The island of Spinalonga, now open to the public for daily visits, has also been the subject of several books, a best-seller novel, and a famous Greek TV series. To get to Spinalonga you must take the boat from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda or Plaka. According to different sources, Spinalonga was an area protecting the port of the ancient city of Olous (today partly submerged) also known as Elounda (modern Elounda). Finally we will return to the base where we started. This shouldnt be too difficult - just ask at the seafront tavernas in Plaka, as most people have their own boats for pleasure and fishing. Cruise around the islands natural wonders and ancient ruins; hear about the Saracens pirates, Venetian armies, and leper colonies that have inhabited the island over the years; and enjoy lunch in the seafront town of Plaka. boat spinalonga elounda trips tripadvisor They cultivated aloe and used the plant for treating their sore skin. From here, there are spectacular views of the nearby peninsula, the sea, and the bastions of Spinalonga. They say life imitates art. These organized trips normally last several hours, they are more expensive and usually include a swim and BBQ on the beautiful beach of Kolokitha (Spinalonga peninsula). Since its an archaeological site, alcohol and smoking are forbidden from the main gate until you exit via the cemetery door. Spinalonga has had a very chequered history and today, although uninhabited, still echoes with ghostly reminders of the past. Once past the museum, you can take a closer look at the abandoned buildings in the old village. Spinalonga has two entrances, the main gate you will use as a visitor (Dantes Gate) and a second one located close to the disinfection chamber and has access to a tiny pebbled beach. Venture into the mountains of Creteand explore a smaller island on this guided tour, which also includes a thrilling speedboat ride. There are no scheduled boat trips to Spinalonga in the winter, and you will have to find a boat owner to take you across. Get to the main square of the village, right in front of the port, and choose one of the many available Spinalonga boat operators on the shore. Boats depart from the nearby small village of Plaka, but also from the port of Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. crete elounda greece spinalonga island fishing boat background shutterstock vectors royalty After 1957, the island remained abandoned until the beginning of the 70s, when the local authorities started excavation and restoration works. Elounda was a strategic port for the Venetians who built saltworks in the shallow waters. There are different options to reach Spinalonga. Here, she juggles being a solo mom, hosting culinary tours in the summer, translating, and writing for The Tiny Book and her other blogs. As regards the Boat trip from Elounda, our voucher was timed for 1100 but we were able to get on an earlier one with no problem. Today thousands of tourists visit Spinalonga each summer by boat from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and Plaka, for a tour of its ruined buildings, which the Archaeological Service is laboriously trying to maintain. If you intend to travel to Spinalonga from Rethymno or Chania, I will recommend planning for an extra day in the area and spending the night. You have some free time for a coffee, shopping and a stroll along the most eastern main city of Crete. Departing from Plaka is probably the fastest and the cheapest way to reach Spinalonga. as well as some medical instruments related to the leper colony. On the way, our guides will tell you about the places you will pass through. Coming back, take inpicturesque views of theGulf of Mirabello and the island you're about to visit. The boat trip from Plaka lasts 10 minutes or less. During Venetian occupation, the island was carved out of the coast for defensive purposes and a fort was built there. delfini Myself and my husband did a boat trip with BBQ as a day trip to Spinalonga. This means that youll be traveling with more people, but also that you wont find this trip available off-season. If youre planning a visit, keep these tips handy and get ready for a day trip to Spinalonga island. After lunch we hit the road to get back where we started. elounda spinalonga Nicolaos, 4-Hour Private Boat Rental Without Skipper at Agios Nikolaos, Elounda-Kolokytha-Spinalonga-Agios Nikolaos Tour with Barbeque TR, Royalty Elounda-Spinalonga-Agios Nikolaos Tour with BBQ, Spinalonga- BBQ on the beach- Agios Nikolaos, Island of Spinaloga Full-Day Tour from Heraklion with Lunch. The Municipal Market of Chania is closed for renovations until December 2023. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the island, while the sea voyage sometimes includes a sail around the Kolokytha Peninsula. elounda crete greece october disembarking alamy ferry spinalonga passengers returns island 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. Today the name Spinalonga is only applied to the islet, but the Venetians used it to include the large peninsula of Nissi or Kolokytha, which is connected to Elounda by a narrow isthmus. Port of Schisma Eloundas (easily accessible by bus/taxi/private car from Agios Nikolaos). If you visit Spinalonga outside the tourist season, the chances are you wont meet anyone except the archaeological team working there. Here, walking through the pedestrian city center, you will find a large number of tourist shops and cafes! A few of the otherwise ruined houses have been renovated and turned into a museum with photographs, historical information and everyday objects. Visit Spinalonga Island and Elounda on this day tour. So, it took me two hours to see the island really well, but you can easily see it in less time. From The operator whose product is featured here may pay Viator more. Great guide, not enough time, private beach? This yacht provides all essential elements for trully enjoyable cruising. Take a short tour of the island before heading back to Crete. NIKOLAOS FROM ELOUNDA. The name Spinalonga appeared around the 13th century, bestowed by the Venetian conquerors, who, unfamiliar with Greek, corrupted the place-name Stin Olounda (at Olounda), originally to Spinalonde (13th century) and later to Spinalonga. Every year, there is a pilgrimage to the church to commemorate those who suffered and died on the island. Uncover the fascinating history of Spinaloga Island on this full-day tour from Agios Nikolaos. GetYourGuide. LAST-MINUTE PLANS FOR CRETE? UseFerryhopperand Skyscanner for the best ticket rates. Find great accommodation deals onBooking.com. Compare car rental prices withDiscover Cars.Check the best tours with GetYourGuide. VisitElafonisi, discoverBalos Beach, hikeSamaria,or explore Knossos.Pack theLonely Planet Guide to Creteor get mydigital guide to Chania. The island closed in 1957 when an antibiotic cure for leprosy was found. The first departures from Elounda are from 9.30 to 10.00 in the morning. spinalonga elounda To be honest for the price we paid I find the trip over priced, you have to pay extra to get into spinalonga as well which is putting price up. A little further on, you reach the hospital, a basic building that didnt offer anything in the way of treatment for leprosy. Next, visit the villages of Elouda and Plaka with the beautiful beach where you can take a swim or/and visit the world-famous Spinaloga which is a short boat-ride away. Next up, check also the small church of Agios Nikolaos and the Turkish mosque. At KERA TOURS you can book boat trips and excursions that allow you to explore the exciting waters around Crete, both above and below the surface of the sea. The Tiny Book 2014-2022 TinyBookMedia There are lots of boats operating from various places so it could be confusing which one to get (no signage) on the return however, they announced the boat as for Elounda when it arrived so no problem :). boat spinalonga elounda trips tripadvisor First of all I have to give a lovely review for our tour guide Maria, she made this trip worth while in the end. First, drive intoa mountainous region surrounding Crete in a safe and secure 4x4 vehicle. This price does not include the cost of the entrance ticket to the Spinalonga archaeological site, which was 8 in 2017. The word leprosy comes from the Greek word (lpos) skin and (lepers) scaly man (source: Wikipedia). Due to Cretes unique position in the Mediterranean, piracy was a common danger. Best hotels in LasithiAffordable: Porto Maltese and Katia Apartment in town.Mid-range: Ostria Apartments in Ammoudara or Villa Olga.Luxury: Elounda Peninsula in Elounda and Miramare Resort in Agios.Check also Rental Homes in Agios Nikolaos and Best Elounda Resorts. Spinalonga has appeared in novels, television series, and a short film. I stopped for pictures and to see the museum in detail, but I also walked on different routes. At the village of Plaka, board a speedboat for the short ride to Spinalonga, which once served as a leper colony. The history and the culture of the island of Spinalonga became one with human tragedy in the course of time. You can also see the wood ovens in some of the houses, a Venetian cistern, and a garrison, later on, used as the disinfection chamber. The most common solution was isolation in a leprosarium or a dedicated hospital. Finally, dont forget to look to the shore to understand what the people of the island might have felt being so close And still, so far from the land. Time for swimming at the crystal clear waters, tasting the BBQ served on board. If there is a must-see on Crete, it is surely this multifaceted Tour. We can customize this tour by skipping or adding extra places to visit if possible. personally I dont think it was for us but we still had a good day out. We reach the small sandy bay of Kolokitha, where the boat will be anchored. Return coach transport, the boat ride to Spinalonga, and select hotel pickup and drop-off in north-coast resorts included. The Venetians constructed a very impressive fortress with 40 cannons which has been guarding the bay since the 15th century. Then, enjoy time to relax on the beach before continuing the journey to Spinalonga island and Agios Nikolaoswhere you can enjoy a coffee near the Lake of Vouslismeni. We visited in November, and it was about 30 degrees (86 F). The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers questions. Here we board a boat and Spinalonga Cruise starts. Offering an easy way to get from the city to the scenic Elounda Gulf area, this excursion covers transport direct from your hotel, a boat ride, and a barbecue lunch, along with ample free time to explore the island, Kolokitha Bay, Elounda, and postcard-perfect Agios Nikolas. The bbq on the boat was horrendous, it felt very rushed, you had to eat it on the boat which was difficult due to the boat swaying. The boat will bring you to the beautiful beach of Kolokitha for swimming and a barbeque lunch (included in the price). Spinalonga is a fascinating place to visit. Great Day trip! 31st) but opens on weekends with good weather conditions. You follow a 1.5km path around the islands perimeter once, that is, youve passed through Dante's Gate, the tunnel that was the entrance to the notorious leper colony. nikolaos agios heraklion taxi spinalonga magnificent elounda crete east explore elounda Based on our booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, this experience is likely to sell out through Viator. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The first church you will encounter as you follow the path is right in the middle of the village. Opening Hours: From April 1st until October 31st, 8.30 am 8.30 pm, daily According to the official website, Spinalonga is closed in winter (from Nov. 1st to Mar. There you can visit, surrounded by many legends, Voulismeni lake. Great thing was being able to see what we did on the short space of time we had as well as our tour guide who just made the day worth it. Visit special natural and historical sites, that can only be reached by boat, like the former lepra colony Spinalonga, Chrissi Island with its unique landscape and beautiful golden beach or the magnificent Gramvousa Island at the very far west end of Crete. It was written after over 10 years of research and its mostly based on true documents. Later on, Spinalonga was classified as an International Hospital for Leprosy. Spinalonga is a small but youll probably take 1.5-2hrs to walk around the island, stopping at the various sites. The last resident of Spinalonga was a priest who left in 1962. The boat offering free soft drinks, water, snorkeling devices, music on board with Bluetooth connection, shower with fresh water, all these create a fantastic experience. spinalonga Combine several landmarks into one sightseeing itinerary in Crete with this full-day boat and coach tour. elounda crete greece harbor ships boats fishing island spinalonga gulf town gre The island has also been used as aleper colony. The Tiny Book All rights reserved. DuringVenetian rule, salt was harvested from salt pans around the island. At the end of the tour you can taste different olive oils and other local products. You were more worried about keeping everything on the plate than anything else. Day trips also leave from Agios Nikolaos, with some including lunch and a swim off the beaches along Kolokytha. The trip from here is shorter, taking about 7 minutes, as Plaka is directly opposite Spinalonga. Lets see them in detail: Check all the things that are waiting for you! Disclaimer: Posts include affiliate links to products or services and I might earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. maria anna trips cruises fishing boat spinalonga markos tel gr No pets (other than guide dogs) are allowed in cultural sites. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included. The prestigious motor yacht Tatiana signals the finest count on a quality leap in dayboating enjoyment. On the way to Agios Nikolaos, revel in luxurious panoramic scenes of Elounda's elite haven. This page about Spinalonga island, Spinalonga fortress is protected by International Copyright Law It was an important commercial port for the Venetian merchants as well. This experience is showcased by Viator and has met our quality standards. Refrain from touching any remains or monuments. You can watch the series online here. Originally, Spinalonga was not an island it was part of the island of Crete. This allows me to continue writing helpful articles for your travels. elounda This offers great photo opportunities and shows you a different perspective of the island which you would otherwise miss once on land. Private Full-Day East Crete Tour from Heraklion, From Heraklion: Spinalonga Island ,Elounda and Agios Nikolaos Tour, PRIVATE Spinalonga, Ag Nikolaos, olive oil factory incl Boat, Spinalonga And Bbq Trip - Daily At 10:00 From The Port Of Agios Nikolaos, Spinalonga Regular Trip -daily At 12:30 From Agios Nikolaos, Crete Elounda and Spinalonga Island Cruise Day Trip, Agios Nikolaos - Elounda 4 hour tour with Skipper, Spinalonga and Milatos Cave (Safari Adventure Excursion & private Speedboat), Spinalonga, full day professional guided coach & boat & lunch included, Have Fun Cruising Agios Nikolaos - Elounda Bay, Spinalonga - Agios Nikolaos From Heraklion, SPINALONGA, Elounda, Kolokitha, Ag. Of course, and its quite simple to visit Spinalonga if youre traveling around the Lasithi region, especially for those staying in Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, as well as for those based in the nearby villages of Neapolis or Mochlos, but also in the mountain villages of Kritsa and Kroustas. spinalonga plaka boat taverna island elounda agios georgios fish boats trip mob tel mail info This trip was all about the boat trip itself. Apart from the trip to Spinalonga, they also offer lunch and the opportunity for a swim off the beaches behind the Kolokytha Peninsula, before returning to Agios Nikolaos in the afternoon.