The visit to Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicolas) is an ideal way to start your day before the visit to Spinalonga. The town is the capital of the region of Lassithi and it is located on the northeast part of Crete. It is a rather small town, consisted of ca 12,000 citizens. You will be guided to the center of the town by a professional guide. There are beautiful port and plenty of coffee shops, restaurants, and souvenir shops. You can stroll around and enjoy the views, go shopping or have a drink by the sea in one of the many coffee shops. Every Wednesday there is the open air market, worth a visit. The main attraction point of the town, however, is the lake of Voulismeni, which used to be a sweetwater lake, but nowadays it is connected to the sea with a channel. According to the urban legend, the lake is bottomless. This legend and many others make the visit to the lake even more fascinating.

Having seen one of the most beautiful towns of east Crete, turn to the west and cross the road to the village of Elounda. As you pass through the road, admire the fantastic views of the Mirabello bay and realize why it was called like that ( Mira Bello = beautiful view) You can even see the island of Spinalonga, which is located close to Elounda. The village used to be a small fishing village, but nowadays its economy is based on the big number of luxurious 5 and 6 stars hotels around it. You will see many of them before arriving at Elounda.

When you arrive in Elounda, you will find easily the port, where you can take the boat to the Spinalonga cruise. The boat will first take you to the beautiful bay of Kolokitha, close to the island of Spinalonga. The beach is not organized since it’s not allowed to build anything on the peninsula, as there are some antiquities. The scenery is a little rocky, but the beach offers a pleasant swim. Alternatively, you can walk around the bay or relax on the boat. While on the peninsula, the crew is going to prepare a BBQ for you.

The final stop of the cruise is the island of Spinalonga. On the island, there is going to be a guided tour about the history of the island. After that, you are going to have some free time to stroll around on the island on your own. The island is really small, covering an area of 0.085 km2, so it is relatively easy to explore.

The ancient name of Spinalonga was Kalydon. There were fortifications from the Roman period, but most of them are destroyed. The island, located on a strategic position, served as a fortress to protect the Mirabello bay during the Venetian period. After the Venetians, the Turks came to live on the island and built houses. The Venetian fortresses and neighborhoods are co-existing on the island. The Turks abandoned the island at the beginning of the 20th century when Crete became for a short time an independent state. Then the island enters its period as a leper colony, until 1957. It was decided that the lepers would be sent here, as the disease was thought to be contagious. The people living on the island have formed their own community and have fought their own way of survival. The life of the people is presented accurately and compassionately in the novel “The Island” of the British writer Victoria Hislop, which has become a best-seller. Since then the popularity of the island has exploded, with hundreds of visitors every day.

The visit to Spinalonga is more than simply visiting an archeological site or any other museum. The island has become a symbol of hope since it gave exactly that to hundreds of people who lived there. In the beginning, the people sent on the island were hopeless, separated by their own families and forced to start over. In the end, however, the island has offered them a new home and a chance to stand up against their destiny. Who could imagine that this small island hides such a long history and such a strong message of hope? That’s why it is such a special destination.

• Swimsuit and towel
• Snorkeling equipment
• Hat
• Sun protection lotion
• Camera

• In Agios Nikolaos
• On board of the boat
• In Spinalonga island

• Not on board of the bus
• In Agios Nikolaos
• On board of the boat
• On the island of Spinalonga