Balos Beach was top on our list to revisit in Crete during our Sept 2025 trip. We loved Balos Beach when we were in Crete in 2019 and have always wanted to return but it hadn’t worked into our last few Crete Itineraries, so we made it a priority this year. There are two ways to get to Balos, drive and then hike in, or go by boat.
In 2019 we drove to Balos by car but now I guess it is not allowed by most car rentals, including ours. So we rented an ATV at ATV Balos located right before the Balos Beach road. I will say, this is definitely the way to go. An ATV was so much more efficient and in the long run felt much safer than a car. Plus, it was a lot of fun! We rented an ATV for two and I loved sitting behind Steve just enjoying the views as he accelerated up the road.
If you do not want to drive this yourself or prefer a guide, you can check out Viator’s 4×4 trips here to Balos Beach and some include Falassarna Beach which I will be writing about in my next post. There are also 4×4 trips to Balos through Get Your Guide here.
Location
Balos Beach is on the far Northwest tip of Crete. The drive to ATV Balos was just under 30 minutes from our hotel at Spila Village, (just south of Kolymvari). It was another 30 minutes to the Balos Beach parking lot from ATV Balos.
The Ride Up
We parked our car at ATV Balos, filled out the paperwork, and off we went. We followed the dirt road which at first wasn’t too steep, but as we drove along, the road became narrow, steep, bumpy and at times rocky with some hairpin turns. I highly recommend ATV Balos. It was easy to reserve, easy to find and the owner was friendly and informative.
Renting the ATV was a very good decision and Steve was able to drive it with ease allowing us to drive around cars which were crawling along very slowly with white knuckled drivers. I think many people who drive this road do not take the warnings seriously and find themselves scared to death. The road is a bit harrowing at times but it is doable, especially if you have driven these types of roads before. I was absolutely loving this drive and the fact that Steve was expertly getting us to the top. All I had to do was hang on, enjoy the wind in my hair, and breathe in the beauty of the views.
Also note that there is a 1 euro per person charge to drive on this road. In addition we paid to park, I think it was 3 or 4 euros.
Goats on the Road
Goats on the road in Greece is an everyday occurrence and the road to Balos Beach is no different. We saw many goats just hanging out, crossing the road, walking here and there, basically, just being goats. So if you are driving to Balos, make sure you are watching for goats in or alongside the road.
The Trailhead to Balos Beach
The parking lot is easy to find and since it was early, we secured one of the last parking spots. Such a contrast from 2019. In 2019, we arrived about the same time and there was barely any vehicles in the parking lot. Obviously, Balos Beach has become quite popular in the last six years. There is a trailhead sign and the path is easy to find, or just follow the people.
The View From Far Above
We remembered from our 2019 visit that the best views of Balos from above were just after the trailhead and to the right of the main trail. So once again, we found ourselves scampering on the rocks to get the view of below. And what a view it is! Balos Beach was everything I remembered. Amazing how far we could see, the beauty was beyond words. It is such a perfect place for a photo and you will feel like you are on the top of the world! As a matter of fact, one of the photos I took from this spot in 2019 we enlarged and it is now a large canvas print on our bathroom wall. It gives the room a peaceful feeling and great memories.
The Hike To Balos Beach
Surprisingly, I thought the path down to Balos Beach was not as bad as I remembered it being in 2019. Maybe I’m in better shape (doubtful) or maybe we have hiked so many worse places in the last six years, Balos didn’t seem so bad. That being said, I would not advise flip flops, we wore athletic shoes. There are lots of uneven steps cut in the rock and the path did have some loose rock in places. Also take a lot of water, wear a good hat, and bring sunscreen as there is little to no shade on the hike down and the sun in Crete gets pretty intense. I can not say we had any problems climbing down, but if someone has hip or knee problems, I would expect it could be a tough time. All in all though, the views will make this trek well worth it.
The Beach
The beach was spectacular. I do think Balos Beach is the most beautiful beach in Crete. I was just as excited being here in 2019 as I was in 2025, The blue of the water, the white shore, and the land mass rising in front and behind you make for a beautiful picture no matter which way you look.
We found a spot on the beach to put our gear. There are lounge chairs with umbrellas for rent if you want to relax and take in the beautiful views. We started with walking and swimming through the lagoon. The cool water was so refreshing after the hot hike down. The water does vary in depth so make sure you can swim as it gets a bit deep in places. Make sure when walking along the beach you look for the pink sand! The lagoon bottom is rocky in places so this year I made sure to wear my water shoes. I have been wearing Fitkicks for Women when in rocky water. These little gems are perfect for walking on rocky sea floors.
After walking through the water and swimming a bit we walked along the shore to the back of the lagoon, just enjoying this natural beauty. It is hard to describe how beautiful this area truly is, photos don’t do it justice. The water is the most beautiful shades of blue I have ever seen. The land is raw, wild and unforgiving but yet has a beauty all of its own. We see this beauty so much in Crete.
The Other Side of the Shore
This year we also walked over to the west side of the shore where the rough black rocks roll in to the sea. We liked this area as there were only a few people venturing over here and it was quiet. I also liked the contrast of the jagged black rocks on the shore compared to the sandy beach along the rest of the lagoon.
We spent the rest of our time wading and swimming. This year we spent a good 3 hours here before we decided to hike back up. As the day went on, Balos Beach became more crowded with boats dropping off lots of people. As usual, when the crowds come, we tend to leave.
Hike Back Up
I knew from last time it would be a hot climb up. So to keep cool, I dunked my lightweight towel in the water, slung it around my shoulders, dunked my hat in the water, put it on my head, and started the climb up. This is a trick I learned hiking the Grand Canyon in Arizona and it really keeps you cool. It is amazing how quickly it dries though. Half way up I was wishing for another spot to dunk my things.
On the way back up, the goats were really showing their photogenic side. It was almost as if they were posing.
The climb up itself wasn’t that bad except some of the steps up were quite a reach for my short little legs but Steve helped by giving me a hand when needed. What actually makes this hike up difficult is the heat. It is relentless. We stopped at just about every little bit of shade we could find for a short rest. We weren’t the only ones either as many people went from shade to shade like we did. I saw one gal carrying a hand held battery operated fan to keep cool. Another gal was carrying an umbrella. So there are many different ways to try and beat the heat. Go slow, keep your hat on, take a lot of water and electrolytes. It was definitely a good cardiovascular workout on the way up!
The ATV Ride Back
I thought the ATV ride down was just as fun although a bit warmer, fortunately there was still a breeze. The views were still amazing. One thing I did notice though, is the two way traffic was a bit of a problem. So many people wanted the middle of the road and didn’t want to move over, so traffic was slow on the way down. Luckily most of the cars that seemed to have terrified drivers were small cars and we were able to navigate easily around them. I was surprised at how many small cars were on this road as it is a rough road. From my observations, the small cars, going so very slowly, was a bit of the problem. We didn’t notice this in 2019 as there were not as many people here as in 2025.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Spilia Village Hotel and Villas in Spilia. This is a small village in the foothills of the mountains about 30 minutes west of Chania. We found this to be a good base for us while in the western part of Crete. I highly recommend Spilia Vilage and would stay here again. Our room was clean, comfortable and very roomy. It was in a traditional house made into a lovely room. The staff were friendly and informative. Very helpful too as we had a flat tire and they were able to get someone to come help us in no time. The breakfast was so good and bountiful and dinner was amazing as well.
Conclusion
I absolutely love Balos Beach and it is my favorite spot on Crete. All in all, I think the best way to tackle the drive to Balos is an ATV if you plan on going on your own. It was so much easier to maneuver and also easier to drive on the rough road. Plus it was a lot of fun. If you plan on visiting Crete, try to get to Balos Beach whether by road or by sea. It is a place like no other.
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In addition to this post, you can also check out my other posts from our 2025 trip to Greece, you can click on our other Crete adventures, and also previous years Itineraries by following these links!
Falasarna Archaeological Site – Sept 2025
Beaches on Milos Island -Sept 2025
The Villages of Milos, Greece -Sept 2025
Sulfur Mines at Milos Island – Sept 2025
Kleftiko Boat Tour on Milos Island – Sept 2025
Discover the Quiet Beauty of Folegandros, Sept 2025
Hike to Livadaki Beach at Folegandros, Sept 2025
Hike to Agios Nikolaos Beach at Folegandros Sept 2025
Delos Island; A comprehensive Self Guided Tour September 2025
Mykonos One Day Itinerary Sept 2025
Great Places to Eat in Plaka, Athens and Nearby. Updated Sept 2025
Self Guided Tour to Acropolis Sept 2025
Tower of the Wind, Athens Sept 2025
The Roman Forum in Athens, Sept 2025
National Archaeology Museum Athens, Sept 2025
Crete Past Adventures
2023 Crete
Sunken City of Olous-September 2023
Elounda Peninsula Hotel-Revised 2023
Hike to Agiofarago Beach-Sept 2023
Preveli Beach, the Easy Way-Sept 2023
Swim at Kourtaliotiko Falls-Sept 2023
Boating on the South Central Sea in Crete-Sept 2023
A Challenging hike Loutro to Marmara Beach, Crete-Sept 2023
Anopolis, Arradena Bridge and Lykos Beach in Southen Crete-Sept 2023
Aptera Crete, Closed on Tuesdays Sept 2023
Return to Chania, Crete September 2023
Crete 2021
Ancient City of Lato, Sept 2021
Aforesmenos Lighthouse, Crete, Sept 2021
Avli Lounge Hotel, Rethymno, Sept 2021
Matala Beach Caves, Crete, Sept 2021
Hike to Martsalos Beach, Sept 2021
The Chapel at Georgioupoli, Sept 2021
Koutalas Beach and Sea Cave, Sept 2021
A Walk Through Chania, Sept 2021
Crete 2019
Elounda Peninsula Hotel, Sept 2019
Knossos Palace, Crete Sept 2019
Seitan Limania Beach, Sept 2019
Katholiko Monastery, Sept 2019
Greece Itineraries
8 Days in Greece, Athens, Milos,Santorini. Oct 2018
10 Days in Greece Athens ,Crete, Santorini Sept 2019
14 Days in Greece Crete, Naxos, Santorini, Athens Sept 2021
2 Weeks in Greece, Delphi, Meteora, Corfu, Santorini Sept 2022
10 Day Peloponnese Itinerary August/September 2024
The Gen-X Travels recommendations for hotels, restaurants, activities or tour companies are based on our own experiences unless noted. We are not sponsored by any business or company and all trips are at our expense. All photos are by myself or my husband unless otherwise noted. We are affiliates of some companies such as Amazon,Viator, and others which we do receive a small commission from, at no cost to you if you buy or book through one of our links.