From Heraklion: guided day tour to Spinalonga, Agios Nikolaos & Elounda

Price overview

• Day Tour Spinalonga - Agios Nikolaos - Elounda (11h) - per person (age 13+) 34.-€
• Day Tour Spinalonga - Agios Nikolaos - Elounda (11h) - per child (ages 4-12) 17.-€
• Day Tour Spinalonga - Agios Nikolaos - Elounda (11h) - per child (ages 0-3) 0.-€

Booking option: Bus and boat tour Spinalonga + Agios Nikolas from Heraklion

After being picked up in the Heraklion area, we travel to the east of Crete in an air-conditioned coach and can look forward to some landscapes and places worth seeing. The Spinalonga excursion begins at the beautiful port of Elounda, where we board the excursion boat and cross over to the island in just 15 minutes. Here you will take part in a guided tour of the history and culture of the island, which over time has become one with human tragedy (cue leper colony). Our stay on Spinalonga will last about 1.5 hours before we take the boat back to Elounda and spend some time strolling through the picturesque fishing village or having a delicious lunch in a taverna. The last stop on our day tour of eastern Crete is Agios Nikolaos, where you can visit the beautiful lake of Voulismeni, where Athena is said to have bathed, and the old town. Please note that the price of the Spinalonga boat ticket (approx. 10 € adults / 5 € children) and the entrance fee to the archaeological sites (8 € adults, children and young people free) are not included. Both are paid in cash on site.

Overview

• Duration: ~ 11 hours
• Schedule: 8 am to 6:30 pm (first entry / last drop off)
• Days: Monday, Wednesday, Sunday
• Months: 26th of April - 28th of October
• Languages: German, English
• Starting points: Heraklion City
• Pick-up included in the price from: along the main road, partly from the exit of the hotels of Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos, Analipsi, Anissaras, Gouves, Gournes, Kokkini Chani, Kateros, Heraklion (outside the centre), Ammoudara

Included

• Transfer, experienced driver, professional guide, air-conditioned bus
• Wi-Fi, Toilet access at each break

Detailed description

Day tour by bus and boat from Heraklion to Spinalonga and Agios Nikolaos

A day trip in Crete that feels like travelling back in time: from ancient times to the age of the Saracens, the period of the pirates and the Venetians, who built an impressive fortress. The day tour from Heraklion to Spinalonga and Agios Nikolaos is sightseeing in the best sense. Over countryside and villages, the comfortable and air-conditioned coach takes you to the east of the island, which has so much to show and tell. The excursion begins in the beautiful harbour of Elounda, where we board a boat for the crossing and enjoy a short ride through the bay. This makes for a change of pace on the Heraklion-Spinalonga tour.

The name of the small pirate island is closely associated with human tragedies, but also with steadfastness and fortitude. The fortress that the Venetians built here in the 15th century was practically impregnable at that time - the fort withstood the attacks of the Turks for more than 50 years. The inglorious phase of history began with the leprosy epoch around 1900. Because the disease was highly contagious and incurable until a medicine was developed, the sick were brought from Crete to Spinalonga and stayed there. At times, 1000 lepers lived in the colony. You can join a guided tour on Spinalonga that goes into many aspects, facts, legends and preserved buildings of this history (admission currently costs 8 euros and is payable additionally on site).

After spending about 1.5 hours on Spinalonga, we take the boat back to Elounda, with a swim break in a small bay, and use the time ashore for a stroll through the fishing village or even lunch in one of the tavernas at the harbour (not included). The day tour from Heraklion comes closer to its finale with Agios Nikolaos. We visit what many consider to be the most beautiful town on Crete next to Chania, enjoy a café, the view of the Voulismeni or a little shopping tour through the shops. At around 17:00 hrs we start the return journey to Heraklion and bring you back to your hotel. The Heraklion day tour to Spinalonga and Agios Nikolas is accompanied by a professional guide and a driver with local knowledge and experience.