Top 5 Crete Ferry Trips

1.Chania/Rethymno: Balos & Gramvousa With Pickup & Boat Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,703 reviews · 9 - 12 hours · from $50Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned bus from Chania or Rethymno to Kissamos, then cruise to Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon. You get about two hours at Gramvousa and 2.5 hours at Balos for swimming, snorkeling, and the castle hike. Guides speak several languages, including English and Greek.

“Nice trip to two popular destinations, we had quite enough time in each of them, considering how much the transportation takes. The ship had some food and drink options, and natural water was surprisingly cheap (0.6 eur per 0.5 l). Snacks are expensive in the port, better buy something in advance. Air conditioning wasn't regulated in the bus, it was cold inside (it was late September). The ship jumped a lot on the waves, so if you know you might be seasick, take some pills before it, the guide also offered them to us in the bus.”

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2.Rethymno Area: Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 594 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $20Best value

Leave Rethymno early for a full-day bus and boat trip to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island. Swim in bright blue-green water, climb to a Venetian fortress, and rely on hotel pickup and drop-off. English, German, and French guides are available on selected days, with the boat ticket paid separately.

“The trip was overally very nice. Logistically-wise everything was very good organised, both the bus and the boat were on time all the time. The only minor issue was the boat. It was very loaded with people and sometimes you would need to stand for the entire ride. Also, the bar on boat was super crowded and you had to wait 20-25 min to get a bottle of water. Both Gramvousa and Balos were very beautiful.”

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3.Heraklion: Santorini Day Trip with Boat Transfer & Oia Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 269 reviews · 11 hours · from $199

Take a full-day Sea Jets trip from Heraklion to Santorini, traveling by high-speed boat before visiting Oia and Fira by guided bus. You get caldera views, free time in Fira, multilingual support, and an optional €20 volcano boat ride from mid-May.

“It's a shame your company is, by advertising and making profits, causing travellers like myself and thousands of others to descend on a little island clearly totally unable to cope with the volume of tourists and so spoiling what should have been a quiet and enjoyable day. Nowhere to relax, nowhere to enjoy the beauty, just the most stressful and suffocating experience I've ever encountered - too many people!!!!!!!!!!”

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4.Balos &Gramvousa Day Trip With/Without Boat Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 17 reviews · 10 hours · from $70

Travel from Rethymno to Kissamos, then cruise to Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon. You’ll have time to hike to a Venetian fortress, swim near a small chapel, and relax on pink-white sand. The English-speaking guide handles the day, but the €29 boat ticket and €1 Gramvousa fee are paid separately.

“Très belle excursion Le transport en bus c’était top, le bus nous a pris à 200m de notre hôtel et nous a posé quasiment au même endroit Le guide est top, donne des explications très claires Pour répondre à un commentaires précédent, le guide indique très clairement de l’attendre dans le bus en groupe pour qu’il nous donne les tickets d’entrée du bateau, une fois que le guide arrive vers le bus nous pouvons descendre pour récupérer nos billets et ensuite aller vers le bateau Le trajet en bateau se passe aussi très bien, les paysages sont magnifiques Évidemment c’est un gros bateau, donc beaucoup de monde, pas de surprise…”

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5.Roundtrip Boat Ride to Loutro with Hotel Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 7 reviews · 10 hours · from $76

Travel from your hotel area across the Askifou Plateau to Chora Sfakion, then cross the Libyan Sea by taxi boat to car-free Loutro. You may stop at Sweet Water Beach for a swim before exploring tavernas, bays, and narrow lanes. Guides speak English, German, and Dutch.

“Diese Tour ist nicht für Kinder geeignet, grenzt schon sehr an Touri Falle. Finger weg! Busfahrt 3 Std, Bootsfahrt zum Sweet Water Beach, dort wird man im nirgendwo abgesetzt. Kein Schatten, man ist gezwungen in der Mittagshitze min. eine Liege/ Sonnenschirm zu mieten. 10 EUR halbwegs human, aber eff. auch nur für 2 Std. Dann per Boot weiter nach Loutro. Von "vergessenen Fischerdorf" kann keine Rede sein. Im halbstündigen Takt landen Touri Boote. Das Dorf besteht eigtl. nur aus Tavernen und 1-2 Shoppingmöglichkeiten. Reiseleitung versucht dich in eine bestimmte Taverne zu locken, ist aber laut Portalen schlecht bewertet. Unser Sitznachbarn wurde 8 EUR zuviel berechnet und die Quittung war ni...”

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