An Elounda boat trip sails from the harbour of Elounda in eastern Crete to Spinalonga, Kolokytha and the hidden beaches of the bay. It is one of the Greek tours on Greece VIP.
This post covers what a trip includes, the stops and the Spinalonga shuttle. It also covers food, fishing, the sunken city, the boats, start points and Elounda itself. Weather, the best season and common questions come last.
Each section ends with an Elounda boat trip or a nearby trip that can be booked online.
What does an Elounda boat trip include?
An Elounda boat trip includes the boat ride, an English-speaking crew and swim stops in the bay. Day cruises add a barbecue lunch, a glass of wine and raki on board.
The shuttle to Spinalonga includes the return ride. Guests can also come back on a later boat of the same group. It holds 4.4 from 415 reviews.
The island has a toilet and a coffee bar, and guests can bring their own drinks and snacks. The entry ticket to Spinalonga is paid separately on arrival.
A mini cruise adds hotel pickup, swim stops at Kolokytha and Skistra, and music on deck. Hot dogs, fruit, orange juice, wine and raki come with it.
A barbecue cruise serves a pork chop, cabbage salad, bread and fruit. A glass of wine or lemonade comes with the meal.
- Languages: English daily, with French, German, Polish and Russian on set days.
- Boat comfort: One large boat offers shade, clean toilets and two bars.
- Parking: Free parking lies near the port.
An Elounda boat trip can therefore last a short hop or a full day on the water.
Which stops does an Elounda boat trip make?
An Elounda boat trip circles Spinalonga, stops at the pirate cave of Barbarossa and anchors at Kolokytha beach. Longer cruises add Skistra beach or a swim between Spinalonga and Plaka.
Kolokytha, whose name means pumpkin, is an islet about 850 m east of the Spinalonga peninsula. Together they form a sheltered bay.
The pirate Barbarossa is said to have sheltered in the cave before taking the island. Boats pause there for photos on the way to the beaches.
Skistra beach is a quiet stop that sees very little traffic. Guests swim, dive and sunbathe there before the return.
One cruise also anchors at Akra Vangi for a swim and a meal on board. Another stops in open water between Spinalonga and Plaka.
- Kolokytha: Guests wade ashore or jump from the boat.
- Spinalonga: Seen from the sea on the mini cruises.
- Kri-Kri island: Pointed out by the crew on a cruise from Agios Nikolaos.
An Elounda boat trip with two swim stops suits guests who want beaches more than history.
How does the Elounda boat trip to Spinalonga work?
An Elounda boat trip to Spinalonga leaves the port of Schisma, the centre of Elounda. Traditional boats run in a steady rotation. Guests return on any later boat of the same group.
Guests meet the boat staff by the taxi station in the port. The port is easy to reach by bus, taxi or car from Agios Nikolaos.
The island gets crowded around the middle of the day. Early morning or late afternoon visits feel more relaxed, the listing says.
The last return boat leaves earlier in April and October than in summer. One reviewer saw departure times shift on a rainy day.
Plaka, a village close to Spinalonga, also sends tourist boats to the island every day.
- Tickets: The island entry fee is paid on Spinalonga.
- Escorts: Licensed local escorts can be hired at the island.
- Reviews: Crew 4.1, transport 4.4 and value 4.2.
Guests who want a full history visit can compare the Spinalonga tours.
What food comes on an Elounda boat trip?
An Elounda boat trip serves a barbecue of pork, chicken or a vegetarian option on the longer cruises. Raki, fruit, wine or lemonade come with it, and bars on board sell more drinks.
One cruise grills a pork chop, a chicken burger or a vegetarian dish. Greek salad, bread and fruit complete the plate, with one glass of wine or lemonade.
Another cruise serves two souvlaki skewers with grilled bread at Kolokytha. Local raki, fresh fruit and orange juice or wine follow.
A cruise from Agios Nikolaos serves roasted pork, salad, bread and fruit, with a vegetarian option. Its snack bar sells extra drinks on board.
Reviewers praised the food on the barbecue cruise and the bar on deck. One found the drink prices fair on a boat with two bars.
- Fishing trip: The catch of the day, cooked on board.
- Extras: Cocktails, soft drinks, snacks and ice cream cost extra.
- Diets: Vegetarian dishes appear on three listings.
An Elounda boat trip with lunch saves guests a meal ashore.
Can an Elounda boat trip include fishing?
An Elounda boat trip can include fishing with a local fisherman on a small boat. Guests learn the techniques, swim and snorkel, then eat the fresh fish they caught.
The fishing cruise leaves from Schisma in a long-tail boat. It runs in the morning or the afternoon and takes no more than eight guests.
Rods, bait, snorkel gear and towels are included. Lunch brings the fresh catch with wine or beer, Greek salad and fruit salad.
The listing holds 4.8 from 100 reviews, and 96% of English-speaking guests gave it full marks. Reviewers called it an excellent day for all ages.
A traditional fishing boat in the gulf also offers fishing in the open sea. Its crew serves homemade food and wine while guests watch the sunset from the deck.
- Swim stops: Sea caves and snorkel spots on the way.
- Languages: English and Greek.
- Access: Not suited to guests with reduced mobility.
An Elounda boat trip for fishing suits families who want a small group.
What is the sunken city on an Elounda boat trip?
An Elounda boat trip passes Olous, an ancient Cretan city that now lies under the water off Elounda. Only scattered wall bases remain, and swimmers can visit them in the bay.
Olous held a temple to Britomartis. Legend says Daedalus carved her wooden statue, and her image appeared on the coins of the city.
The city long disputed its borders with the hill town of Lato. The two cities later signed a treaty.
An old record of sea routes puts Olous 15 stadia, about 2.4 km, from Camara. A cruise from Agios Nikolaos hands out a booklet with the story and photos of Spinalonga.
Olous honoured Callicrates, a commander of the Ptolemaic fleet, with citizenship.
Spinalonga once served as a natural barrier for Olous. One barbecue cruise explains that role.
- From the boat: A cruise from Agios Nikolaos points out the sunken city.
- Private trips: A family boat shows guests the bay and the sunken city.
- Swimming: Visitors reach the ruins by swimming in Elounda Bay.
Guests who want a wider view of Cretan waters can compare the boat trips in Crete.
Which boats run an Elounda boat trip?
An Elounda boat trip runs on traditional wooden boats and large cruise boats with bars. Small fishing boats and private charters join them. Family firms run a share of them.
The Spinalonga shuttle uses traditional boats with an experienced local crew. A large cruise boat on the barbecue route offers shade, clean toilets and two bars.
One reviewer described another big, spacious boat with gentle music, not a loud party boat. Guests swam from the beach or jumped from the deck.
A family company founded in 2019 runs one of the day boats. The owner couple sail with guests, and one of them captains. Its season starts every April.
Another family-owned company runs both private and public trips around the bay. Reviewers of its private charters mention caves, snorkelling and plenty of food and drink.
The motorboat and speedboat rental in Agios Nikolaos holds 68 reviews. It suits groups who want to steer their own course.
- Fishing: A long-tail boat for small groups.
- Rental: Motorboats and speedboats for hire in Agios Nikolaos.
- Catamarans: Sailing cruises to Spinalonga and Kolokytha from Agios Nikolaos, with a meal.
An Elounda boat trip on a private boat lets a group set its own stops.
Where does an Elounda boat trip start?
An Elounda boat trip starts at the port of Schisma, the centre of Elounda. Longer cruises also leave from Agios Nikolaos, and coaches bring guests from resorts around Heraklion.
The Spinalonga shuttle meets by the taxi station in the port of Schisma. A barbecue cruise meets at the small windmill harbour in the same village.
Another cruise boards at a dock in front of a harbour restaurant. Its ticket works as instant confirmation for boarding.
A cruise from Agios Nikolaos moors on Koundourou Street in the main harbour. Guests are asked to arrive well before departure.
Coach transfers come from Malia, Hersonissos, Analipsi, Gouves and Heraklion. One listing offers 63 pickup points along that coast.
The coach to Elounda runs along the coast through the St. George Gorge. The fishing trip collects guests in Elounda itself.
- Shuttle: Taxi station, Schisma port.
- Barbecue cruise: Windmill harbour, Schisma.
- Agios Nikolaos: Koundourou Street, main harbour.
An Elounda boat trip with a transfer turns into a full day, one reviewer notes.
What is Elounda like as a boat trip base?
An Elounda boat trip leaves from a small town on the north coast of Crete. It belongs to the Agios Nikolaos municipality. Elounda lies on the coast of Mirabello Bay.
The community joins seven villages and an uninhabited island area. Schisma is by far the largest village, known locally as Elounda Centre.
Its villages include Epano Elounda, Kato Elounda, Mavrikianon, Agia Paraskevi, Epano Pine and Kato Pine. The name also appears as Elounta or Elouda in English.
The town of Agios Nikolaos overlooks Mirabello Bay.
Nearby Plaka features in the novel The Island by Victoria Hislop and in its television version.
- Kalydon: The uninhabited island area of the community.
- Schisma: The busiest village, home to the port.
- Bay life: Taxis, buses and free parking serve the port.
Guests based near Heraklion can compare the Heraklion boat trips closer to their hotel.
How does weather shape an Elounda boat trip?
An Elounda boat trip meets steady northwest winds in summer and dry, hot days. Inland at Neapoli, winds averaged 17.1 km/h in July and 17.5 km/h in August this year.
The Neapoli station sits at 265 m, a short way inland from Elounda. Its July highs averaged 30.2 °C, and the heat peaked at 37.3 °C on 22 July.
August highs averaged 29.9 °C, with a peak of 36.3 °C on 26 August. June, July and August together brought just 1.8 mm of rain.
Out at sea, north of Spinalonga, waves averaged about 0.7 m from July to September. They reached 1.66 m on 30 July, the same day a 67.6 km/h gust hit Neapoli.
Boat crews adjust to these conditions. The captain can change the route and the schedule for safety, one operator states.
Autumn rain returns in September. Neapoli logged 61.2 mm that month, 30.2 mm of it on 17 September, and 61.7 mm in October.
January highs averaged 16.5 °C inland. A warm spell reached 25.3 °C on 8 January.
- Strongest gust: 104.6 km/h on 15 February this year.
- Biggest wave: 3.04 m at sea on 18 February.
- October waves: Up to 2.0 m on 3 October.
An Elounda boat trip anchors in Kolokytha Bay, which one listing describes as calm water.
When is the best season for an Elounda boat trip?
An Elounda boat trip suits June to October, when the sea off Spinalonga stays above 23 °C. It averaged 26.5 °C in August this year and touched 28.2 °C.
July averaged 26.0 °C at sea and September 26.2 °C. June started the season at 23.9 °C.
October so far has averaged 24.3 °C at sea. Last October averaged 23.5 °C, and last November still held 21.9 °C.
Spring water runs cooler. The sea averaged 17.2 °C in March and 17.6 °C in April this year.
Spring also brings rain inland. Neapoli logged 203.6 mm in March and 206.6 mm in April, 68.0 mm of it on 25 April.
Last October stayed warm on land too, with highs averaging 24.2 °C. It peaked at 32.8 °C on 27 October.
- Season start: One family boat begins sailing every April.
- Shoulder months: The last Spinalonga boat leaves earlier in April and October.
- Last July: Neapoli peaked at 40.0 °C on 23 July.
Guests who want open-sea sailing too can compare the catamaran cruises in Crete.
What do travelers ask about an Elounda boat trip?
An Elounda boat trip raises questions on seasickness, access, payment, gear and cancellation. Free cancellation runs up to 24 hours ahead on the platform listings.
Does an Elounda boat trip suit guests prone to seasickness?
The mini cruise does not suit guests prone to seasickness or with back problems.
Can guests with reduced mobility join?
The fishing trip, a transfer cruise and the cruise from Agios Nikolaos all exclude guests with mobility impairments.
Can guests pay by card on board?
Not on the mini cruise, one reviewer warns. Another operator advises bringing cash for extra spending.
Do guests need their own snorkel gear?
The fishing trip supplies it. On the mini cruise, a reviewer suggests bringing a mask and snorkel.
Can children join?
Unaccompanied minors cannot join one operator’s cruise. On a barbecue cruise, infants sit on a parent’s lap on the bus.
Are pets allowed?
The cruise from Agios Nikolaos allows pets. Two other operators do not.