Spinalonga & Elounda boat trip

Operated by Minoan Rides

The fortress island of Spinalonga is one of the most evocative places in Crete, and this trip combines it with the calm beauty of the Gulf of Mirabello and the elegant resort village of Elounda. From Agios Nikolaos or your hotel we drive along the coast to Elounda, where a short boat ride carries you across the sheltered bay to the island. Spinalonga's massive Venetian walls were raised in 1579 to defend the entrance to the gulf, and the fortress held out against the Ottomans long after the rest of Crete had fallen. In the twentieth century the island took on a very different role as a leper colony, the last in Europe, a chapter movingly told in Victoria Hislop's novel The Island. Walking through the abandoned streets, houses and chapels is a quietly powerful experience. Back on the mainland there is time to enjoy Elounda itself, a sophisticated village of waterfront tavernas and small harbours looking out over turquoise water. A relaxed seafood lunch by the sea is the perfect way to break up the day before exploring a little more of the gulf. The whole excursion unfolds at an unhurried pace in a private vehicle, with the boat crossing and free time built in, blending history, striking scenery and the laid-back atmosphere of eastern Crete.

Highlights

• Private vehicle
• Gulf of Mirabello
• Spinalonga island
• Elounda lunch stop