Day trip

From Heraklion: Elounda and Spinalonga Full-Day Tour

4.1 / 5

14 reviews

Activity provider: MTM TOURISM GREECE OE
Day trip

From Heraklion: Elounda and Spinalonga Full-Day Tour

Activity provider: MTM TOURISM GREECE OE

From US$ 70 per person

Learn about the ancient civilizations of Crete on a private full-day tour to Spinalonga and Elounda near the Roman city of Olous. Take a coffee break in Agios Nikolaos or have a walk around the lake.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 10 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Pickup included
Free pick-up possible from Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. Pick-up possible from other areas on the island subject to an additional fee.

Experience

Highlights
  • Explore the ancient history of the tiny island of Spinalonga
  • Swim in the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea
  • Visit the pretty town of Agios Nikolaos
Full description
Journey back in time and explore the ancient civilizations of Crete on a private full-day tour to Spinalonga. Drive along the north coast of the island and get an amazing view of the Selinari gorge on the way to the small fishing village of Elounda, known for its gorgeous beach. Board a boat to the small island of Spinalonga, and learn the local history dating back to Ancient Greece. Take a guided tour of the island to explore how it served as a natural defense for the ancient city of Olous and was later used by the Saracens as a hide-out for their pirates. Discover the remains of the Venetian fortifications and learn more about the period of Ottoman rule. Proceed to the sandy Bay of Kolokitha where the boat will be anchored. Enjoy some free time to swim in the crystal clear waters and feast from a BBQ lunch. Return to Elounda to take the bus to the pretty town of Agios Nikolaos, where you can browse the shops and visit the bottomless lake.
Includes
  • Hotel pickup
  • Local guide
  • Boat ticket
  • Light box lunch (sandwich, croissant, juice, and water)
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses
  • Boat trip and BBQ lunch at Kolokytha (€12 per person)
  • Entrance to Spinalonga (€8 per person)

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Comfortable clothes

Know before you go

  • Free pick-up is only possible from Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos due to the size of the island. Pick-up is possible from outside these areas subject to an additional fee
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.1 /5

based on 14 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.5/5
  • Transportation
    4.5/5
  • Service
    4.3/5
  • Organization
    4.3/5

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Guide was excellent and I liked hearing the info given in English French and German - somehow made for better comprehension. People in the group were considerate of each other. The boat trip to Spinalonga and time spent there was the main event and Spinalonga is amazing for its history and architecture; and taking a stroll there felt like being on a nature preserve surrounded by sea. There was free time to do this as well as to relax or shop in Elounda and Agios Nikolaos and I really appreciated the loose structure. It was a long day and by the end I was pretty exhausted. The final stop was at an olive oil plant. Wish I had been prepared with a gift list because there were choice products there besides the oil including products made with olive wood.

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March 22, 2023

A must do! Amazing crew and great experience. Jumping off the side of the boat into the crystal clear water was so much fun! BBQ was plenty and delicious :-) The bus ride from Herkaloin took about 2 hours from pick up to Elounda (because of the pick ups) but it was a good opportunity to see the sights.

March 22, 2023

This was a great tour. I really enjoyed the beach we were able to swim at and the BBQ lunch cooked for us. We then visited the island of Spinalonga to tour the fort. The only thing I did not enjoy was the bus transfers. We were the first group to be picked up at 7:30 am and had to change buses on the way back along with making several stops to pick up and drop of other groups the whole way. This made the tour at least 2 hours longer than it should have been. It was very deceiving to say it took less time on the website and not allot for the extra drive time to pick up and drop off people.

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March 22, 2023

Product ID: 81888