At Spinalonga, the last leper colony in Europe, we will have a guided tour around this famous island, which is just a distance of 850m. Originally, Venetians fortified the islet in 1579, by building a fortress with 40 cannons and they are actually the best preserved walls in Europe.
It used to be a leper colony from 1903 until 1957, where lepers could have a better life, medical help and economical support. The ruins of the market street with the shops, the hospital and many small houses in which lepers lived isolated, can still be seen.
On our way back on the boat, we are having a stop on the beach “Kolokytha/vathi”, where you can enjoy swimming and a BBQ lunch. Before we take the road back to Heraklion, we will visit Ag.Nikolaos, a town with 14.000 inhabitants which is built on the side of the Gulf of Mirabello. In the centre of Agios Nikolaos is the lake Voulismeni, probably created by an earthquake. There, we can have a coffee break or a walk around the lake, which gives you a great view from above, over the center and the harbor of Agios Nikolaos. Next to the lovely harbor are shady tree-lined streets filled with shops gives you the opportunity to do some “serious shopping”.
Indicative Time-Table:
10.30 Departure from Elounda port to Kolokitha Bay
11.15 Arrival at Kolokitha Bay and free time for swimming and BBQ on board
12.45 Departure from Kolokitha Bay to Spinalonga Island
13.00 Arrival and guiding at Spinalonga
14.40 Departure from Spinalonga to Elounda
15:45 Arrival at Agios Nikolaos
16.45 Departure to Heraklion
18.30 Arrival at Heraklion
Please note that there might be minor changes to the priority of the above destinations, without anything been cancelled.
Price per person: 40 €
Every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday
From April to October
10.30 Departure from Elounda port to Kolokitha Bay
