Preveli, Damnoni and Rethymno day trip review
My verdict: the better of the two coach days if you want Rethymno as well as a beach. Eleven hours, hotel pickup from 16 points around the Heraklion-side resorts, and the boat tickets to and from Preveli palm beach are in the price, which is the part people forget to budget for. Rethymno gets a 45-minute guided walk plus an hour and a half of free time, so the town is a real stop rather than a comfort break. It is a swimming day first and a town day second, and the operator states it is not suitable for wheelchair users.
The day, in order
- Hotel pickup from 16 points around Analipsis, Malia, Stalida and Chersonissos, then roughly two hours on the bus.
- Damnoni Beach, then a 30-minute boat to Preveli.
- Preveli palm beach, two hours for swimming and snorkelling.
- A 30-minute boat back, then an hour and three quarters at Damnoni for swimming and eating.
- Rethymno: a 45-minute guided tour and then an hour and a half of free time.
- Two hours back to the resort.
Carina from Sweden made the point I would make about the timing:
“Very good that we didn’t stay too long in Preveli; 2 hours is the perfect length of stay.”
Carina, Sweden
Can you do the Fortezza in the free time?
Just about, and only if you are decisive. The fortress is roughly a ten-minute climb from the Venetian harbour, admission is about €5 paid at the gate, and a fast loop inside is about 45 minutes. That leaves you a small margin inside an hour and a half, with no time for the storage rooms, the western bastions or the Erofyli theatre. You will have been swimming for four hours and you will be walking up a rocky, unshaded hill in beach shoes. My honest advice is to spend the free time in the old town and come back another day with 1.5 to 2 hours and proper footwear. What to see inside shows what a rushed loop skips.
What 109 reviewers say
4.6 across 109 ratings is the second-strongest record on this site. The beach does most of the work:
“The Preveli beach is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The water is crystal clear and very clean.”
Yulia, Germany
“Incredible guide on site. Magical experience. Don’t hesitate.”
Sadok, France
“You could see so much of the island and also learn a lot about it. Pickup worked great.”
Lena, Austria
Nobody in this set complains about the coach, which is the difference between this trip and the Chania and Lake Kournas day. Eleven hours with two long swims in the middle feels shorter than thirteen hours with three short stops.
What works
- Boat tickets to and from Preveli are included in the price
- Rethymno gets a guided walk plus an hour and a half of free time
- Hotel pickup from 16 points, with multilingual guides
- Two hours at Preveli, which reviewers say is the right length
Worth knowing
- Eleven hours, of which about four are on the bus
- It is a beach day: bring swimming things, not walking shoes
- Lunch and drinks are not included, and neither is Fortezza admission
- Not suitable for wheelchair users
Usually included
- Hotel pickup and return
- Air-conditioned bus
- Boat tickets to and from Preveli
- Multilingual guides and insurance
Not included
- Lunch and drinks
- Fortezza admission
- Gratuities
- Wheelchair access
Pack closed shoes in your beach bag. If you decide on the Fortezza during the free time, the ground inside is rocky and unpaved and sandals are the wrong answer.
Who should book it
People staying on the Heraklion side who want one long day that includes swimming, a boat and a proper look at Rethymno. If your interest is the fortress rather than the water, skip both coach days and start from town: the guided Fortezza tour includes the ticket, and the timing page explains why the first hour after opening beats the middle of the afternoon.
Other tours to consider
Most bookedCrete: Chania, Lake Kournas and Rethymno Tour
Inside the wallsFortezza ticket includedFortezza: Explore the Fortress of Rethymno with a Certified Guide
Old town classicRethymno: Guided Walking Tour in the Old Town Area
Frequently asked questions
How much time does this tour give you in Rethymno?
A 45-minute guided walk and then an hour and a half of free time, so about two and a quarter hours in total. That is the most of any day trip here and enough for the old town — see what to do in the old town.
Are the boat tickets to Preveli included?
Yes. The 30-minute boat to Preveli palm beach and the return crossing are both in the price, along with hotel pickup, the air-conditioned bus and insurance. Lunch and drinks are not.
Could I visit the Fortezza during the free time?
Only if you move quickly. It is a ten-minute climb from the harbour, about €5 at the gate, and 45 minutes for a fast loop inside. I would rather you came back with proper shoes and 1.5 to 2 hours — the reasoning is on is it worth visiting.
Which of the two Crete day trips is better?
This one, if you want Rethymno. It gives the town more than two hours against 75 minutes on the Chania and Lake Kournas trip, and it rates higher on a much larger sample.