July 8, 2026
Discover the best places to visit by boat from Kalyves on Crete's Apokoronas coast, from sheltered swimming coves and the Drapano sea caves to Souda Bay and the long beaches toward Georgioupoli.
Kalyves is a laid-back seaside village on the Apokoronas coast, set where a small river meets a sheltered sandy bay about 19 kilometres east of Chania town. Its calm, shallow water and easy launch make it one of the most relaxed places in western Crete to head out on the sea.
Because Kalyves sits on the eastern shoulder of Souda Bay, a short boat trip opens up a whole stretch of quieter coast: the coves toward Almyrida, the sea caves under Cape Drapano and the long open beaches running east toward Georgioupoli. Many of these spots are calmer, cleaner or simply prettier when you reach them from the water.
Here are the best places to visit by boat from Kalyves in 2026, with honest notes on who each one suits.
Right on the village doorstep, the low rocky headlands hide a string of small swimming coves that are awkward to reach on foot. The water around Kera beach and the little inlets beside it is clear and shallow, ideal for a first swim stop just minutes after leaving the bay. This is the easiest leg of any trip and the one that suits families with small children best.
A few minutes further east, the wider bay of Almyrida is the watersports hub of the Apokoronas coast. Arriving by boat lets you anchor off the quieter eastern end, away from the windsurf and kite school, then swim in to the calm side or step ashore for lunch at a seafront taverna.
Rounding Cape Drapano, the coastline turns wild and rocky, with low sea caves and arches cut into the pale limestone. On a settled day a small boat can nose right up to the openings, and the deep, clear water here is a favourite for snorkelling and a shady mid-trip swim. This stretch is exposed, so it is a morning destination best skipped when the afternoon wind is up.
Turning west into the shelter of the bay brings you to Kiani Akti and the low-key beaches along the Souda Bay shore. Protected from the open sea, this side stays swimmable even when the coast outside is choppy, which makes it the reliable fallback when the wind turns.
Out in the middle of the bay, the fortified islet of Souda Island carries the remains of a Venetian sea fortress. You cannot always land, but circling it by boat is a memorable detour, and the deeper water around it is good for a swim with the old walls as a backdrop. It suits history-minded visitors and anyone wanting a longer half-day route.
Heading east past Cape Drapano, the shore opens into the long sandy beaches that run all the way to Georgioupoli. These are open and exposed, so they reward a calm, flat morning, when you can anchor off an empty stretch of sand far from any road. This is the trip for travellers who want space and a sense of the wilder Apokoronas coast.
The boating season runs from roughly May to October, with the warmest sea and calmest water in June, July, August and September. Book morning departures whenever you can, as the Apokoronas coast picks up an afternoon breeze that suits sailing but makes the exposed capes and open beaches choppier. Bring water, sun cover and reef-safe sunscreen, and in July and August reserve private charters and sunset trips a day or two ahead.
In July and August it is worth booking a day or two ahead, especially for private charters and sunset trips. In the shoulder season you can often arrange a trip the same day directly at the harbour.
June to September has the warmest sea and calmest mornings. Aim for a morning departure, because the afternoon breeze on the Apokoronas coast often picks up and can make the water choppier later in the day.
Very. The main beach shelves gently, the bay is protected from the meltemi wind, and most boat trips stay close to shore, so Kalyves suits young children and anyone new to being on the water.
Short trips reach the beaches around Almyrida and Kera, the sea caves of Cape Drapano and the sheltered coves of Souda Bay. Longer charters continue west toward the island of Souda or east along the coast toward Georgioupoli.
Yes. Kalyves has a sheltered bay on the Apokoronas coast where local operators and private charters run half-day and full-day boat trips through the summer, roughly from May to October. The calm morning water makes it a comfortable launch point for families and first-time boaters.
Mia G. – Brussels, Belgium • July 27, 2026
This sounds absolutely perfect for a coastal trip! I’ve been wanting to explore the Drapano sea caves by boat—it sounds much more dramatic than just swimming on the main beaches. I’m planning a trip for the late summer and hope to follow this route to hit both Souda Bay and some of the coves. Thanks so much for putting this together!
Oliver K. – Amsterdam, Netherlands • July 24, 2026
These sound like the perfect combination of relaxation and adventure! I've heard amazing things about the Drapano sea caves, and pictures of the sheltered coves really sold me on a boat trip. I'm planning to visit in late spring, so this guide is timing perfectly for my trip to the Apokoronas coast.
Noah B. – Vienna, Austria • July 21, 2026
This sounds absolutely perfect for us; we've been looking for that mix of sheltered coves and something dramatic like the Drapano sea caves. Last year we explored parts of Apokoronas, but haven't ventured out by boat, so this has me really excited. I think we might be spending the whole trip just moving from one beautiful bay to the next!
Lucas T. – Paris, France • July 18, 2026
This post is absolutely perfect for planning our trip! I have been researching boat tours constantly, and the descriptions of the Drapano sea caves sound incredible—I can practically smell the salty air already. We are aiming for late summer this year, so knowing the best coves to find is such a huge help.
Emma R. – Berlin, Germany • July 18, 2026
This itinerary looks absolutely dreamy—it’s exactly the kind of coastal exploration I’ve been hoping for! I'm particularly excited about finding a boat tour that specifically hits the Drapano sea caves; photos of those deep blue pools are incredible. I’m planning my trip to Crete for the fall, and your article makes Souda Bay feel like the perfect natural escape.
Jul 11, 2026
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From snorkelling and windsurfing to boat trips, sunset cruises and coastal walks, here are the top activities in Almyrida on Crete's Apokoronas coast for 2026 and who each one suits.
Discover the best places to visit by boat from Georgioupoli on Crete's Apokoronas coast, from long open beaches and the Agios Nikolaos chapel to the sheltered coves toward Almyrida and Kalyves.
Discover the best places to visit by boat from Marathi on Crete's Akrotiri peninsula, from its twin coves and Seitan Limania to Souda Island and the sheltered beaches across the bay.
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A practical guide to sailing in Souda Bay, one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. Where to anchor, what the wind does, the naval restrictions to respect, and the best coves to reach by boat.
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From snorkelling and windsurfing to boat trips, sunset cruises and coastal walks, here are the top activities in Almyrida on Crete's Apokoronas coast for 2026 and who each one suits.
Discover the best places to visit by boat from Georgioupoli on Crete's Apokoronas coast, from long open beaches and the Agios Nikolaos chapel to the sheltered coves toward Almyrida and Kalyves.
Discover the best places to visit by boat from Marathi on Crete's Akrotiri peninsula, from its twin coves and Seitan Limania to Souda Island and the sheltered beaches across the bay.
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Pair a Chania boat trip with a proper tasting of Cretan wines. Here is what wine tasting on board is like in 2026, the local grapes to look for, and how to plan a relaxed sunset cruise with our wine partner Skywine.
Jul 3, 2026
An overview of sailing around Crete in 2026 — the difference between the windy north coast and the wild south, where to go from Balos to Gavdos, when to sail, and how to choose between bareboat, skippered and day charters.
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A practical guide to sailing in Souda Bay, one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. Where to anchor, what the wind does, the naval restrictions to respect, and the best coves to reach by boat.