Mirabello Bay: Our most recommended tours and activities

Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

1. Agios Nikolaos: Boat Trip to Spinalonga with Swim Stop

Spinalonga is a magnificent island with fortresses dating from the Venetian period. It is an island of legends, a triumph to survival in the early 20th century from the scourge of leprosy, now a place of great archaeological and historical significance. On Spinalonga island, enjoy the opportunity to visit the Interpretive Centre there and discover the settlements of the victims and survivors of this former illness. Explore the Venetian fortifications and learn all about the long and fascinating history of the island. Take time to walk around the island and see the views of the bay and the fortifications. Later the cruise continues, passing along other points of interest in the Bay of Mirabello such as the cave of the legendary Pirate Barbarosa, the sunken ancient city of Olous, and the island where the endemic and hardy Cretan Kri Kri goats live. Have time to relax and swim in the exquisite turquoise waters of Kolokitha Bay. The 40 m boat features two bars, a lounge, and a restaurant serving Greek and international cuisine at reasonable prices with high-quality service from the crew.

Agios Nikolaos: Morning Catamaran Cruise with Lunch

2. Agios Nikolaos: Morning Catamaran Cruise with Lunch

Sailing trip is designed for half a day - just enough time to enjoy sea and swimming activities. The yacht cruise starts in the morning at the port of Agios Nikolaos. Guests will have the opportunity to see famous island Spinalonga from the water. Our catamaran Lagoon 450F will comfortably accommodate up to 20 guests. For adults, we have snorkel equipment, SUPs, tackle and fishing bait. For children - a box with toys, colouring books, board games. And inflatable flamingos and unicorns for the entire family. Food on a cruise is our pride. For our guests, we have compiled a Mediterranean-style menu. We prepare all dishes only from fresh local products.

Agios Nikolaos: Semi-Submarine Cruise

3. Agios Nikolaos: Semi-Submarine Cruise

Board a comfortable air-conditioned semi-submarine vessel at the port of Agios Nikolaos. Discover marine life which inhabits the coastal waters of Agioi Pantes Island. Learn more about the flora and fauna you will see from the onboard audio guide. See many different species of colorful fish as the boat crew feeds them. If you are lucky, you may spot curious sea turtles, dolphins, and seals who sometimes choose to investigate the vessel. In the second part of the tour, take a seat on the main deck of the boat in order to admire the spectacular views of Agios Nikolaos Bay. Feel the sea breeze as you cruise through the bay before heading back to the port.

Heraklion: Spinalonga Guided Tour, Agios Nikolaos, and BBQ

4. Heraklion: Spinalonga Guided Tour, Agios Nikolaos, and BBQ

Take a bus and boat tour from Heraklion, step back in time on a guided tour of Spinalonga, chill out on the beach in Kolokytha Bay, savor a delicious BBQ lunch, and have free time in Agios Nikolaos. Be picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in selected locations on Crete in the morning. Hop aboard a spacious and comfortable bus and sit back and relax on the drive to the cosmopolitan town of Agios Nikolaos and board a ship.  Feel the sea breeze as you cruise through Mirabello bay towards the island of Spinalonga. Take a guided tour Spinalonga which has a rich history from defending the area from sea raids to housing a leper colony. Have some free time to capture photos of the island.  Continue to Kolokytha Bay where you can unwind on the beach, go for a dip, and dig into a lunch of grilled pork steak or chicken, bread, and a salad of tomatoes, cucumber, and feta. Vegetarians and vegans can enjoy a tortilla with vegetables, bread and salad. End your meal with fresh fruit and compliment it with a glass of wine or juice. Cruise to Agios Nikolaos and spend some free time exploring at your own pace. Sit at a cafe with lake or port views, do some shopping, or wander around this small Cretan town. Return to your accommodation in at the end of your tour. 

From Agios Nikolaos: Mirabello Bay Afternoon Cruise & Meal

5. From Agios Nikolaos: Mirabello Bay Afternoon Cruise & Meal

Afternoon sailing trip is suitable for those who prefer waking up late and avoid the hottest hours. The boat trip starts at the port of Agios Nikolaos. We sail in Mirabello bay. You can enjoy the view of the well-known island Spinalonga from the water. At stopover, our guests usually go snorkelling, exploring the area on sup boards and taking pictures on the seascapes background. White wine and Mediterranean dinner are served on board. Our groups are up to 20 guests. Sailing trips from Crete - an unforgettable experience of your vacation.

Elounda: Spinalonga Guided Boat Tour with BBQ and Swimming

6. Elounda: Spinalonga Guided Boat Tour with BBQ and Swimming

Discover Spinalonga on a guided boat tour from Elounda. Learn about this place's rich history, swim in the refreshing water, and enjoy a delicious BBQ meal onboard. Board your ship and head to Kolokytha Bay. Stop at the secluded beach and enjoy the calm. Go for a swim and relax in the sun before eating a BBQ meal onboard. Next, cross Mirabello Bay to reach Spinalonga Archaeological Site. As you cruise around the site, learn about the area's history as a natural barrier for Olous in Ancient Greek times, a Saracen pirate refuge, a Venetian fortification, and a Turkish settlement. After seeing the ruins, head back to Elounda.

Agios Nikolaos: Fun Cruise Around Elounda Bay

7. Agios Nikolaos: Fun Cruise Around Elounda Bay

Experience a boat trip on the bright blue Mirabello Bay with this unforgettable cruise from Agios Nikolaos. Begin your cruise from Agios Nikolaos harbor. It takes about an hour of a slow cruise along Mirabello gulf to arrive at Kolokytha beach. The boat will anchor there and you will be able to enjoy the turquoise, crystal clear waters for about one hour and fifteen minutes. Relax on the boat, and explore these isolated beaches. Then, head to Spinalonga, the famous lepers’ island. Take a cruise around the waters of the Island and then head to the second hidden paradise, the Skistra gulf. Revel in a perfect place for snorkeling and relaxing. Stop there for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. Enjoy a variety of activities such as swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and more. Access many “sea toys” to enjoy your time there. The romantic atmosphere of the island along with the extraordinary landscapes makes the cruise ideal for unforgettable memories surrounded by your family and closest friends.

Richtis Waterfall and North Coast Tour

8. Richtis Waterfall and North Coast Tour

Take a tour to Richtis beach on the far side of Mirabello Bay and trek through the forest to the stunning Richtis waterfall. After pickup from your accommodation, enjoy the beautiful scenery on the 1-hour drive to the bay of Mirabello. Leave the asphalt and travel off road down to Richtis beach, hugging the mountainside.  Park at the bottom and enter Richtis gorge to start the 30-minute walk to reach the falls. Follow a trail through the forest, listening to the sounds of birds and running water. Stop to admire the incredible waterfalls, with time to climb up the stairs to the top of the falls, take photos, or swim in the cool waters.  When you are ready to leave, head back to the beach along the same trail. During the tour you’ll enjoy a traditional lunch at a local tavern, with wine and water included. At the end of your tour, you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel in the Elounda area.

Heraklion: Spinalonga Agios Nic Elounda all inn Boat and BBQ

9. Heraklion: Spinalonga Agios Nic Elounda all inn Boat and BBQ

Enjoy a walking tour of the island of Spinalonga during a full-day excursion from Elounda to the island. Visit Agios Nikolaos and Elounda and swim in the crystal-clear waters of Kolokytha, where you can enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch. Leave from Heraklion, in a spacious, comfortable bus and travel to the designated locations, along the coast through the St. George Gorge to Elounda, a tranquil coastal resort. Board the boat around 10:00, and visit the bay and the beach of Kolokytha, a secluded haven that offers a respite from daily life. You can swim and eat a delicious BBQ on board. Take the boat to Spinalonga around 12:45, traveling across Mirabello Bay. Learn about Spinalonga's complex history as a natural barrier for Olous in Ancient Greek times, a Saracen pirate refuge, a Venetian fortification, and a Turkic settlement. Depart from Spinalonga at appr. 2:45 pm. As you head towards our last destination from Elounda by bus, you will have the opportunity for a quick olive oil tasting, before arriving at the capital town of Lassithi, Agios Nikolaos at around 3:45 pm. Relax in a café next to the bottomless Lake of Voulismeni and enjoy your walk to the local shops. Return to Heraklion after the excursion, at approximately 6:30 pm.

Crete: Mirabello Bay Cruise with Snorkel Gear and Transfer

10. Crete: Mirabello Bay Cruise with Snorkel Gear and Transfer

The cruise starts at 11:00 o’clock from Agios Nikolaos port. We start with a slow cruise along the Mirabello gulf to Kolokytha beach, lasting approximately one hour. There the ship will anchor, and you can enjoy the turquoise waters and swim in the crystal-clear waters for about an hour and fifteen minutes. Afterwards we continue to our second hidden beach in Skistra Bay, a perfect place to snorkel and relax and enjoy a cocktail (included). Here we stay again for an hour and 15 minutes for swimming. Fresh fruit is served and those who are hungry can order food on board. Around 15:45 you are back at the port of Agios Nikolaos where the bus is already waiting for you to take you back to your hotel. The romantic atmosphere together with the extraordinary landscapes make the cruise ideal for creating unforgettable memories. Attention: for Agios Nikolaos and Elounda area is no pickup service, but meeting point at Agios Nikolaos port.

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What people are saying about Mirabello Bay

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 1,401 reviews

A great trip and a wonderful guide - Dagmara, who has great knowledge and you can see that she loves what she does. A cruise on a wooden boat has its own unique atmosphere. The Island itself is beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Thanks to Mrs. Dagmara, we got to know her stories in depth. She also made sure that we did not stand too long in the queue for admission tickets, sunbathing while waiting for dinner also had its charm. Very good quality food. A visit to the oil factory combined with a tasting and another portion of interesting facts. Not much time in Agios Nicolaos, which is the only downside of the whole trip, but it is enough for a cursory tour. Everything was very well organized! I heartily recommend!

The day trip was lovely. We got picked up in front of a hotel 2 minutes from our apartment, which was convenient. Traveloling from Heraklion, be ready for a pretty long commute and pick up in various different spots along the coast- we were picked up in a van, switched to a larger one in Heraklion and to a double decker bus somewhere along the coast. All these changes notwithstanding, the pick up was efficient and we were not made to wait at all, pretty much, which is impressive. The boat tour was relaxing, the beach lovely, the food good, and the tour of Spinalonga very informative and lively. All in all, a very nice day discovering areas of Crete we would not have accessed otherwise. Recommended!

Our guide Rolf was with us in the hotel before his time. There was therefore an extra round through the city. On the excursion that followed, we received a lot more information from Crete, and Rolf looked after us very well here. The whole day was very enjoyable from start to finish. By the way, the food was tasty too. Thank you for the impressive day.

We really enjoyed the tour and walk in the gorge - and the dip in the waterfall. It Is a beautiful part of Crete. Our guide Rolf was very friendly and had lots of great stories about local culture, history and nature.

It was a very nice experience, it's really a great activity. You can see a lot of fish and a lot is explained about it. Unfortunately no turtle seen :(