Spinalonga & Kolokytha Bay cruise: Swim & lunch
One hour across Mirabello Bay, a fortress with a guide, then a beach where you swim and eat
A full-day cruise from Agios Nikolaos that sails across Mirabello Bay to Spinalonga Fortress for a 45-minute guided tour, then stops at Kolokytha Beach for swimming and lunch before returning to town. Hotel pickup is included. The boat is the only one that anchors at Kolokytha, giving you an hour and a half there instead of a quick photo stop. A live guide speaks English, Italian, French, German and one additional language.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Cruise and visit Spinalonga and Kolokytha
- Gather at pick-up points
- Travel to Agios Nikolaos town
- Boat sails from Agios Nikolaos
- Guided tour of Spinalonga Fortress
- Free time for photos at Spinalonga
- Boat trip to Kolokytha Bay
- Swim and lunch at Kolokytha Bay
- Sail back to Agios Nikolaos
- Free time in Agios Nikolaos town
- Embark buses and return to hotels
The experience
The day starts with a bus pickup from your hotel and a drive to Agios Nikolaos, arriving about 90 minutes later. From there you board the boat and sail for an hour across Mirabello Bay: the operator runs the only tour that makes this crossing, and the water is clear enough that the sail itself is part of the experience. When you reach Spinalonga, a professional guide leads a 45-minute walk through the fortress, explaining its history as "the island of tears," then leaves you free to photograph the views and explore on your own for the remaining time.
After a 15-minute sail, the boat anchors at Kolokytha Bay, where you have an hour and a half to swim in the shallow water and eat lunch on the beach. Lunch is a set menu (salad, bread, your choice of chicken or a vegetarian wrap, fruit, and either wine or juice), and it arrives while you're there, not after. This is the stop that separates the tour from others: most boats pass Kolokytha, but this one stops long enough that lunch and swimming are not rushed.
The sail back to Agios Nikolaos takes the morning route in reverse. Once you're back in town, you have an hour and a half of free time to walk around the lake and port, grab a coffee, or just sit. Then the bus returns you to your hotel. The whole day runs 9 to 10 hours depending on traffic and which pickup point you're coming from. Insurance coverage is included. Bring a moderate level of fitness and avoid the tour if you have cardiovascular concerns.
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned bus.
- boat tickets for the cruise across Mirabello Bay.
- a 45-minute guided tour of Spinalonga Fortress with a live guide.
- lunch at Kolokytha Beach (salad, bread, choice of chicken or vegetarian wrap, fruit, and wine or juice).
- liability insurance coverage through Allianz.
- free time in Agios Nikolaos town at the end of the day.
Options for this experience
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Before you book
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Operated by Cretan Odyssey
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to swim and eat without rushing. The long stop at Kolokytha is what makes both possible in a single day. The fixed schedule and included transport mean you don't arrange the drive, the boat times or the meal, so the day holds together without you building it.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
In Polish, at 06:30, 07:00 and 09:00. In English, French, German and Italian, at 06:30, 07:00, 08:00 and 09:00.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the boat ride from Agios Nikolaos to Spinalonga?
The boat trip takes 60 minutes across Mirabello Bay. Once you arrive at Spinalonga, you spend 1 hour and 20 minutes on the island: 45 minutes with a guide and the rest on your own.
What's included in the lunch at Kolokytha Beach?
Lunch includes salad, bread, a choice between chicken in the oven or a vegetarian wrap, fresh fruit, and either a glass of wine or juice. You eat on the beach during your 1.5-hour stop there.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, hotel pickup is included. You're collected from your accommodation and driven to Agios Nikolaos, where the boat departs. Pickup locations vary by area: Agia Pelagia, Anisaras, Gouves, Hersonissos, Malia and Heraklion are covered.
Can I bring my own food or drinks instead of the set lunch?
The tour includes a set lunch menu. Extra food and drinks are available as an optional add-on at checkout if you want them.
What happens if I'm not a strong swimmer?
Kolokytha Bay is shallow and calm. The swim is optional. You can wade, float or stay on the beach while others swim. The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness overall, but the water itself is forgiving.
Spinalonga & Kolokytha Bay cruise: Swim & lunch
9h–10h · EN · FR · DE · IT +1 · at your hotel
from € 50 per person
4.05130 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider