Balos lagoon is a famous beach located 56km northwest of Chania and approximately 37km from the house.

Balos is the most photographed beach of Crete and the place that anyone who comes for holidays will visit.

It is not a coincidence that Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited Balos on their private yacht many years ago.

Balos is known for its turquoise waters, wild natural beauty and gorgeous exotic landscapes. In the summer, Balos is visited by thousands of people, who arrive mainly by ferries departing from the port of Kissamos. If you don’t like crowds, you should avoid visiting the beach in July or August. Also, a perfect idea is to reach Balos in the morning, before the boats come from Kissamos. These few hours of distance in such a celestial place will stay in your memory forever.

The Balos Lagoon has white sand and exotic white, lively blue and turquoise waters. The sea is very shallow and warm, ideal for children at an early age. In many places, the sand has a lovely pink colour, due to millions of crushed shells. Beyond the rocks on the edge of the lagoon, the water is deeper and cooler, perfect for snorkelling. The lagoon and the larger area, with rare species of flora and fauna, are protected within the framework of the Natura 2000 programme.

The best way to visit Balos and Gramvousa island is by boat from Kissamos.

If you do not want to come by boat and have a car or motorbike, you can drive in the dirt road, starting from Kaliviani and running along the Cape Gramvousa. Near Kaliviani, you have to pay a small amount for the protection of the Balos reservation and the preservation of the road.  After 10km, the road stops at a large car park, near a canteen, just above the lagoon. From there, you can walk down in the 1km longpath leading to the beach.

However, the most exciting way to reach Balos is by trekking for three hours from Kaliviani, crossing the harsh and dry landscape Gramvousa and the range of Platyskinos. Do not forget to wear a hat and have plenty of water with you.

You can find more information for Balos here: https://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/sea-tourism/west-crete-beaches/balos-lagoon-beach

If you want to use the shuttle service, you can find the timetable for Kissamos here: https://www.e-ktel.com/en/services/dromologia