Both Gramvousa – also known as the island of pirates – as well as the lagoon of Balos are two places which are definitely worth a visit if you are in the western part of Crete.
You’ll be overwhelmed by the wild natural beauty, the exotic scenery and crystal clear water. The cruise ship departs from the port in Kissamos and after a sail of about an hour it arrives at the small island of Gramvousa for a stop of about 2 hours. Here you can swim at the small beach or hike up the donkey track to the remains of the 16th century Venetian castle from where there are stunning views. The walk takes you to a height of 137mts and good footwear is recommended. If you want to take it easy you can stay on board and enjoy a picnic lunch or purchase food from the restaurant. The next stop is the lagoon of Balos, a 15minute sail from Gramvousa, where expectations will be exceeded when you see the Mediterranean in its full splendor with pink sand and calm water with so many different shades of blue and green.