Large CatamaranUp to 120 guests · Spacious & comfortable
Classic CatamaranSmall-group sailing · Intimate & relaxed
Group or PrivateShared experience or your own yacht
Morning or Sunset08:30–15:30 · 16:00–20:00

PRIVATE CRUISES — FLEXIBLE CANCELLATION

Cancel your private cruise up to 72 hours before departure for a full refund. Shared cruises: free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure.
PRIVATE 72H · GROUP 48H
Transfer must be arranged 24 hours before The cruise time shown is the boat departure time from Kissamos Port. It is not your hotel transfer pickup time. Transfer must be arranged at least 24 hours before departure; requests are accepted until 20:00 local time.
Requests until 20:00
DanEri Collection

Choose Your Balos & Gramvousa Cruise

Discover Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island from Kissamos Port. Choose the catamaran and cruise style that best suits your day.

DanEri Lux departures from Kissamos

Choose DanEri Lux when you want the flagship feel, then decide whether you want the fuller morning departure or the shorter afternoon version.

Morning Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Kissamos to Balos and Gramvousa Flagship west-Crete day
FULL DAY Kissamos 7 hours

Morning Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Kissamos to Balos and Gramvousa

Route: Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Cruise: 08:30–15:30

Enjoy a full-day cruise aboard DANERI LUX, visiting the iconic Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island in spacious comfort.
Best forGuests looking for a full-day Balos & Gramvousa experience aboard a spacious luxury catamaran.Transfer includedAvailable from selected areas — please check your pickup area.
Comfort 155/110 · VIP 185/130
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Afternoon Cruise From Kissamos to Balos Balos at golden hour
Sunset Kissamos 4 hours

Afternoon Cruise From Kissamos to Balos

Route: Balos Lagoon Cruise: 16:00–20:00

Enjoy Balos at golden hour aboard DANERI LUX, with drinks, snacks and a relaxed sunset atmosphere.
Best forGuests who want a relaxed Balos experience with sunset views.Transfer includedAvailable from selected areas — please check your pickup area.
Comfort 95/85 · VIP 150/105
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Balos & Gramvousa smaller-group departures

Choose the smaller-group catamaran when you want a calmer full day or a shorter sunset version from the same port.

Semi-Private Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Kissamos to Balos and Gramvousa Semi-private
All day Kissamos 7 hours

Semi-Private Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Kissamos to Balos and Gramvousa

Route: Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa

A calmer Balos and Gramvousa day for travelers who want smaller-group atmosphere without giving up the bucket-list route.
Best forGuests who want the iconic west-Crete route with more space
Adults 195 · Children 140
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Afternoon Cruise from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon Smaller sunset group
Sunset Kissamos Port 4 hours

Afternoon Cruise from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon

Route: Balos Lagoon Cruise: 16:00–20:00

The boutique sunset choice for Balos travelers who care more about smaller-group feel than about the bigger deck format.
Best forGuests who want a lower-capacity Balos sunset cruise from Kissamos
Adults 125 · Children 95
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Home / Cruises / Kissamos
HOW TO CHOOSE

Your Day at Balos Starts in Kissamos

From the moment you leave Kissamos Port, the scenery begins to change — turquoise waters, rugged Cretan coastline and the legendary landscapes of Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island unfolding ahead.

There is more than one way to experience this iconic part of Crete. Choose the catamaran, timing and cruise style that match the kind of day you want — whether you are looking for a relaxed escape, more time at sea or a memorable sunset.

At Daneri Yachts, we believe the right cruise depends on you. Your interests, your pace and the way you want to experience Balos come first — and we are always here to help you choose the experience that suits you best.

Catamaran by the shore at Balos
Kissamos Kissamos port and Balos route hub

  • More Than a Destination

    Balos is not just a place you visit — it is a day you remember. The sea, the light, the silence between swims and the feeling of being completely away from the everyday.

  • Made for the Way You Travel

    Some guests come for the iconic views. Others come for the sea, the food, the freedom or simply a day with no plans. Your reason for sailing matters to us.

  • The Daneri Way

    Years of experience on the Cretan coast have taught us that the best cruises are not rushed. Good service, thoughtful details and the freedom to enjoy the sea at your own pace make the difference.

A Different Perspective on Balos

See the famous lagoon from the water and experience its colours, coastline and surrounding landscape from a completely different perspective.

Time to Simply Enjoy It

No rushing from one viewpoint to another. Step aboard, settle in and let the day unfold around the sea, the scenery and the people you are travelling with.

Onboard Atmosphere Real DanEri imagery from related sailings so the choice feels visual, not abstract.
Two Daneri catamarans in the turquoise waters of Balos
Two Daneri catamarans in the turquoise waters of Balos
Guest enjoying the coastal scenery from the catamaran
Guest enjoying the coastal scenery from the catamaran
Guests on deck overlooking Balos Lagoon
Guests on deck overlooking Balos Lagoon
Friends together aboard a Daneri catamaran
Friends together aboard a Daneri catamaran
Choose your cruise

Compare the 4 Balos cruises from Kissamos

Two full-day cruises to Balos and Gramvousa, two sunset cruises to Balos. Each comes in a big-boat or small-group format.

Morning LUXSemi-private daySunset LUXSmall-group sunset
Time08:30–15:30 (7 h)08:30–15:30 (7 h)16:00–20:00 (4 h)16:00–20:00 (4 h)
StopsBalos + GramvousaBalos + GramvousaBalosBalos
BoatDanEri Lux (2025), up to 120 guestsLuxury catamaran, max 22 guestsDanEri LuxCatamaran, max 22 guests
FoodBrunch, snacks, chef's lunch (3 menus)Nutritionist brunch, snacks, organic lunchLight bites, Cretan snacks, fruitCretan snacks
Wine & beerVIP: one small bottle of wine or beer. Comfort: bar on boardIncluded (open bar)VIP: one small bottle of wine or beer. Comfort: bar on boardIncluded
Adult / child€155 / €110
VIP €185 / €130		€195 / €140€120 / €85
VIP €150 / €105		€125 / €95
Best forFamilies, groups, best value full dayCouples, more deck space, quieter dayBalos without the crowds, golden lightCouples, small-group sunset

Regular prices. Autumn offer: 20% off departures from 20 Sept 2026. Reviews: 782 on Google for DanEri Kissamos; on Tripadvisor, 239 for Morning LUX and 56 for Sunset LUX.

Your day

Your day on the Balos & Gramvousa cruise

The Morning LUX timeline is below. The semi-private boat follows the same pattern, reaching Balos at about 10:00 and Gramvousa at 12:00.

  • 06:30–07:30 Hotel pickup (time depends on your area)
  • 08:30 Boat leaves Kissamos Port. Coffee and brunch on deck
  • 09:30 Balos Lagoon. The tender takes you close to the beach to swim, snorkel or paddleboard in shallow turquoise water
  • 12:20 Sail to Imeri Gramvousa. Swim off the island, or walk up to the Venetian fortress
  • Lunch Cretan lunch cooked on board
  • 14:00 Head back to Kissamos
  • 15:30 Back at Kissamos Port. Transfer to your hotel

The captain can change the order or the stops for wind and sea conditions. Safety comes first.

Compare your options

Catamaran, public ferry or driving to Balos?

DanEri catamaranPublic day ferryDriving
FromKissamos PortKissamos PortKaliviani village
Getting there~1 h sail~1 h sail8–10 km unpaved track + parking fee, then a ~1–1.5 km steep path down (about 20 min, harder on the way back)
Group size22 or up to 120Large ferries, several hundred—
Food & drinksIncludedBar on board, pay extraBring your own (one seasonal canteen)
Swim stopsSwim from the boat and the beachBeach onlyBeach only
Price per adult€120–195 all-inclusiveabout €25–30 ticketFuel + parking fee
CrowdsMorning boat arrives ~09:30, before the ferries. Sunset arrives after themArrives with the midday peakYour choice. Earliest is quietest

Ferry and road figures: cretanbeaches.com and crete.direct (2026). Both say visitor numbers peak between about 11:00 and 15:00 in July and August.

Practical

Getting to Kissamos Port

  • Where: Kissamos Port (Kavonisi), Trachilos, about 3 km west of Kissamos town. 43 km (about 45 minutes) from Chania town.
  • With our transfer (Morning LUX and Sunset LUX): free round trip from anywhere between Georgioupoli and Kissamos. Book at least 24 h ahead (requests until 20:00).
  • Driving yourself: arrive 20 minutes before departure. Parking at the port is free.
  • Bring ID: port authorities check passports or ID cards at boarding.

The same port also has Seajets ferries to Antikythira, Kythira and Gythio, so look for the DanEri crew, not the ferry terminal. → Full guide: Kissamos Port, parking, ferries and Balos boats

Good to know

What's included, and what to bring

  • Professional English-speaking crew
  • Coffee, tea, water and soft drinks
  • Snacks on every cruise; brunch and lunch on the day cruises
  • SUP boards and snorkel gear
  • Swim noodles and an inflatable flamingo
  • Life jackets and insurance
  • Onboard WC and shower
  • Music and Wi-Fi
  • Free hotel transfer on Morning LUX and Sunset LUX (Georgioupoli–Kissamos)

Bring: swimwear, a towel (VIP Morning LUX tickets include one), sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and your ID.

The destination

About Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa

Balos sits at the tip of the Gramvousa peninsula, about 17 km northwest of Kissamos. Its shallow lagoon is rarely more than a metre deep and is edged with pink-tinted sand. The whole area is a protected Natura 2000 site, home to species such as the Eleonora's falcon and the loggerhead turtle. Camping and fires are banned.

Opposite the lagoon is Imeri Gramvousa, an uninhabited island crowned by a 16th-century Venetian fortress.

When to go: boats run in season (May–October). September and early October have warm sea (24–26 °C) and noticeably thinner crowds.

FAQ

Balos cruise FAQ

About one hour each way. The full-day cruise lasts 7 hours (08:30–15:30) and also stops at Gramvousa Island.

Day cruises board at 08:30 and return around 15:30. Sunset cruises run 16:00–20:00. Morning LUX hotel pickups start between 06:30 and 07:30, depending on your area.

Yes, on Morning LUX and Sunset LUX: a round-trip transfer is included from all areas between Georgioupoli and Kissamos. Book it at least 24 hours ahead. For the semi-private and small-group cruises, ask us about transport when you book.

Adults pay from €120 (Sunset LUX) to €195 (semi-private day). Children's tickets start at €85. Food, soft drinks and water sports are included.

They follow the same route. The Morning LUX is a 120-guest all-inclusive boat with entertainment, aimed at families and groups. The semi-private boat takes 22 guests and includes wine and beer, for a calmer day.

The morning boat reaches Balos at about 09:30, before the large public ferries. The sunset cruises arrive after most day visitors have left.

Yes. There are kids' life jackets, child prices, food adapted on request and a toy box on the Morning LUX. The lagoon itself is shallow and calm.

If the sea is too rough, we cancel and move your booking to a new date. If the new date doesn't suit you, you get a full refund. On the day, the captain may also change the route for safety.

No. Guests arriving at Balos on a DanEri cruise pay no extra fee.

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure for shared cruises, and up to 72 hours for private charters. You can also reschedule at no cost, subject to availability.