If you are going to Greece on the island of Crete, be sure to visit the confluence of the three seas – the Bay of Balos, without it, acquaintance with the beauty of Crete will be incomplete. Balos Bay attracts tourists with its pristine lagoon beaches, pristine nature and postcard views worthy of a National Geographic cover. We have collected for you all the information related to visiting this paradise.
Where is the bay located
Location of a unique lagoon in Greece-the island of Crete, Balos Bay is located on the west coast of the narrow, blade-like Gramvousa Peninsula, stretching north from the western tip of Crete. The nearest settlements to the bay are the village of Kaliviani and the town of Kisamos, located on the shore of the bay of the same name on the north-western coast of the island. The nearest major city is Chania, about 50 km away.
Features of the bay
From the west, Balos Bay is bounded by Cape Tigani. It is a rocky mountain range, the top of which has a height of about 120 m. At the entrance to the bay is the uninhabited rocky island of Imeri Gramvusa. These natural barriers protect the bay from winds and storm surges, the sea here is usually calm.
The shore and bottom of the bay are covered with white sand interspersed with small particles of shells, giving the beach a pinkish color. The water of the bay impresses with the richness of shades that follow each other. Here you can count up to 17 different tones of blue and green, which makes the Balos Lagoon look very picturesque in the photo. This is one of the most beautiful places not only in Crete, but in all of Greece.
Such an unusual color of the water is due to the fact that near the bay there is a border of three seas: the Aegean, Libyan and Ionian. Waters of different temperatures and chemical composition, mixing with each other, reflect the blue of the sky in different ways, giving rise to a unique game of shades of the water surface.
But the main feature that makes the beach unique is the Balos Lagoon, located in the coastal part of the bay. Cape Tigani in Crete, which separates the bay, is connected to the peninsula by two sand bars. A shallow lagoon has formed between these spits – a unique natural pool protected from the elements of the sea. In one of the braids there is a channel that connects the lagoon with the sea at high tides.
Due to the shallow depth, the clear water of the lagoon warms up well, and the natural isolation from sea waves ensures a constant calm in its water area. Combined with the pure white sand of the beach, this makes the lagoon an ideal place for children to swim. Yes, and adults rest on the beach at this natural pool will bring a lot of pleasure, if desired, you can find deep places for swimming here.
Lagoon holidays
In order to preserve the natural uniqueness and purity of Balos Bay, it has been granted the status of a nature reserve. The entire surrounding area, including the beaches, is protected by nature conservation organizations, so the beach infrastructure here is very modest.
Balos beach in Crete offers only rental of sun beds and umbrellas, which are not enough for everyone during periods of influx of tourists. There is no natural shade on the beach, so it is advisable to bring an umbrella with you. On the coast there is only a small cafe near the parking lot, which is at least 2 km uphill from the beach.
Balos beach does not offer any entertainment, but they are not needed. People come here to enjoy swimming in the warm azure waters of the lagoon, to capture in memory and in the photo the pristine beauty of exotic nature. This is the best holiday for relaxation and tranquility.
Lovers of excursions in the bay also have something to do. You can walk around Cape Tigani and see the Chapel of St. John the Baptist. Nicholas. Climbing up to the upper observation deck, you can enjoy the picturesque panorama of the bay from a bird’s eye view and take great photos.
On the island of Imeri Gramvusa, tourists have the opportunity to see the ancient Venetian fortress, as well as the ruins of buildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries by Cretan pirates and rebels against the Turkish invaders.
How to get there by sea
The starting point from which sea transport goes to the bay of Balos is the port of Kisamos, located 3.5 km from the town of the same name. Even closer to the port is the village of Trachylos (0.5 km away), so if you get to the port yourself, buy a ticket to Trachylos. From Chania, you can reach Trachylos by bus, the journey time is approximately 1 hour, the ticket price is about € 6-7.
If you plan to travel by sea on your own, keep in mind that ships leave for Balos only during the season and only in the morning, starting at 10 o’clock. The ticket price starts from € 27 and takes approximately 1 hour. As a rule, the program of a sea trip includes a visit to the island of Imeri Gramvusa.
It is most convenient to book a boat trip to the Balos Lagoon in Crete (Greece) from a tour operator. The trip includes:
- transfer by bus from the hotel to the port of Kisamos;
- sea trip to Balos;
- excursion program;
- beach holidays;
- return by sea to Kisamos Port;
- take a bus ride to your hotel.
Usually the duration of such an excursion is the whole day. The cost will depend on the place of your stay, the tour operator’s prices, and the excursion program. Minimum price – from € 50. In cities of Cyprus that are too far from Kisamos (Heraklion and beyond), such excursions are not offered.
For wealthy people, it is possible to rent a boat and go to the bay of Balos (Greece) without being tied to the schedule of sea flights. It will cost you to rent a boat starting from € 150. For lovers of privacy, this is a great opportunity to visit the bay before the arrival of tourists who come by boat. The disadvantages of a trip by sea include the lack of impressive views of the bay, which open up when approaching it from the mountain. But when you arrive at the beach, you can go up to the Cape Tigani observation deck and catch up.
How to get there by land
The way to the Balos lagoon in Crete by land, as well as by sea, starts from the town of Kisamos or from the nearby village of Trachylos. If you are traveling out of season, or in the afternoon, then a land trip is the only way to get to the lagoon, if you do not count the expensive yacht rental. The road to the bay passes through the small village of Kaliviani.
The final stop in this case will be the parking lot above Balos, from which you will have to go another 2 km down to the beach. Near the parking lot is the only cafe on the territory of the reserve. You can get to the parking lot by renting a car or ordering a taxi, but not every driver will agree to go there. In addition, in the second case, most likely, you will have to go back on foot, and this is about 12 km of descent from the mountain. There is another option – to order an individual tour by car through a travel agency, which will not be cheap.
The road to Balos is not long – about 12 km, but it is unpaved and leads uphill, so the trip takes at least half an hour. Maximum caution is required from the driver, because if the rented car is damaged on a dirt road, the case is not considered insured.
You will have to climb uphill from the beach back to the parking lot. Locals often offer mule and donkey rides during the season, starting from € 2.
Useful tips
- If your goal is to take photos of beautiful views, then you need to go up to the observation deck before 10 am. At a later time, the position of the sun will not allow you to get a high-quality photo. Boats start running from 10.00, so you will have to go to the bay of Balos (Crete) for a photo by car or on a rented yacht.
- When going on vacation, don’t forget sunscreen, umbrella, drinks, hats, food, and anything else you might need. Buy something on the beach of laguna you are unlikely to succeed. Some food and drinks can only be purchased at the cafe in the parking lot or at the boat buffet when traveling by sea.
- When planning a car trip to Balos (Crete), it is recommended to rent an SUV, as there is a risk of damaging the bottom of a regular car and piercing the tires with sharp stones.
- On a dirt road, do not reach speeds of more than 15-20 km / h, do not stay close to rocks, there are many recently broken stones with sharp edges. The width of the primer is sufficient for two cars to move freely apart.
- Parking over the bay is small, and there may not be enough places to park near the middle of the day, so it is recommended to arrive early in the morning so as not to leave your car on the road.
Balos Bay is one of the most amazing places on our planet, if you are lucky enough to relax in western Crete, do not miss the opportunity to visit this exotic lagoon.
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