BOAT TRIPS IN CRETE
Another tour, a historical one, is to Spinalonga Island. Spinalonga is a small island near Elounda also known as the Leper Island, as that is where lepers from Crete and the rest of Greece were quarantined until 1957. This tour combines stunning scenery, Venetian architecture and a tumultuous history. Plenty of companies provide private or group boat trips to Spinalonga from either Agios Nikolaos or Elounda and Plaka. Many of them offer BBQ lunch on the island. You can depart either from the village of Plaka, with small boats (the ride takes only 10 minutes) or from the resort town of Elounda, with little bigger boats (this ride takes around 25 minutes).
An unforgettable boat trip is the one with the ferry from Hora Skafion to Loutro and Agia Roumeli. This trip takes you to the wild South Coast that is not accessible by car. Boats depart from Chora Sfakion and follow a route where the mountains drop straight into the sea.
Other cruises that should be on your summer list are the following ones: Ierapetra to Chrissi Island, Makrigialos to Koufonisi Islands, Plakias to Preveli, or a trip to Santorini that may last from 1 to 2 days.