The 9 Best Day Trips from Chania

1.Elafonissi Beach Day Trip from Chania -Stop in Elos Village

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 744 reviews · 10 hours · from $37Our pick

Travel from Chania by air-conditioned coach to Elafonissi Beach for four hours of swimming, photos, lagoons, and pink sand. Your English-speaking guide shares facts about Crete, then you stop in Elos Village for an optional Cretan lunch. Guides may include Ingrid, Helena, or Karolina.

“I had a nice time going to Elafonisi, it does take about an hour to pick everyone up but the stops for breakfast and to Elos for lunch were very nice! Elafonisi is what I expected, beautiful and it really has the pink hues in some areas!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Chania/Almyrida: Balos Gramvousa Day Trip with Boat Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 590 reviews · 12 hours · from $64

Spend 12 hours traveling from Chania to Balos Lagoon and Imeri Gramvousa by air-conditioned coach and ferry. Swim in clear shallow water, photograph Tersanas Cave, and climb to a 16th-century Venetian fortress. Guides such as Eva, Irene, Vicky, and Eirini help keep the long day organized.

“The very clear directions and lead that our guide was able to communicate to the group. The trip was timed appropriately and ran smoothly.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Elafonisi Pink Sand Beach Day Trip w/ Elos Stop

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 424 reviews · 10 hours · from $37

Spend four hours at Elafonisi Beach with its pink-tinted sand, shallow lagoons, and narrow sandbar. Your English or Greek-speaking guide, possibly Irene, Irini, or Dimitrios, leads the day from Chania, with mountain scenery, a breakfast stop, and lunch in Elos.

“A stunning beach. Visited at the end of the season (in October) still many people on the beach, sunbathing and swimming. Our tour guide - Irene - was really entertaining throughout the trip. The bus driver was very skilled, given the challenging cretan roads. Smooth drive and super comfortable pick-up and drop-off points (everyone was picked up and left off close to or at their hotel/apt). On the way to the beach - a stop for a coffee/breakfast with local honey products. On the way back from the beach- we had a stop at Elos village and tried some of the local dishes.At the beach- you have sunbeds and umrellas…”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.From Chania/Kalyves: Full-Day Samaria Gorge Hiking Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 162 reviews · from $32Best value

Set out from Chania or Kalyves for a full day in Crete’s White Mountains. Your English-speaking guide, such as Pari or Dafne, supports you on the 4 to 6-hour Samaria Gorge hike, then you get time for lunch and a swim at Agia Roumeli before the ferry and bus ride home.

“I really enjoyed this tour with the group. It was planned well from pick up to drop off. I would never being able to drive there and find my way back after the hike on my own. I definitely, recommend to use organized tour for this hike.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Full-Day Trip to Santorini

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 97 reviews · 13 hours · from $282

You’ll take a high-speed catamaran from Rethymno to Santorini, tour Oia and Fira by air-conditioned bus, and have free time in Fira. The optional €20 volcano boat trip adds another stop, but leaves less time for Santorini’s towns.

“L' organizzazione è stata perfetta tutto molto curato nei particolari e attenzione verso le singole esigenze. Ovviamente se il prezzo fosse meno caro e la guida parlasse anche un po' in italiano sarebbe il top”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Elafonissi: Private Beach Day Trip with SUP

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 51 reviews · 6 hours · from $70Top rated

Travel by private van from Chania to Elafonissi Beach with George, Giorgos, or another English-speaking driver. Spend free time on the pink sand, explore the shallow lagoon, try SUP from May 1, and use included snorkeling gear, fruit, juice, and water.

“This was great! I went with a group of friends and the driver was so nice and he brought us snacks and snorkeling gear. He said we could stay however long we wanted and offered to take us to other places too! He then offered to drive us to the airport the next morning. Very good and cheap option if you just want to get to the beach and hang out there.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Day Trip to Preveli Beach & Damnoni Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 44 reviews · 10 hours · from $42

Travel from Chania to Crete’s south coast with an English-speaking guide, stopping at Damnoni Beach before taking a boat to Preveli. You’ll have time for swimming, a short walk beside the palm-lined river, and lunch or free time in Plakias. Bring water shoes and budget €15 for the boat.

“The weather was not suitable for the tour so they made some changes, but the overall communication and customer support was dissapointing.. I can’t comment on the actual tour, since we didn’t get to to that, but next time I will definitely not choose them”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Gramvousa Island and Balos Beach Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 34 reviews · 9 - 11 hours · from $42

Travel by bus and boat from Chania or Kalyves and Almyrida to Gramvousa Island and Balos Beach. You’ll have time for the Venetian fortress, swimming, photos, and a beach break. English, German, Dutch, and Romanian assistance is available, but the €25 boat ticket is extra and cash only.

“You can expect two challenging hikes up into the mountains at both stops, where you will have breathtaking panoramic views. Bring hiking shoes, as well as slippers and towels, since at the first stop you’ll need to wade through shallow water to reach the other side. Remember to be **on time** at each scheduled stop, as the boat will depart promptly.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Elafonisi Beach Day Trip with Local Honey Factory

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 28 reviews

Travel from Chania to Elafonisi Beach by air-conditioned bus, with three hours to swim, walk, and explore this Natura 2000 area. You’ll also stop near Elos for a local visit and learn how Cretan honey is produced. English, German, Romanian, Dutch, and Greek guiding is available.

Check availability →Read our full review