Voyage to Balos and Gramvousa
Western Crete is stunningly beautiful.
View of our ferry from Balos Beach (Gramvousa Island to the right (stern) of the ship).
I had heard about the beauty of Balos Beach, and of the ‘Pirate Island’ of Gramvousa so taking a one-day tour to visit these two sites seemed essential. We had a long bus ride from Chania to the port of Kissamos where you board a ferry that takes you to Balos Beach for a 1.5 hour visit (enough time to climb through the hills, and get your feet wet. The place is stunning! Everyone who visits Crete should take the time to check out this beach.[1]
That incredible beach view!
In the case of Balos Beach, I think a picture really is worth a thousand words!
We then went on to Gramvousa for 2 hours where people could hike to the fortress or go swimming. I have written previously about Gramvousa Island in my post ‘Pirates of the Aegean’. It was both a pirate stronghold and later a Venetian fortress to ward off pirates - it then fell to the Ottomans and eventually returned to the pirates. It is a fascinating story. Caroline and I hiked up the long hill to the fortress. Following are my photos.
“Both Balos and Gramvousa play a significant role in the local ecosystem. The areas are home to endemic plants and protected animal species, reinforcing the importance of responsible tourism.”
Both locations were spectacular! I’m so glad we went.[3]
FYI No filters used on any of these photos.
[1] I don’t often book package tours but it isn’t easily accessible, even with a car. I chose this full-day tour from Chania via booking.com.
[2] For more info I recommend the following post on the Visit Crete website: The Ultimate Guide to Gramvousa Island and Balos Lagoon Beach: Crete’s Spectacular Twin Wonders.
[3] You can see more videos of Balos and Gramvousa on my YouTube channel, or on Caroline’s.
