Damnoni Beach

Discover 3 of the most famous beaches on the south coast of Crete. Travel through the wild Kourtaliotis Gorge where you will stop to see the magnificent waterfalls and the springs of the river Preveli that flow inside the gorge and which result in the river at Preveli Beach. The first stop in the south is at the sandy beach Damnoni, where the boat is waiting to take you to Palm Beach Preveli at the south-end of Kourtaliotis Gorge, at the mouth of the river Preveli. Enjoy some time for a splendid swim in the crystal clear waters of the Libyan Sea, sunbathe and relax, and embark on a short hike through the tropical forest. Visit the south of Crete and stop at the viewpoint above where you will be able to enjoy a breathtaking view and take some fantastic pictures. Hop on the boat to take you to Preveli, a unique mixture of the sandy beach and the green river which is flanked by palm forests and rocky surroundings. Here you will have time to enjoy the refreshing Libyan sea and the Cretan Sun. Continue to the sandy beach of Damnoni, where the boat is waiting to take you to Palm Beach Preveli at the south-end of Kourtaliotis Gorge, at the mouth of the river Preveli. Enjoy some time for a splendid swim in the crystal clear waters of the Libyan Sea, sunbathe and relax, and embark on a short hike through the tropical forest. Hop back on the boat and return back to the sandy beach of Damnoni. The next stop is the small resort Plakias, situated in a natural bay. Here you can have lunch, go for another swim or do some shopping. We will take another road to return to Rethymno, driving through the impressive Kotsifou Gorge.

Following pick-up at your hotel. Sit back and enjoy the dramatic scenery of the Kourtaliótiko Gorge as you make your way to the beautiful beach of Preveli. Get breathtaking views of the blue waters of the Aegean Sea contrasting with the lush green of the palm forest and lagoon. The first stop is Damnoni beach. From here you will take the boat over to Palm beach. Take some free time to soak in all the beauty of the clear blue waters combined with the lagoon and palm forest. Enjoy time to purchase lunch and refreshments in Damnoni and admire its beautiful clean beach. After Damnoni we will visit the small fisher village Plakias. Journey back to Rethymno and get dropped off at your hotel on arrival.

Morning Pickup: We will start collecting participants from pick-up points in the morning. Depending on the place of your hotel/apartment the bus drive to the destination will differ (between 2.5 - 4 hours). 1st stop: Damnioni Beach Arrive by bus at the beach of Damnioni and embark on the boat which will take you to the unique Palm Forest of Preveli. Boat Trip: 30 minutes 2nd stop: Preveli Palm Beach – 1 hour 30 minutes Arrive at the famous beach of Preveli. Our participants will have plenty of free time to swim and explore a unique mix of sandy beach and green river flanked by palm forests and rocky surroundings. Chill out and enjoy the exotic landscape of the south coast. Boat Trip: 30 minutes 3rd stop: Damnioni Beach – 1 hour Arrival at Damnioni, free time for 1 hour to enjoy lunch at a local tavern (optional, with extra charge). Bus Drive: 20 minutes 4th stop: Kourtaliotiko Gorge – 10 minutes Experience the wild natural landscapes of Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Our participants will have 10 minutes of free time to admire the view of Cretan Nature and take some pictures! Bus Drive: 30 minutes 5th stop: Rethymnon Town – 1 hour 20 minutes Visit the picturesque old town of Rethymno. Enjoy your free time walking along the old port, its iconic small streets with local cafes, and its beautiful beach road. End of the tour – Arrival at resorts: Embarkation in the buses and drive back to the hotels where we gathered participants in the morning. Bus Drive: between 2-3 hours Depending on traffic and the hotel location, the time of the journey back to the hotel will differ.

Discover the raw beauty of Crete on this guided day tour from Rethymno to Preveli. Take the opportunity to visit Preveli Beach, the Kourtaliotiko gorge, cruise aboard a boat on the Libyan Sea, swim in crystal-clear waters, and relax on a sandy beach. Relax ─ your tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Rethymno or Chania. Start your tour from your accommodation where your guide will meet you. Take a short scenic drive through to Damnoni beach where your personal boat driver awaits. Find yourself in Preveli after a short, picturesque boat ride. Enjoy a swim in the Libyan Sea at Preveli Beach and feel free to explore the Kourtaliotiko gorge and marvel at the mountainous terrain. Connected to Preveli Beach is a series of springs and waterfalls that lead into the gorge which can also be visited. Discover a mixture of sandy beaches, lush forests, and mountains. Return to your accommodation on a route through the Kourtaliotiko gorge

Discover one of the most famous beaches on the south coast of Crete. Travel through the wild Kourtaliotis Gorge where you will stop to see the magnificent landscapes and the springs of the river Preveli that flow inside the gorge and which result in the river at Preveli Beach. Visit the south of Crete and stop at the viewpoint above where you will be able to enjoy a breathtaking view and take some fantastic pictures. Enjoy a full-day excursion from Heraklion to Preveli Beach on a bus trip with a local guide. Discover South Crete's Grand River, Kourtaliotikos Gorge, and a colony of Theophrastus palm trees. Sunbathe on the sandy beach, swim in the turquoise waters, watch for wildlife, or hike regional trails.  Begin your tour with a bus ride from the north coast to Preveli Beach, where you can swim in the turquoise Mediterranean water or stroll along the beach. Look for a rock shaped like a heart, known as The Stone of Lovers, and marvel at the steep cliffs and misty hilltops of nearby Kourtaliotikos Gorge.  Continue your tour by hiking along the banks of the Grand River to discover the Forest full of Theophrastus palm trees. Hike further up the river trail to a canyon and beach where you can further swim, hike, or sunbathe, before heading back down the path to the bus and returning to Heraklion. 10:45 Arrival at Preveli – free time 15:00 Departure from Preveli 16:50 Arrival in Heraklion Route: 210 km Duration: app. 7hours

Our day begins in the morning with your pick up from your hotel. After our coach ride we arrive at the beautiful Damnoni beach, where our boat is waiting for us to take us on a 30-minute boat ride to our first stop of the day, the magnificent beach of Preveli. As we approach our destination, you will be amazed by the unique landscape surrounding us that consists of vertical cliffs of the gorge, the beautiful palm-tree forest and the crystal clear water of the beach. The Grand River ( Megalos Potamos ) that runs through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge and then empties into the sea, makes the water cool and refreshing, ideal for an amazing swim break. On the banks of the river there is a large colony of Theophrastus palm trees which give the region a sense of a tropical landscape. Walk along the sandy beach, under the shade of the palm trees and experience the exotic side of Crete. We then head back to Damnoni beach, a long bay with beautiful turquoise waters where you can continue your swim and have a delicious meal in one of the traditional restaurants located there. Our last stop of the day is the lovely city of Rethymno. Mostly known for its Venetian fortress, called Fortezza, Rethymno is considered to be a jewel of the island. Whether you choose to scroll around the narrow streets or have a coffee next to its beautiful Venetian port, you will have an unforgettable experience!

Preveli is a famous beach on the south side of Crete Island. The local legend says that the mythological king Odysseus stopped in Preveli on the way to his homeland, Ithaka. What makes Preveli beach so famous is the palm forest surrounding the river, which comes from a gorge and ends up in the sea. The exotic beauty of nature attracted in the 60s and 70s hippies from around the globe who used to live here and make huts under the palm trees. Due to the sensitivity of nature around Preveli Beach, the area is protected by the Natura 2000, and it is a natural reserve. We pass BUT WE DONT STOP from Kourtaliotiko gorge.Kourtaliotiko gorge is believed to have been used as a natural fortress by the ancient Minoans, who lived on the island of Crete more than 4,000 years ago. In the Middle Ages, the gorge was used as a route for transporting goods between the towns of Plakias and Koxare.In modern times, Kourtaliotiko gorge has become a popular tourist destination, with visitors from all over the world coming to explore its rugged landscape and take in the stunning views. The gorge is also a popular spot for outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and photography. Despite its popularity, the gorge remains an important part of the local culture and traditions, and efforts are being made to preserve its natural beauty and cultural significance for future generations. We have one stop for coffe in Damnoni beach in an idyllic bay just a few kilometres from the more famous resort of Plakias. It is about 35 km south of the city of Rethymno, on the southern coast of the island, on the southern coast of the island. At beach of Damnoni we will take the ferry to Preveli.Another advantage of visiting Damnoni is that it is relatively uncrowded for most of the year.

Begin your day with pickup at the designated pick up location and head towards Damnoni. Make a stop at Spili or Asomatos village on your way for a coffee break in order to enjoy the beautiful historical village. Continue on your journey, as guide will collect the money in order to bring you the ferry tickets. Arrive at Preveli beach where you will be able to stay there for 3 hours and explore the Kourtaliotis Gorge, the Palm Tree Forest, or relax at the beach. Explore outside of Chania and see a gorge, river, lagoon, a palm forest, and wonderful sand beach all in one trip. See the beach, located near the exit of Kourtaliotis Gorge. Experience one of the most famous beaches in the South of Crete. Admire the area behind the beach, where begins the second largest palm forest of 40 hectares, which hosts the endemic Cretan palm tree of Theophrastus, protected by the Natura 2000 Network. Follow the marked path (and it is advisable not to step off it) and enjoy pictures full of greenery and listen to the sounds of running water. Immerse yourself in the beautiful nature and admire the natural scenery. Make a stop at the end of the river, which forms a small lake at its exit to the sea with year-round water. Take the chance to have a refreshing swim in the large swimming pools that form every now and then. Enjoy the beach in its natural state, as there are no sunbeds or umbrellas. Stop at the canteen where you can get the essentials if you need to. Depart from Prevali beach and head to Damnoni where you will catch the bus and head to the village of Plakias as you will have free time to have lunch and drink at one of the taverns. Make a brief photo stop on the return journey and enjoy the stunning view of Kourtaliotis Gorge, before being dropped back off at your pickup point.

Embark on a captivating day trip along Crete's southwest coast, featuring a meticulously planned itinerary. Here's what to expect: 08:00 – 10:30 | Hotel Pick-Up Begin your day with a comfortable transfer from your hotel in the Heraklion Region. 10:45 | Stop in Skaleta – Breakfast & WC Take a short break for breakfast and restrooms before continuing the journey south. 11:45 | Arrival at Preveli Palm Beach Arrive at the parking area above Preveli Beach, surrounded by dramatic cliffs perfect for panoramic photos. From here, we follow a descending footpath of about 300 steps (approx. 15-minute walk) to reach the beach. Preveli is one of Crete’s most iconic and unique beaches, where the Grand River (Megalos Potamos) flows through a lush palm forest and into the Libyan Sea. You can walk along the shaded riverbanks under Theophrastus palm trees, swim in both the river and sea, relax on the pebble-and-sand beach, and snap a photo of the heart-shaped rock on the eastern side. The area is protected and has a wild, unspoiled charm that blends tropical and Mediterranean landscapes. 15:45 | Departure from Preveli After your free time at the beach, return via the walking path to the bus and begin your journey back. 17:00 | Short Stop in Skaleta – Rest & Refreshments Pause for a brief refreshment and restroom break before the final stretch of the return trip. 18:30 – 19:45 | Return to Hotels – Drop-Off Arrive back at your hotel with unforgettable memories of one of Crete’s most extraordinary beaches.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the majestic beauty of South Crete, beginning from Chania and passing through Georgioupolis, Kavros, and Rethymnon. This meticulously crafted full-day trip immerses you in the awe-inspiring landscapes and paradisiacal beaches that Crete is celebrated for. The adventure begins with departures at 08:10 from Chania, 09:00 from Georgioupolis, 09:10 from Kavros, and 09:30 from Rethymnon. The first stop is at the stunning Kourtaliotiko Gorge at 10:00. Here, nature's masterpiece awaits, with its towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls, offering over an hour of exploration in a setting that feels like stepping into another world. Capture the essence of Crete's rugged beauty and let the tranquility of the gorge inspire your inner explorer. Departing from the gorge at 11:15, the journey continues to Smerna Bar in Plakias, arriving at 11:45 for a relaxing coffee break until 12:15. From there, embark on a boat tour to Preveli Palm Beach, departing at 12:15 and arriving at 13:00. This beach is nothing short of a tropical dream, where the whispering palms sway gently in the sea breeze, framing the golden sands and crystal-clear waters of the Libyan Sea. Spend the afternoon soaking up the sun, swimming in the Mediterranean's embrace, or simply lounging in bliss until 15:00, surrounded by an atmosphere of sheer serenity. At 15:00, depart from Preveli Palm Beach by boat, arriving at Damnoni Beach at 15:30. Here, you have two hours to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea at this idyllic beach before the final leg of the journey. As the day draws to an end, departure from Damnoni Beach is scheduled for 17:30, with returns to Rethymnon at 18:00, Kavros at 18:20, Georgioupolis at 18:30, and Chania at 19:00. You'll find yourself enveloped in a sense of peace, having been touched by the scenic marvels and calming moments by the sea. This journey promises not just a trip, but an experience that captivates your senses, rejuvenates your spirit, and leaves you with memories that linger long after your return. Designed for those who seek to explore beyond the ordinary, this day trip to Crete's natural wonders and beach paradises stands out as an invitation to discover the island's most enchanting secrets. Book now and let us guide you to the heart of Crete's beauty, where every moment is a discovery, and every sight is a treasure.