The 10 Sailing Tours with Lunch in Crete We Would Step Aboard

1.Balos Gramvousa Sailing Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 257 reviews · 7.5 hours · from $229Our pick

Sail from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island on a shared or private boat with an English- or Greek-speaking skipper. Swim, snorkel, hike to Gramvousa Castle, and enjoy a traditional Cretan lunch cooked onboard. Crews may include Vasilis, Katarina, Jo, or Luis, depending on the date.

“The captain and Jo were wonderful. They took good care of our family. The tasty foods, the company, and Balos/Gramvousa Island were all great. We really enjoyed seeing their sailing experiences. You can definitely trust their sailing capabilities. Highly recommend this excursion.”

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2.Dia island : Small Group Sailing Trip to Dia Island with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 162 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $72Best value

Sail from Heraklion’s Old Venetian port to uninhabited Dia Island with a certified crew, usually aboard a 43 to 45-foot yacht. You’ll swim, snorkel, use a SUP board, enjoy an organic lunch with drinks, and hear about Dia’s protected wildlife. Pickup is free within 10 kilometers of the port.

“A lovely day! The expert crew was very accommodating and friendly, sailing was delightful, food was unexpectedly good! & generous, swimming was fun- only improvement would be better snorkel equipment & perhaps kick boards to float on for others who are not as strong at swimming…. Cash only shuttles are putting a strain on our Euro supply & exchange is costly but overall we loved this experience. Thank you :)”

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3.Catamaran Sailing to Dia with Lunch in Heraklion, Crete(EST 2024)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · from $142

Join Green Cruises from Cafe Marina in Heraklion for a five-and-a-half-hour sailing trip to Dia Island aboard a new Lagoon 46 catamaran. You get time to swim, snorkel, paddleboard, fish, sunbathe, and enjoy traditional Cretan pasta with fruit, soft drinks, wine, and beer included.

“It was a great trip with a great captain and crew. I highly recommend it! One of the highlights of our trip.”

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4.Sailing to Dia Island with lunch on Bavaria 51 Heraklion, Crete

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $116

Spend about four hours sailing from Heraklion to Dia Island aboard a Bavaria 51 yacht with Green Cruises. Swim, snorkel, try stand-up paddleboarding with free lessons, fish, or help manage the sailing route. Giannis and Alex may be your skippers, while lunch, fruit, drinks, and wine are included.

“It was a lot of fun snorkeling and hanging out on the boat and in the water. Also was served the most delicious pasta dish. The water was beautiful and the caption and guide was very good.”

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5.Balos and Gramvousa Private Sailing Trip with Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 41 reviews · 8 hours · from $931 whole boat, up to 10

You’ll sail from Kissamos Port aboard Izabela, a private boat with a grey bimini, to Balos Lagoon and Imeri Gramvousa. Expect two hours at each stop, a Cretan lunch with wine, beer, and soft drinks, snorkeling gear, and a 20-minute walk to Gramvousa’s Venetian fortress. George, Christopher, and the crew have earned praise for friendly service and careful timing.

“We loved our whole day! The boat was perfect for our group of 7 people. Both Gramvousa and Balos was amazing the water is so clear and calm. George was amazing, we helped ourselves to drinks and lunch was delicious. George allowed us the perfect amount of time to swim, explore and relax. Facilities were great also.”

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6.Private Sailing Cruise, Balos and Gramvousa with meal and drinks.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $947 whole boat, up to 10

Spend eight hours aboard Izabela, cruising from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa. Swim, snorkel, visit a Venetian fortress, and enjoy a Cretan lunch with beer, wine, soft drinks, and water. Skippers such as Christopher, George, Yanni, and Alex tailor the pace for your private group of up to 10.

“The communication was amazing!!! We received timely answers to any concerns about pickup time and returning to the cruise on time. The pickup from the cruise was on time, and the van was lovely and comfortable for our party. The dock welcomed us with a beautiful, clean, and spacious boat. George was an amazing host who welcomed us and inquired about the sites we wanted to see. The food was top-notch, and it was traditional Greek food. We were given wine and beer, which was amazing! At each site we stopped at, we never felt rushed. The boat was supplied with an array of floaties, which made the time in…”

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7.Fully Private Sailing Cruise with Meal & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 7 hours · from $883 whole boat, up to 4

Spend seven private hours aboard the sailing yacht BE HAPPY with skipper Nikos and a hostess. Sail from Souda Bay, stop at Ai Giannis and quiet coves, swim and snorkel, then enjoy a fresh Cretan three-course lunch with wine, beer, and dessert. Hotel transfers are available by request.

“Nikos (aka Nick) was a great captain and chef. He was patient with our children, taught us all a bit of sailing, and took us to beautiful spots. His fill in first mate Svetlana was also very kind. Do not hesitate to book this experience, much better than than the mass market boats that cram on as many people as possible. You will have a great day with Nick as your captain.”

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8.Heraklion Private Sailing Catamaran Cruise to Dia with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $2,103 whole boat, up to 15

Meet the DanEri Yachts crew at Cafe Marina in Heraklion at 9:30 a.m. for a private 6.5-hour catamaran trip to Dia Island. You can swim from the boat, snorkel, fish, paddleboard, and enjoy salads, seafood, chicken, dessert, beer, wine, and soft drinks. The trip ends where it begins.

“The Catamaran was very clean and large! We had paddle boats kayakes and snorkel equipment. We highly enjoyed this tour the Captain and his first mate made our excursion exceptional! Food and service was awesome! We highly recommend this tour!”

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9.Semi-private Sailing trip with Lunch and Water Toys

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $168

Sail from Agios Nikolaos for about five hours aboard a Lagoon 450F catamaran. You can swim, snorkel, paddle a transparent canoe, ride the inflatable slide, use a SUP or sea scooter, fish, and enjoy Mediterranean lunch with soft drinks, coffee, and tea. The trip returns to the marina.

“This was really fantastic. It was a surprise trip for my wife and she absolutely loved it. So many water activities to choose from and there is even a slide which the other boats don’t have!! The food is really good too and drinks are included. Would totally recommend this trip and the blue lagoon is amazing! Thank you to the crew for accommodating us and making us feel welcome”

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10.Balos Catamaran Private Sailing Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $3,099 whole boat, up to 10

Spend about seven hours on a private catamaran for up to 10 people, sailing from Kissamos to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa. Swim with provided snorkel gear, visit the old fortress, and enjoy Cretan snacks, drinks, wine, and a homemade Mediterranean lunch. The crew may include Panos, Giorgios, George, John, Nena, or Konstantinos.

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