And my top pick for the most beautiful beach in the world goes to this gem, The Balos Lagoon.
Situated in the Gramvousa peninsula at the most northwestern tip of Crete sits an exquisite piece of paradise, a place where every traveler should visit at least once in their lifetime.
Here’s the Breathtaking Balos Lagoon:
Getting to the Balos Lagoon
The drive to Balos from Kissamos is only a little less than 10 miles but it takes about 45 minutes in a car. The immensely rocky, uneven road on the Gramvousa Peninsula hugs the edge of the sea, providing some of the most stunning views. As the morning rays come in over the cliffs, I’ve never seen a body of water look so spectacular.
If you’re driving here in a rental car be extremely careful! The large rocks could damage the underbody. Also watch out for the billygoats. Their home to range are these cliffs so they tend to block the road at times, adding to that epic element here out on the Gramvousa Peninsula.
The charge to park at Balos is 1 Euro, which helps the locals maintain this area as a tourist spot. If you don’t want to drive to Balos, ferries make daily trips to the lagoon from the port of Kissamos. Try the Cretan Daily Cruises company, with 3 separate departure times for cruises around Gramvousa and to Balos.
Tips for Visiting the Balos Lagoon:
- Make the hike earlier in the morning rather than later. We began at about 9 a.m., allowing us to have better choices for spots to spend the day on the beach near the shore.
- Ferries show up beginning at 11 a.m., packing the beach. Be sure to stake your spot as the area becomes quite cramped.
- Bring shoes with grip and an adequate amount of water for the hike.
- Bring your own beach umbrella so you don’t have to pay for one
- Bring a cooler full of snacks and drinks
Finding the Balos Lagoon
What I didn’t know before getting to Balos was that reaching the Lagoon actually requires a hike down the mountain. In the Cretan summer heat, this can be very tiring. I suggest wearing the right shoes and bringing along some water for the trip.
There’s a gravel pathway leading from the parking lot and heading across the plain through the cliffs. After about a 5-10 minute walk, the destination can finally be seen, supplying a stellar view.
Making the Trek Down to Balos
This is where the hike begins to look intimidating! I’ll be honest, I got to this edge, looked down and asked if we should even try it, just knowing we’d have to eventually come back up. Of course we decided to go for it.
We begin the trek down, staggering around loose rocks and trying not to break an ankle. After about 10 minutes, we finally reach the sand at the bottom and my goodness was it worth it.
Diving in to the Balos Lagoon
The most rewarding part of the entire hike down is what you’re greeted with when you make it. Pink sand, and in more concentrates than at Elafonisi, dominate the shores, with transparent teal waters sloshing up in the sand.
Read More: The Pink Sands of Elafonisi Beach
While there are some beach chairs and umbrellas to rent around the lagoon, we brought our own and found a prime spot near the shore. There is also a concession stand that opens early, offering a wide range of sandwiches, snacks and refreshments.
As you can imagine, the first thing I wanted to do after we found a spot was strip down and run into the water. It was the most refreshing thing I could’ve asked for after that hike!
Making the Trek Back Up
After enjoying a full day in the sun, it was inevitably time to make the trek back up the mountain. We literally were putting off leaving all day and had to pep-talk ourselves before we left to head up. To my surprise, it really wasn’t that bad. We stopped at the concession stand on our way to grab some fresh waters for the hike.
The path is uneven and sometimes steep but I didn’t give in to using those donkey riders! I also wasn’t ashamed of stopping to catch my breath and grab a drink of water on the way up, mainly because I was able to look out at that view.
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Love this post, images are so beautiful. I actually went to Balos and Gramvousa after Elafonisi, it’s the island of paradise. I can’t wait to head back over there next year xxx
Thank you so much! Oh my goodness, one of my favorite places in the world! It’s so unique and we were lucky enough to get there super early in the morning so there was hardly anyone around–our little slice of paradise! You will have such an amazing time going back!