Spinalonga - Agios Nikolaos From Heraklion
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Spinalonga - Agios Nikolaos From Heraklion
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Safety measures
10 hours (approx.)
Pickup from select hotels
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
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Overview
Visit the former leper colony and Venetian fortress on Spinalonga Island during this private tour. Sail to this rocky island, and explore the streets, houses, and ruined Venetian fortifications where lepers were confined from 1903 to 1957. Then, relax with a swim stop and barbecue lunch before cruising back to port. Return coach transport, the boat ride to Spinalonga, and select hotel pickup and drop-off in north-coast resorts included.
- Full-day private trip to Spinalonga Island from north Crete
- Ride a boat to Spinalonga, formerly a Venetian fortress and leper colony
- Tour the crumbled fortifications, streets, churches, and houses
- Learn why the lepers were confined here and how they lived
- Coach transport, Spinalonga boat ride, and pickup and drop-off at select north-coast hotels included
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After pickup from your hotel on Crete’s north coast, including hotels in Hersonnissos, Malia, and Agios Nikolaos; travel by air-conditioned coach to the harborside at Elounda, where your boat awaits.
On route, hear about Spinalonga, the island facing Elounda in the Gulf of Mirabello. Once joined to the mainland, this now-uninhabited island houses a ruined 16th-century Venetian fortress, originally built to defend the bay. After the Venetians left, it was used as an Ottoman settlement and then a leper colony from 1903 to 1957.
Go ashore and tour the one-time colony buildings (own expense). Enter through the main gate as the arriving lepers did a century ago, and explore the market street, churches, hospital, houses, and Venetian fortifications. Learn about the lives of those confined here, and hear how Spinalonga has featured in recent books, movies, and various TV series.
Then, sail to nearby Kolokytha Island (additional cost). Enjoy an optional swim in the crystal-clear seas and savor a delicious barbecue lunch. Finally, sail back to Elounda, and enjoy a sightseeing drive around nearby Agios Nikolaos, admiring its harbor and Lake Voulismeni, known as the ‘bottomless lake.’
Your trip finishes back at the original starting point.
On route, hear about Spinalonga, the island facing Elounda in the Gulf of Mirabello. Once joined to the mainland, this now-uninhabited island houses a ruined 16th-century Venetian fortress, originally built to defend the bay. After the Venetians left, it was used as an Ottoman settlement and then a leper colony from 1903 to 1957.
Go ashore and tour the one-time colony buildings (own expense). Enter through the main gate as the arriving lepers did a century ago, and explore the market street, churches, hospital, houses, and Venetian fortifications. Learn about the lives of those confined here, and hear how Spinalonga has featured in recent books, movies, and various TV series.
Then, sail to nearby Kolokytha Island (additional cost). Enjoy an optional swim in the crystal-clear seas and savor a delicious barbecue lunch. Finally, sail back to Elounda, and enjoy a sightseeing drive around nearby Agios Nikolaos, admiring its harbor and Lake Voulismeni, known as the ‘bottomless lake.’
Your trip finishes back at the original starting point.
Itinerary
By boat we visit the island of Spinalonga. This island was used as a Leper Colony until 1957. In the small village under the Venetian fortress the stigmatised lepers shared fates when exiled to the island. We make a stop to take a swim in the clean waters of Kolokitha beach in the area of the remains of the ancient sunken city of Olous.
Duration: 5 hours
Admission Ticket Free
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Spinalonga - Agios Nikolaos From Heraklion
10 hours
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