Explore the Minoan Palace of Knossos & Archaeological Museum of Heraklion with an expert local guide (professional and licensed).During this amazing half day tour you will discover all the secrets of the Minoan civilization.Your tour starts by the Entrance of the Knossos Palace and the ruins of this magnificent palace of 1500 rooms, the legendary labyrinth-palace of the king Minos from the 3500 old throne room to the frescoes room, thought the central court room, the queen’s and kings quarters, following the traces of Minotaur and finally to the oldest theater of Europe. The Palace of Knossos is the most important archaeological site on the island. It is the oldest palace in Europe and one of the four Minoan palaces.

It acted as the administrative and religious center of Minoan (Bronze Age) Crete. The legendary king of Knossos was Minos, son of Zeus and Europa. The palace is the labyrinth of Greek Mythology. Your tour continues with the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, the best in the world regarding the Minoan art as it contains the most notable and complete collection of artifacts of the Minoan civilization of Crete, like the Bull head Python, the goddesses of the snakes and the disc of Phaistos. The displays of idols made of terra cotta, marble and alabaster, collections of gold, jewelry, ivory, figurines, sarcophagi and frescoes will give you an insight into this artistic-minded civilization and complement your visit to Knossos.For the end of the tour enjoy a peripatetic tour through the streets of Heraklion and have a direct impression of locals’ life.Admire the Venetian Walls and have a great view of the City of Heraklion, discover all the monuments of the largest town in Crete.During this walking tour, we will discover all the monuments of the largest town in Crete, Venetian Walls, Venetian fountain of Morosini, Venetian harbor, Venetian arsenals, St. Minas Cathedral, Church of St. Titus (Vizier’s mosque), Church of St. Mark, Loggia and many more.A 2-hour walking tour in the largest town of Crete, Venetian & Ottoman Heraklion or Iraklion, to discover its history, finest hidden gems. Heraklion has a history of 3000 years and in the past was known as Rabd Al-Handak (Arab period), Khandax (2nd Byzantine period), Candia (Venetian period), and Kandiye (Ottoman period). The locals often called it simply Megalo Kastro (the Big Castle).

The tour explores Messara plain in the south. Driving through beautiful scenery, we will visit Gortys, one of the most extensive archaeological sites in Greece, with an unbroken history of 6,000 years,, with just some parts open to the public : the church of St Titus, the Odeon and the famous Plane Tree.

We then will continue for Phaestos, an important center of Minoan civilization, and the most wealthy and powerful ancient city in southern Crete. It was inhabited from the Neolithic period through the foundation and development of the Minoan palaces in the 15th century B.C. We will visit the palace with its superb architectural composition and construction, considered to be the finest and most typical of all Minoan palaces.

Time permitting we can also visit the Cretan Ethnology Museum in Vori, before ending at the coastal Matala, known for its wonderful sandy beach and the caves carved into the rocks. You can enjoy a swim and lunch before the return journey back to your hotel.

We depart from the port of Kissamos, with soft music playing in the background, and sail for about an hour in the homonymous bay, against a stunning backdrop of steep cliffs and rocks, incredible secluded beaches, and the infinite blue.

You will have the chance to see a large cave, which is thought to be an ancient shipyard. At the end of the bay, you will see an impressive geological phenomenon. Over time, Crete’s western side is rising, and its eastern side is sinking. This phenomenon takes place due to the movement of the African tectonic plate under the Eurasian plate. The ancient coastline can be traced over the rocky shores.

At the end of the bay, the boat will sail between the islet of Agria Gramvousa and Cape Vouxa (Trypiti). The landscape is breathtaking, against the backdrop of Valenti, Pontikonisi, Balos lagoon, and Imeri Gramvousa. The boat will approach afterwards Gramvousa island or Balos lagoon (depending on the itinerary) in about 20 minutes.

Gramvousa and Balos haven’t any roads neither shops. The ship’s self-service restaurant-bar is open throughout the cruise, so you can enjoy a delicious meal, salad, snacks, drinks, coffee, ice creams, etc. on board or take away your meal in a package. Also, you can rent a sun umbrella.

Visit Gramvousa-the island of pirates
The boat shall arrive at the small port of Gramvousa, where we shall stay for about 2 hours. The location of Gramvousa, the Cretan nature, the legends and the turbulent history of the area exude a magical aura.

The landscape is spectacular, and the beach of the island is adorned by a lonely shipwreck.

The highest point of the island, atop a steep rock, at an altitude of 137 meters, is dominated by the famous castle of Gramvousa, which was built by the Venetians in 1579. The castle played a significant role in the history of the wider area. The panoramic view, the magnificent nature, and the legend of the pirates’ hidden treasure, allure you to visit it, after a 20 minute hike (it’s essential to wear comfortable shoes).

You may also swim in the area next to the chapel of Agioi Apostoloi. By the way, if you happen to be there on 29th June, St Apostoli’s Day, you will witness a very big feast that takes place by the church. You can stay also on the ship to relax.

There are about 400 plant species in Gramvousa. Three of them are particularly interesting, since they cannot be found anywhere else on earth. One variety of daisies, a wild onion and silene. There are about 98 species of birds, with the number becoming quite bigger during the migration period, since the area is in the birds’ path to and from the Mediterranean.

After our (approximately)2-hour stop in Gramvousa, the boat will depart for the lagoon of Balos, which will be reached after approximately 20 minutes.

Visit the lagoon of Balos
Balos is listed as one of the best beaches in the world. This exotic beach-lagoon and rare natural monument is situated between the Gramvousa peninsula and Cape Tigani. Words cannot describe the impressiveness of this place. Nothing can describe what you are about to feel when you see this. When you get to swim in the lukewarm, shallow, turquoise blue waters, relax in the pink sandy beach, which is filled with shells, and admire the natural beauty, the rocks and the cliffs rising above you!

The sandy beach of Balos is adorned by a special kind of vegetation. Shrubby varieties, such as heather, Yenisey, thyme, and lentisc, have impressive shapes and patterns, proving their effort to survive in the adverse environmental conditions of the area, such as the strong northerly winds and the natural instability of the dunes. During the migration periods, there are many bird species here, while the lagoon’s mollusks are not to be found anywhere else in Crete in this composition and quantity.

You will have the chance to stay in this paradise for about 3 hours.

Due to the incredible natural beauty and preserved ecosystem, both Gramvousa and Balos are included in the European initiative NATURA 2000. The preservation of the island’s natural environment, beyond the moral dimensions, is imposed through a strict national and European institutional protection system.

Thus, the following are prohibited:
• Any kind of pollution
• Hiking outside the designated paths and beaches
• The collection of rocks, fossils, shells and ancient finds
• The collection of plants and animal catching
• Free camping
• Starting a fire
• Smoking around bushes and woodlands

Before disembarking in Gramvousa and Balos, please obtain information regarding the exact times of departure of the ship.

Both in Gramvousa and Balos, you may return to the ship at any time, but make sure you are back at least 10 minutes before departure.

The island of Chrissi (or Gaidouronisi) is situated approximately 9 nautical miles south of Ierapetra. Due to its incredible natural beauty and important ecosystem, it has been included in the European initiative NATURA 2000. It has an area of 4,743 square kilometers, and a maximum altitude of 27 meters. It’s an islet known for its exotic waters in all the shades of blue and green, the golden beaches -where it got its name from-, and the protected forest with the cedar trees, which are over 200 years old. Chrissi is a piece of paradise on earth, the southernmost natural park of Europe, and a gem in the Mediterranean.   

With soft music playing in the background, we will be sailing in the emerald waters of the Libyan Sea, accompanied by seagulls and dolphins. The trip from the port of Ierapetra to the exotic Chrissi lasts about 1 hour.

We will anchor in the south side of the island, and its only port. The nearby beach is ideal for swimming and relaxation.

The cedar forest extends to the center of Chrissi, covering an area of 350,000 square meters, which is about 1/4^th of the island, with an average of 14 trees per 1,000 square meters, and average age of trees 200-300 years. Those trees is a rare variety of Lebanon cedars, 1 meter tall, and with a diameter of up to 1 meter. The cedars have a root system that develops at a radius of at least double their height. Except from their large roots, they also develop a network of thinner ones that form a thick mesh that withholds the sand. The path through the forest and the dunes is simply magical.  

At the point of disembarkation there is a path that goes through the cedar forest and ends up in an exotic beach with thousands of shells, name Belegrina or Chrissi Ammos.    

The colors of the rocks, which are mainly grey-green, reddish-brown, black, etc., are spectacular, while almost the entire island is covered by golden sand. The base rocks of Chrissi were created through the solidification of lava that poured out of an undersea volcano millions of years ago. The 49 species of fossils (corals, shells, barnacles, urchins) found on the island come from the sea. They were imprinted on the volcanic rocks 350,000-70,000 years ago, when Chrissi was still underwater. The northern shores (Belegrina, Hatzivolakas, Kataprosopo) are filled with shells. Especially on the east side of the northern beach, the amount of shells is so big that the view is overwhelming.

If you walk west of Belegrina, the next beach you will see is Hatzivolakas. This is a more quiet area, against a rockier landscape, with the beach surrounded by large cedars about 200 years old. West of Hatzivolakas there are traces of a Minoan settlement that prospered from the trade of porphyra, which is the popular red pigment used for dying royal clothes.Recently, the biggest laver farm in the Mediterranean was discovered there. 

The scenic chapel of Agios Nikolaos and the island’s lighthouse are located right there. On the northeast of the church there is an old salt marsh and the island’s only house, built atop ancient remnants. There are wells and carved tombs on the south and southwest of Agios Nikolaos, with the biggest tomb dating back to the Roman era.

Another beautiful pristine beach of the island is Kataprosopo, which faces the Mikronisi islet, on the east of Chrissi, and is a habitat for thousands of birds. 

Koufonisi or Lefki is situated in the Libyan Sea, at the southeastern part of Crete, south of the prefecture of Lasithi, at a distance of 3,5 nautical miles south-southeast of Cape Goudoura, and 10 nautical miles southeast of Makris Gialos. It is the biggest in a cluster of islets and skerries (Koufonisi, Makroulo, Stroggylo, Trachila, and Marmara), and has a distinct history and natural beauty. The island is about 6 kilometers long, 5.5 kilometers wide, and has an area of 4,26 square kilometers.  

Evdokia, our pirate ship, is 26 meters long, and has a capacity of 250 passengers. It departs from Makris Gialos and heads to Koufonisi. With soft music playing in the background, we will be sailing in the turquoise blue waters of the Libyan Sea, and the ship will anchor off the coast, giving you the chance to swim in the crystal clear waters.

On the ship’s open decks, your children will enjoy our special animation program, and will have the chance to experience a magical pirate adventure, by participating in various games, such as a treasure hunt, water gun fights, face painting, and many more. 

As the ship approaches the island, you will have the chance to see the lovely beaches, the caves, and magical bays the seawater formed in its soft rock formations.

Koufonisi has 36 stunning beaches, with fine white sand, and emerald waters. Some of them, such as Asproulos, Hiliaderfia, Faros and Anemertia next to the Roman theater, could easily be among the best in Europe. Many years ago, a British yacht anchored in Hiliaderfia for a week, with Prince Charles and Princess Diana onboard.

Our ship shall moor in a wind-protected beach, and you will disembark by boat.

The island’s vegetation is low and bushy, almost Steppic, with rare -for Crete and Greece- species. If you feel like hiking, bear in mind that not all areas are accessible, and you need to wear snickers, a hat and sunscreen.

Koufonisi is a habitat for tens of migratory birds. Among the reproductive species, there is the common Gull, various waterfowl, and predators. Other animals include the Aegean lizard, which usually lays under the sun on white rocks.

The island’s name “Koufonisi” (trans.: Hollow Island) derives from the caves and caverns formed by the seawater and the rain on its soft rock formations. While you are there, you will have the chance to see the white rocks, against the backdrop of the Libyan Sea’s endless blue, enjoy the tranquility of nature, and swim in the crystal clear waters. The landscape will dazzle you, changing from steep rocky shorelines, to caves with white and yellow rocks, and unearthly dunes.   

The island is uninhabited today, but still filled with remnants of past human activity that starts from the Early Minoan times until the post-Byzantine era. The locals like to call Koufonisi as Delos of Crete, due to the significant archaeological monuments found there, including a stone theater, which is the southernmost ancient theater in Europe, with a capacity of 1,000 people, and a settlement, which was looted and destroyed in antiquity, where an impressive villa, with 8 still preserved rooms, and another house with 16 rooms were unearthed. However, the most important monument is the Roman public baths complex, which was used from the 1^st until the 4^th century AD and bore evidence of lavish decoration. The archaeological monuments are currently not visitable.

In antiquity, Koufonisi was an important hub for sponge fishing and porphyry -known gastropod- processing, where ancient Greeks and Byzantines were extracting the wildly popular purple color from. The island had strategic importance due to its position, and was claimed by the inhabitants of Itanos and Ierapetra, only to be conquered by Itanos.  

In the southern part of the island, there is a temple unpreserved for thousands of years until 1920, which is when it was completely destroyed, to give its place to a brand new lighthouse. Large pieces from the devotional statue and many smaller ones from the temple were used in the creation of the lighthouse. In the early Byzantine times, the island was used by monks, who engraved figures of saints and inscriptions in Latin on the walls of caves found on the west coast. Finally, the scenic chapel of Agios Nikolaos, patron of seamen, is located on the north of the island.