Spinalonga – Agios Nikolaous



38€

Adults



19€

Children



FREE

Infants

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Spinalonga – Agios Nikolaus

Just some 800 meters from the coastline of Crete, in front of the stunning village Plaka, lays the historical island of Spinalonga. This island holds so much history, so many emotions and people suffering, so many untold stories, and maybe that’s the reason why this island is also known as the island of tears or the island of abandoned.

The Venetian fortress of the 16^th century, which still stands, is the one to introduce the history of this island. The great walls that once defended the island from the Ottoman Impair protected the Venetians while the island of Crete was already under the ottoman conquest are the ones to later be home for the ill, for the ones to be cursed by God as it was believed.

The island of Spinalonga is most popular and most known for the lepra colony that was once here, not that long ago, at the beginning of the 20s century. Back then, there was no information about this disease, lepra. To protect the healthy side, those who were ill were forced to live on this island without any possibility to return. Broken homes, broken families, and broken hearts became a routine on the island of Spinalonga, but as people do, lepers found a way to have a happy life. They found a way to fight for their rights together, and they succeeded in gaining a better life than they could ever imagine.

Now, this island is visited by thousands of people every year, and it has become one of the top 3 places to visit in Greece. Of course, this was also achieved with the help of a best-selling book, “The Island,” that Victoria Hislop wrote.

Agios Nikolaos is a small town on the east side of the island of Crete. Its history dates to the Dorian times when an ancient port was built here, and later the new town of Agios Nikolaos was established on its ruins. The beautiful city signature sign is the lake with the name Voulismeni, which lies in the city’s heart – in the very center of this town. Beautiful, stunning, picturesque views are waiting for You in this town. That’s why this area is also well known as the area of Mirabello – the beautiful scenery, this name was given to this area a long time ago but is kept still as this area keeps getting more beautiful with every day!

Program

Your beautiful day tour will start around 08:15 AM (depending on your location) when the tour bus comes to pick you up; the pickup point depends on your hotel, for most pickup by the entrance is possible, but if not, we will find the closest point possible for your comfort. As soon as you start the drive towards east Crete, you will see a shift in the landscape as each island part is different. In the morning, You will visit the fabulous town of Agios Nikolaos, where You will be given free time to have a peaceful breakfast by the lake, a calming walk, or time to see the so-called Mirabello view and take some incredible photos.

After visiting this town, you will continue to a small but exclusive village Elounda where the boat that takes us to the island of Spinalonga will be waiting for us already. As we get on board, we can enjoy the picturesque view of the peninsula of Kolokitha and the stunning village of Elounda. The boat trip from Mirabello Bay to the island is not long, just 15 minutes. As You approach Spinalonga, excitement will take over, and You will have time to explore the island of Spinalonga, Nero roads and houses, spectacular view from up, the church, and so much more.

Spinalonga of Corse is the highlight of the day, and as much as we would like to stay here forever, we leave the island and continue the trip to a nearby peninsula called Kolokitha, where the fun begins. You can do swimming, tanning, jumping, snorkeling, and so much more during your free time until the captain prepares BBQ for us, the lunch is served on the boat. After we finish the delicious lunch, we head back to Elounda, where our bus is waiting to take us back to Your hotels. And the day ends around 18:00.

NOTE*

The program might sometimes change due to weather conditions; for example – Spinalonga has visited first and the town of Agios Nikolaos in the afternoon. For more information, contact us!