The 15 Best Crete Boat Tours

1.Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,031 reviews · 4h 30m · from $29Our pick

Board Nostos Cruises in Agios Nikolaos for a guided afternoon across Mirabello Bay. Swim from the boat in Kolokitha Bay, hear about Olous and Barbarosa’s cave, then spend about 90 minutes on Spinalonga, including a 30-minute guided walk and free time.

“Excellent value for money,Very friendly crew on the boat,all information translated into a few languages.Good drinks selection at reasonable prices. Tour guide on the island inckuded .Would definitely recommend”

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

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

Travel by air-conditioned bus from Chania or Rethymno to Kissamos, then cruise to Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon. You get time to hike to the Venetian castle, swim, snorkel, and eat aboard the boat. Guides such as Donia keep the long day organized in several languages.

“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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3.Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,405 reviews · 1 hour - 390 minutes · from $35

Join a shared half-day yacht trip from Heraklion to Dia Island with lunch, wine, soft drinks, snorkeling gear, SUP boards, and fishing equipment. Private cruises and a shorter coastal sail are also available. Crew members including Stavroula, Dennis, and Mido help keep the trip relaxed and well organized.

“A memory for a lifetime. the staff were super professional and accommodating. the sailing was smooth and beautiful and the sea was Cristal clear and just the right temperature.”

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4.Chania Areas/Kalyves:Gramvousa Island & Balos,Boat Tkt Extra

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 992 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $23

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Chania, Kalyves, or nearby resorts to Kissamos, then cruise to Gramvousa and Balos. You get time to swim, hike to the Venetian fortress, and relax on deck. The boat costs extra from Chania, while some Kalyves and Almyrida options include it.

“Really nice guide and welcoming, was a comfy ride to the port and back. Our guide was really friendly and kept us informed and updated with the itinerary and what to expect. The Gramvousa Island was amazing, definitely recommend walking up to the Fortress first and then spending the rest of the time on the beach. Note there are no cafes or food on the island, only one small souvenir shop. Spent 2.75 hours which was a good amount of time to do both. It’s worth noting that you can’t actually go into the Balos beach due to the new conservation rules unless you swim to it from the boat.…”

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5.Spinalonga & Kolokytha Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 735 reviews · 5h 30m · from $35

From Agios Nikolaos, sail across Mirabello Bay to Spinalonga for a self-guided visit, then swim at Kolokytha Beach while the crew prepares pork, salad, bread, fruit, and wine or juice. The 5.5-hour cruise suits history fans, families, and sun seekers, but bring cash for the €20 island entry fee.

“Lunch was terrible, pork was raw. Departure was late almost an hour, so we had less time to in Spinalonfa and Kolkytha. The crew on board was great. Spinalonga was fantastic. The announsments in different languages were long and loud. They distracted our cruise.”

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6.Semi-Submarine Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 670 reviews · from $18Best value

Board an air-conditioned semi-submarine at Agios Nikolaos port for an underwater look at Agioi Pantes Island. An audio guide in five languages explains the fish and marine life, while the open upper deck gives you broad views of the bay. Sea turtles, dolphins, and seals are possible but not guaranteed.

“Amazing...... really recommend doing this activity...well worth the money.”

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7.Gramvousa Island & Balos, Boat Ticket Extra

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

Leave Rethymno early for a full-day trip to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island. Your guide handles the bus and port transfers, while you enjoy white sand, striking blue-green water, a swim at Gramvousa, and an optional climb to its Venetian fortress. Bring cash, as the boat ticket costs extra.

“We would like to thank our guide Anastasia and our driver Kostas,they were really friendly and took care of us, everything was great and we recommend Markidis travel.”

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8.Sunset Cruise on a Wooden Pirate Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 581 reviews · 1 hour · from $29

Board the wooden pirate boat Captain Hook at Rethymno port for a one-hour sunset cruise. You’ll pass views of Fortezza Castle, the Venetian harbor, lighthouse, and Cretan mountains, with one beer or soft drink included. Bring a jacket, arrive 30 minutes early, and expect some movement beyond the bay.

“Brilliant, well worth the money. Would definitely recommend, the sunset was amazing.”

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9.Private Half-Day Sailing Trip to Dia Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 466 reviews · 4.5 hours Top rated

Spend 4.5 hours on a private sailing boat from Heraklion to Dia Island with a two-person crew. Swim and snorkel in Saint George Bay, try fishing, use the paddleboards, and enjoy fruit, drinks, and wine. Add a full meal, or bring snacks of your own.

“Communication with the provider was excellent from point of booking to the day of the event. They answered my many questions and was helpful with facilitating a cake delivery for my daughters birthday. The round trip taxi service was fairly priced, the driver arrived in time & was very friendly and accommodating. The boat was lovely & the crew Ilias & Nikiforas were fantastic. Really friendly& welcoming guys. Dia Island was beautiful & the journey to and from the island was equally as enjoyable. All round a perfect excursion and well worth the money. Thank you”

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10.Menies Beach & Chironisia Bay Cruise with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 429 reviews · 4 hours · from $47

From Kolymbari, you cruise to Menies Beach and Chironisia Bay, with time to swim and snorkel at both. Use the supplied gear to search for WWII cannon remains, ancient ruins, and small sea caves. The boat has toilets, a snack bar, and optional hotel pickup from north Chania.

“The tour was great, we saw beautiful fishes and sea vegetation. Although there were many people, we were able to get quickly to and from the water and it did not influenced our experience negatively during the whole trip.”

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11.Boat Trip with Guided Snorkeling & Stand-Up Paddling

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 363 reviews · 3 hours · from $100

From Chania, you’ll travel to Almyrida for a three-hour boat trip with guided snorkeling, SUP lessons, fresh fruit, and free photos. Guides such as Adriana, Simone, and Luca help beginners feel safe. Optional Yamaha sea scooters add extra underwater fun for ages 12 and up.

“We enjoyed our guide, Adriana, and the energy she brought to the activity. The water was beautiful and there were lots of amazing sea life to see!”

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12.Spinalonga, Elounda, & Agios Nikolaos Boat Tour & BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 327 reviews · 9 - 10 hours · from $37

From Heraklion, ride by air-conditioned bus to Elounda, cruise to Kolokytha for swimming and a BBQ, then tour Spinalonga with a guide such as Mary or Pavlos. Finish in Agios Nikolaos beside Lake Voulismeni. Expect a long day, extra entrance fees, and several pickup stops.

“We really enjoyed our day and felt it was good value for the money. Ms Mary was an informative guide on our Spinalinga tour. The one thing we didn’t enjoy was the very long bus journey with many pickups.”

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13.Pirate Boat Cruise with Swimming Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 293 reviews · 5 hours · from $64

Cruise west from Rethymno Marina on a pirate-themed boat, passing Fortezza, Gerani Bay, Kefalas caves, and the Venetian harbor. You get one swimming and snorkeling stop, masks and tubes, a Greek salad, and one drink. The crew speaks English, French, and German.

“All as expected, had a great trip. Kids lived the swim spots - lots of fish to see. Lunch was refreshing. Had a great time!”

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14.Full-Day Trip to Santorini by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 279 reviews · 13 hours · from $243

Take a high-speed ferry from Rethymno to Santorini, then tour Oia and Fira by air-conditioned bus with a multilingual guide. You get about 1 hour 45 minutes in Oia and 2 hours in Fira, plus an optional €20 caldera boat trip. Hotel pickup is available from selected resorts.

“The guide was informative, the activities well planned and everything was on time. The guide offered extra information when requested and was very pleasant. We highly recommend this tour company. Santorini was beautiful and the optional Caldera boat ride was a pleasant addition.”

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15.Santorini Day Trip with Boat Transfer & Oia Visit

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

Take a high-speed SeaJets boat from Heraklion to Santorini, then tour Oia and Fira by air-conditioned bus with an English, French, German, or Polish-speaking guide. Expect striking caldera views, free time in Fira, and an optional €20 volcano boat trip.

“mal. os escribí mensaje. mi hijo menor sin sitio en bus fue sentado en un escalón. riesgo y peligro. no sé paga para esto. tomaré medidas”

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