The lake sits on a narrow road off the main highway, and parking can be tight during peak season. With a Daytrip private transfer, your driver handles the navigation and drops you at the entrance, then collects you when you're ready â so you're not hunting for a space or watching the clock because you've pre-paid for a rental. It also means you can stop at other points of interest along the way, like the coastal town of Georgioupoli just a few kilometers north, without planning a multi-stop itinerary yourself.
Two to three hours is the sweet spot for most visitors. That gives you time to walk around the lake's perimeter, take a pedal boat or canoe out on the water, swim if conditions suit, and stop at one of the tavernas on the hillside. If you're combining it with nearby villages or the coast at Georgioupoli, budget for a full day excursion from your base.
It's one of the better family-friendly natural stops in Crete. Children can ride pedal boats or canoes, swim in calm freshwater rather than the open sea, and spot turtles and ducks without needing any specialist equipment. Depending on seasonal water levels, the lake even forms sandy beaches. The surrounding area has tavernas and small shops, so there's no pressure to rush. The setting is enclosed and calm, which makes it easier to manage than a busy beach.
Lake Kournas rewards time spent, not just a glance from the roadside. The water changes color throughout the day as the light shifts across the White Mountains â from deep green to vivid turquoise â so what you see at noon looks nothing like what you see in the afternoon. You can rent a pedal boat or canoe and get out onto the water, spot freshwater turtles, eels, and waterbirds up close, or simply swim in one of Crete's most unusual natural settings. Add a meal of local apaki at a hillside taverna and you have a genuinely full half-day.
The lake is one of the few places in Crete where freshwater turtles live, and they're visible enough that you're likely to encounter them from a boat or near the water's edge. Eels and fish are present in the clear water, and the lake is a habitat for ducks and various waterbirds. Because the water is so transparent, wildlife sightings here feel closer and more immediate than at most natural sites â you're not peering through murk.
The lake sits in the Apokoronas valley at the foot of the White Mountains, roughly 40 km (25 miles) east of Chania and around 50 km (31 miles) west of Rethymno. From Heraklion it's approximately 140 km (87 miles) to the west. It's well-positioned as a stop between Chania and Rethymno, making it a natural fit for travelers moving along the northern coast of Crete.
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Daytrip is a private car service platform that connects you with local drivers who will transport you door-to-door. We also give you the opportunity to explore sights/attractions along the way. We drive, you discover.
Daytrip offers private door-to-door transfers with optional sightseeing stops, hourly driver hire, and curated day trips â all with local English-speaking drivers and operating across 130+ countries.
The cancellation policy may vary depending on your trip. The cancellation conditions available for your booking will always be shown before confirming your trip. Depending on eligibility, Daytrip offers different cancellation options:
Non-refundable: If your trip is canceled after confirmation, the amount paid will not be refunded.
Standard: If your trip is canceled at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, the amount paid will be refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not eligible for a refund.
Flexible: If your trip is canceled at least 1 hour before the scheduled departure time, the amount paid will be refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 1 hour before departure are not eligible for a refund.
Trips booked less than 24 hours before departure may not be eligible for free cancellation unless stated otherwise during the booking process.
Yes! Book a private, door-to-door airport transfer with a local English-speaking driver. Enjoy fixed and transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and the option to pay in advance without the hassle of exchanging cash at a foreign airport.
You will receive the vehicle that best fits the number of travelers in your group, ranging from a sedan to a van for groups of up to 7. Depending where you travel, you can book anything from a sedan comparable to a Toyota Corolla to a Mercedes V-Class to a Classic Cuban Car. While the exact model may vary, we always ensure that the vehicle provided meets your needs in terms of safety, reliability, and comfort. You may be upgraded to a larger vehicle class free of charge depending on availability. Since our largest vehicle seats 7, for groups larger a combination of vehicles will be used. We will send you the exact vehicle details a few days before your trip.
Everywhere except the USA, drivers will supply appropriate child seats (just let us know during booking). In the USA, certain states require you to supply your own child seats.
2+ million travelers like you. Moments they'll never forget.
