These are consistently the two most-booked full-day excursions from Chania, and for good reason — but they're built for completely different kinds of days. Balos is a boat trip to a turquoise lagoon; Samaria is a serious hike through Europe's longest gorge. Here's an honest breakdown to help you pick, or decide to do both.
Quick Answer
Choose Balos for a spectacular beach day with minimal physical effort — good for families and anyone wanting to relax. Choose Samaria Gorge for a genuinely demanding, rewarding hike — 16km, 5-7 hours, best for fit, active travellers. If you have 5+ days in Chania, book both; they're both full-day trips in opposite directions, so they don't compete for the same day.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Balos Lagoon | Samaria Gorge | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (guided) | From €35pp | €42-47pp |
| Physical difficulty | Very low — short walk to the beach | High — 16km, 5-7 hours, mostly downhill |
| Duration | Full day (mostly relaxing) | Full day (mostly walking) |
| Best for | Beach lovers, families, relaxed days | Hikers, active travellers, fitness challenge |
| Minimum age | Any age (with supervision) | Realistically 10+, good fitness |
| Season | Roughly April–October | Early May–mid October (gorge closes off-season) |
| Getting back | Same boat/road you arrived on | Ferry from Agia Roumeli + bus (one-way hike) |
Balos: What to Expect
A boat cruise from Kissamos to the tip of the Gramvousa Peninsula, where a narrow sandbar creates a shallow, vividly turquoise lagoon. Most of the "effort" is a short walk from the boat drop-off (or car park, if driving) down to the beach. You spend the bulk of the day swimming and relaxing rather than moving. See our full Balos Lagoon guide for the honest verdict on whether the hype is justified.
Samaria Gorge: What to Expect
A 16km descent through Europe's longest gorge, from the Omalos plateau (1,230m) down to the Libyan Sea at Agia Roumeli. Guided tours handle transport to the trailhead and the ferry back, but you still walk the entire route yourself — typically 5-7 hours depending on fitness and how often you stop. This is a genuine hike, not a stroll: sturdy shoes and real fitness matter. See our full Samaria Gorge hiking guide for what to pack and how to prepare.
Which Should You Book?
Book Balos if: you want a beach day, you're travelling with young children or anyone with limited mobility, or you'd rather spend your energy swimming than walking.
Book Samaria Gorge if: you're reasonably fit, you want one of Europe's genuinely great hikes, or "conquering" a 16km trail is part of why you're in Crete at all.
Book both if: you have 5 or more days. Neither trip leaves much energy for anything else that day, so plan a rest day or a low-key evening after each. See our 5-day Chania itinerary for how to fit both in comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I do Balos or Samaria Gorge first?
Choose based on what you want: Balos for a spectacular, low-effort beach day, or Samaria Gorge for one of Europe's great hikes. With 5+ days, book both — they don't compete for the same kind of day.
Is Balos or Samaria Gorge more physically demanding?
Samaria Gorge is significantly harder — a 16km, 5-7 hour hike. Balos needs only a short walk to the beach, making it accessible to almost anyone.
Which is cheaper?
Balos is slightly cheaper as a guided cruise, from around €35pp. Samaria Gorge runs €42-47pp including park entry, transport, and the return ferry.
Can you do both on the same trip?
Yes, but not the same day — both are full-day trips in opposite directions from Chania. A 5-day itinerary fits both comfortably as separate days.
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