeniskos: Gramvousa & Balos 5-Hour Boat Tour with Drinks
$102per person
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From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon
$40per person
See dates & pricesBest trips from Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos
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Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket (Shared Tour Group)
$100per person
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Private Tour-Knossos Palace Zeus Cave Pottery Olive Mill & Wine
$130per person
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Day Trip to Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga Island
$47per person
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Balos and Gramvousa by boat
Morning departures from Kissamos7 to 9 hoursTurquoise lagoon and a Venetian fort
Boats from the port of Kissamos sail to the island of Gramvousa, where you can climb to a Venetian fortress, and then to the shallow, turquoise Balos Lagoon. It is the most booked excursion on Crete. Pick-up from Chania and Rethymno is often included.
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From Kissamos Port: Boat Cruise to Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa
$44per person
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Chania/Rethymno: Balos & Gramvousa With Pickup & Boat Ticket
$67per person
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Kissamos: Balos & Gramvousa Luxury Catamaran Sailing Cruise
$216per person
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Elafonisi
Morning pick-upFull dayPink sand and shallow water
Elafonisi in the far south-west is famous for the pink tint along the water's edge, which comes from tiny shells, and for its very shallow, warm water. The area is a protected nature reserve, so please stay on the marked paths across the dunes.
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From Chania: Day Trip to Elafonisi Island with Honey Tasting
$44per person
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Chania: Elafonissi Pink Beach & Elos & Honey & Wine Tasting
$30per person
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From Heraklion: Elafonisi Beach Day Tour with Pickup
$61per person
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Samaria Gorge
Very early pick-upFull dayA 16-kilometre hike to the sea
The Samaria Gorge is the best-known gorge on Crete. The hike runs about 16 kilometres downhill from the White Mountains to the village of Agia Roumeli on the south coast, where a ferry takes you on. The gorge is usually open from May to October.
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From Chania: Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion & Guide
$44per person
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From Rethymno: Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek, Pickup & Guide
$44per person
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From Chania:Samaria Gorge with Professional Hiking Guide
$34per person
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Knossos
Morning2 to 4 hoursEurope's oldest city
The Palace of Knossos near Heraklion was the centre of the Minoan civilisation, built more than 3,500 years ago. A guide brings the ruins to life, and a skip-the-line ticket saves time in summer.
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Knossos: Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour
$99per person
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Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory
$130per person
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Crete: Knossos Palace & Heraklion Guided Tour
$37per person
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Spinalonga
Morning pick-upHalf or full dayFortress island and lagoons
Spinalonga is a small island off the north-east coast with a Venetian fortress. It later became a colony for people with leprosy until 1957. Boats leave from Elounda, Plaka and Agios Nikolaos.
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Crete: Day Trip to Agios Nikolaos and Spinalonga Island
$47per person
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Agios Nikolaos: Spinalonga & Kolokytha Catamaran with Meal
$144per person
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From Ag. Nikolaos: Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch
$33per person
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Jeep safaris and food
Morning pick-upFull dayMountain villages and Cretan cooking
Jeep safaris leave the coast for mountain villages, olive groves and gorges, often with lunch in a village tavern. Cooking classes show you how to make Cretan dishes with local olive oil and cheese.
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Crete 4x4 Safari: Zeus Cave & Lasithi Plateau Village Tour
$99per person
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5Hour Safari Tour in Crete(Heraklion)with Quad,Jeep,Buggy & Lunch
$100per person
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Chania: Authentic Cooking Class in the White Mountains
$122per person
See dates & pricesCrete questions
Good to know before you book a Crete excursion
What is the best excursion on Crete?
The boat trip from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa is the most booked Crete excursion, with thousands of reviews. In the east of the island, Spinalonga and Knossos are the favourites.
Can I do Balos and Elafonisi from Heraklion?
Yes, but both lie in the far west, about three to three and a half hours by car from Heraklion, so the day becomes very long. If you stay in the east, Spinalonga, Knossos and the Lasithi plateau are closer.
When is the Samaria Gorge open?
The Samaria Gorge usually opens in May and closes in October, depending on the weather. After heavy rain it can close for a day for safety reasons.
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