Private Sailing Cruise from Heraklion to Dia Island

Sail to Dia Island from Heraklion in luxury. Swim, dive, explore ancient ruins, and savor a delicious meal on a private cruise.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Avanti Sailing - Discover the unique destination of Dia island while traveling private in style and comfort aboard our luxury sailing boat. Feel the breeze of Cretan sea, swim and dive into the crystal clear waters, explore the ruins of an ancient port, take a walk on the island or just relax on deck and enjoy the summer sun, while in the meantime tasting a delicious meal, served during your journey with us.

Dia is an uninhabited island north of Heraklion surrounded by small rocky inlets and it is only accessible on boat. In the southern part of the island there are 4 quiet bays: the gulf of Agios Georgios, which is where boats use to moor, the gulf of Kapari, the bay of Panagia and the gulf of Agrielia.

The island is of great archeological interest as it was populated during Minoan times and near the bay of Agios Georgios, a harbour settlement was established. The undersea discoveries of Jacques Yves Cousteau in 1974-5, provided evidence suggesting that there stood one of the biggest and most important ports in the whole island of Crete. The harbour appears to have sunk due to the destruction caused in the 1450 bc by the eruption of the volcano of Santorini.

What's Included
  • Use of snorkeling equipment
  • Stand Up Paddleboard
  • Lunch
  • Snacks
  • Fruits
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Bottled water
  • Alcoholic Beverages
What's Not Included
  • Private transportation
Additional Information

Discover the unique destination of Dia island while traveling in style and comfort aboard our luxury sailing boat. Feel the breeze of Cretan sea, swim and dive into the crystal clear waters, explore the ruins of an ancient port, take a walk on the island or just relax on deck and enjoy the summer sun, while in the meantime tasting a delicious meal, served during your journey with us. The trip is private and you will have the chance to relax end enjoy it by yourself or with your company.

Location
Cafe Marina
Leoforos Nearchou
The Meeting point is at "Marina Cafe - Restaurant" which is located at the Heraklion port. Next to the meeting point there is a big parking area with low Charging Fee.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(14 Ratings)
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1 star
Patrick_o
Aug 21, 2024
Money well spent on private charter - Friends had recommended the sailboat excursion to us to Dia Island but unfortunately the last time we were here we did not plan soon enough so one was not available. This time we were able to book it ahead of our arrival on our cruise ship. We met the boat within walking distance of the cruise port and started our voyage to the island. Capt Greg and his deckhand Demetri were so nice and helpful (also non-smokers). Waters were very calm and soon we were at Dia Island where we were mesmerized by the crystal clear blue waters. The depth was approx 12 feet and you could clearly see the bottom. The boat had a paddle board and snorkeling equipment, fishing pole. While we played in the water, Demetri prepared a beautiful lunch for us and when we got out to enjoy, he also offered us white and rose wine, among other things. We all enjoyed several glass of wine with our delicious snack lunch. Afterwards we had a little longer to play in the water or relax in the sun before we packed up and headed back to the marina. We all concurred that it was so much better than visiting the ancient ruins in the heat.
Review provided by Viator
Lasousse
Aug 7, 2024
A very nice family experience. Super Leader - Family of 6 we made this private excursion on August 6, 2024 and it was really a great experience. Super Leader, very responsive via WhatsApp, shuttle transport Pension heraklion possible, excellent veggie lunch, snorkling equipment, fishing sets included. Anyway, very Leader. I recommend. PS: 1/2 day Check-out 15h arrival 19h30 was more than enough.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gemmac198
Jul 16, 2024
Amazing trip - Just had an afternoon sailing to the island with my family. We all had a wonderful time. The boat was lovely and clean the staff qwre friendly and informative. There was nothing that we would complain about. They also arranged a transfer from our hotel for us which was very luxurious! Would definitely recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pj1382
Jul 14, 2024
Beautiful boat & people and excellent snorkelling at the island - We have travelled to Dia with the Avanti boat & crew for many years in a row and it is always a fantastic experience. The waters at Dia are calm & clear and absolutely perfect for snorkelling. We have seen octopus, nudibranches, sea hares, moray eels, jellyfish, in addition to a lot of different fish species. The meal and fresh fruit on the boat are consistently excellent, the crew are always wonderfully friendly, and the entire day is a highlight of our holidays.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karen_l
Jun 26, 2024
Fabulous - This was amazing. Greg and Dimitrius were professional, kind, fun, and polite. The boat was immaculate and everything was perfect!!!
Review provided by Viator
Micheal_l
Jun 15, 2024
A Great day on the water - Very good sailing trip. Personalized for our group of four people. Relaxing, and activities when we arrived at Dia Island. Lunch was very good.
Review provided by Viator
F3711aflarsk
Jun 15, 2024
Great sailing trip - Great organization, our two skippers were in a great mood and gave us a great day. I can only recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meghan_k
May 28, 2024
Wonderful Day! - My favorite part of my trip to Crete! Captains were extremely kind and helpful, and the boat was beautiful! Sailed to a beautiful island and had lots of time to swim, paddle board, enjoy the boat, explore the island, and drink wine!
Review provided by Viator
The_brat8
Mar 2, 2024
Perfect day! - The boat was spacious and comfortable, making the journey incredibly relaxing. The crew was friendly and made sure everyone had a great time, sharing stories and insights about the area. The chance to swim in the secluded spots was a real treat. A fantastic way to enjoy the sea and sun!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Zsoltd775
Dec 1, 2023
I am very thankful for them for the great experience - I proposed to my fiancée on one of their boat. Everything was perfect. They helped a lot to organise those special moments that we will remember for the rest of our lives. They just made it perfect and the only thing I had to worry about was the proposal itself. The crew was super helpful and kind. We went to Dia island for a romantic experience but I would definitely choose them to go their with friends or family to have fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
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September 2024
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