Spinalonga Tour with Panagia Kera & Agios Nikolaos

Overview

The Tour starts by driving along the Northern coast of the island were we will visit the 12th century Byzantine church of Panagia Kera, 1km from the village of Kritsa.
We continue our tour driving through the beautiful coastal road and village of Elounda. One of them is the sea-front village of Plaka where we will board the boat to take us on the now deserted island of Spinalonga. Our guide will guide us through the ruins of what used to be a leper colony from 1903 to 1957 where lepers could have a better life, medical help and economic support.
After our visit to Spinalonga, you will enjoy some free time to swim in the crystal clear waters of Plaka and optional lunch.
After we will visit Agios Nikolaos town, the capital town of Lassithi. Here, the bottomless salt lake Voulismeni dominates the area. The city boasts interesting Archaeological, Folklore, and Natural History museums, Byzantine churches, a well-organised marina and traditional squares with buzzing cafés and restaurants.

Itinerary

1. Panagias Keras Church

   The Church of Panagia Kera is a Cretan Byzantine church, located 1 km from the village of Kritsa, in the Dikte Mountains. It contains the finest-preserved Byzantine-era frescoes in Crete, and for that reason, has become one of the most culturally and historically significant churches on the island.

   30 minutes · Admission not included
2. Elounda

   The road into Elounda from Agios Nikolaos is approximately 12 km in length and follows the shore as it climbs to the top of a small mountain. On a clear day it is possible to see the whole of Mirabello Bay and all the way to the eastern tip of Crete.

   Pass by
3. Spinalonga (Kalydon)

   Spinalonga is also known as the Leper Island, as that is where lepers from Crete and the rest of Greece were quarantined until 1957.

   2 hours 30 minutes · Admission not included
4. Plaka Beach

   Plaka is a seaside village on Elounda Bay in eastern Crete which sits opposite Spinalonga Island.

   2 hours

5. Agios Nikolaos is a coastal city on the Greek island of Crete, lying east of the island's capital Heraklion, north of the city of Ierapetra and west of the city of Sitia.

   1 hour

Meeting and pickup

Across from the entrance of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, in front of Hari’s Creperie, Heraklion

Good to know

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Our company is not responsible for the client’s failure to appear at the meeting point for the booked tour or activity.
• Last minute cancellation of flights or inability to disembark from a cruise ship, is not our company’s responsibility, therefore any refund requests due to such incidents will not be accepted. Should the client be aware of such a change, he/she is requested to communicate with our company more than 24 hours before the tour or activity starts, in order to discuss possible date or time amendment (subject to availability)
• Refund requests for last minute cancellations (up to 24 hours before the tour or activity), for any reason, will not be accepted.
• Please note that there will be time spent in transportation
• Not recommended for travelers with mobility impairments

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.