A Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno takes you to the only natural freshwater lake on Crete. The day adds Georgioupoli, Argyroupoli or Chania. This page covers the road, the lake, the villages, the tour types and the season. The homepage lists more Greece Tours like this one.
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What is a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno?
A Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno is a round trip by road to Crete’s only natural freshwater lake. The day joins the lake with a second stop, such as Georgioupoli, Argyroupoli or the old town of Chania.
Every Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno crosses into the Chania regional unit. The lake lies in the Apokoronas municipality, close to the border between the two units. It also lies between the towns of Chania and Rethymno. The village of Kournas, at 200 metres altitude, stands on a hill that overlooks the water.
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In ancient times the lake was called Korisia. The present name is linked to the Arabic word kourna, which means both lake and bath. People believe the village took its name from the lake, and not the other way round.
Here are the figures for the lake:
- Area: 57.9 hectares.
- Length: more than 1,000 metres. Width: 880 metres.
- Greatest depth: 22.5 metres.
- Shore: 3.5 kilometres all the way round.
- Surface: about 20 metres above sea level.
The water comes from underground. Groundwater from the White Mountains gathers in the basin, and two springs feed the lake. Both lie on the south-east bank. One of them, Amati, is visible in the summer months. Its name, also written Mati, means eye in Greek.
The lake sits between the western slopes of the White Mountains and the plain of Georgioupoli. Its water leaves through the Delfina river and flows into the Cretan Sea. Mount Dafnomadara rises to 1,680 metres, and the lake lies on its slopes.
One group tour for a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno rides in an air-conditioned bus. One route joins the lake with the Argyroupolis springs and the beach of Georgioupoli. A freshwater lake, a village with springs and a seaside stop share the same day.
Chania anchors a second kind of Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno. On one private tour, the old town comes first and Lake Kournas second. A different tour joins Rethymno, the Venetian quarter of Chania and the lake in one day.
One plan for a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno has only two stops, the lake and Georgioupoli. A private ride on that plan starts in Rethymno, calls at the lake, then at Georgioupoli, and returns to Rethymno. A full-day group tour pairs the lake with Argyroupoli instead.
The private Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno is planned for families, friends or solo travellers. A group tour through Argyroupoli, the lake and Georgioupoli suits visitors on a first trip to Crete. Argyroupoli is a mountain village with Venetian influence, and Georgioupoli is a seaside village.
The Apokoronas municipality lies on the north coast of Crete, east of the town of Chania. Its seat is the village of Vryses, and it covers 315.478 square kilometres. Georgioupoli is one of its six municipal units.
The lake fills a large hollow, and water seeps in through porous ground on its south-eastern side. The wider Apokoronas area stores plenty of fresh water throughout the year.
Both visitors to Crete and local people count the lake as a favourite place to relax and walk. The tourism site of the Chania region lists the lake among its places to visit.
Which road does a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno follow?
A Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno leaves town on the E75 national road and heads west. The lake lies about 20 km away, and the drive takes about 25 minutes. Longer tours add more stops, each with its own free time.
The E75 is the north-coast highway of Crete. A Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno takes it west toward Chania. Visitors who start in Chania use the same road in the other direction, heading east toward Rethymno.
Drivers leave the highway at the exit for Georgioupoli and Apokoronas. From Georgioupoli, a narrow but paved inland road leads to the lake. That last stretch takes about 6 minutes.
From Chania, the lake is about 45 minutes away by car. One Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno starts in Chania and then drives about 45 minutes to the lake. The coach is air-conditioned, and the group has around 35 to 40 people.
The hours on that tour are easy to follow. Hotel pickup starts around 8:00 in the morning. Guests get about 3.5 hours of free time in the old town of Chania. After the drive, they have about 2 hours of free time at the lake. The return is scheduled for around 5:30 in the evening.
Argyroupoli lies south-west of Rethymno. The journey there by bus or car takes 35 to 45 minutes. One Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno begins in Argyroupoli, then moves on to the lake and Georgioupoli.
That plan gives about an hour to the village cafés. It adds about 2 hours at the lake and about 2.5 hours at Georgioupoli. Pickup is at a set point close to your hotel, and the bus brings you back to the same place. Between 14 and 55 passengers ride together, and the bus size depends on the group.
A private car changes the plan. On one private Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno, you choose the pickup spot. The trip lasts 6 hours, with 2 hours 30 minutes at the lake and 2 hours in Georgioupoli. You can ask to change the length of the stops after booking.
A shorter private option is sold as a three or four hour trip to the lake. The driver collects you from your hotel or villa, or from the nearest spot a car can get to. That Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno uses private transport with a driver.
A private day tour of Chania and the lake lasts 7 hours. It gives 2 hours 15 minutes in Chania and 1 hour 15 minutes at the lake. The vehicle collects you at your hotel and brings you back there.
The day from Heraklion is much longer. One coach tour takes about 12 hours. Pickups run from 7:30 to 9:00 in the morning, depending on the hotel or meeting point. The coach visits Chania first, then the lake for around 1.5 hours, then Rethymno. Drop-off is between 7 pm and 8 pm.
What do you see and do at the lake on a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno?
On a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno, you reach a freshwater lake with tavernas, pedal boats and kayaks. Terrapins and ducks live there, and the route adds the long beach of Georgioupoli and the Argyroupoli springs.
Tavernas and pedal boat rental shops stand along part of the shore. A Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno therefore has food and boats at the water’s edge. The village of Kournas sits on a hill above the water. You can also stroll along the shore. A nature preserve lies on the south-west side.
Pedal boats and kayaks are for hire. A slow cruise on the lake is the idea, and ducks swim alongside the boats. Swimmers use a small sandy beach on the shore.
Wildlife on a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno starts with the terrapins, which the lake is known for. Water snakes also live in the wetland. Moorhens, ducks, herons and cormorants are among the aquatic birds found there.
Georgioupoli lies at the head of Almiros Bay on the Sea of Crete. Its beach is 9 km long and is the main attraction of the area. A Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno that stops here pairs the lake with a sea beach.
The village is named after Prince George of Greece. He was high commissioner of the island in the last years of Ottoman rule. The chapel of Agios Nikolaos stands in the sea. Eucalyptus trees line a long avenue, and the square has outdoor seats for cafés, tavernas and ice cream.
Three rivers reach the sea at Georgioupoli. The largest forms a small harbour for fishing and tourist boats. River boat trips and bicycle rental are on offer in the village.
Argyroupoli is the stop for water. A Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno that includes this village reaches the Agia Dynami springs. The water forms cisterns and small waterfalls under ancient plane trees. A small chapel is carved into the rock, and water flows through it.
The spring water once drove watermills that ground grain, and remains of the mills can still be seen. The village sits between two rivers, the Muselas and the Petres. Tavernas stand among the springs and plane trees. Visitors can fish for trout there and have it grilled to order.
The village stands on the site of ancient Lappa. The city reached its peak in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The monuments to see are the Roman baths and a large Roman cemetery. The cemetery lies at Pente Partheni, which means Five Virgins. Excavations there have not been extensive.
A Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno can also reach two old towns. Rethymno’s was almost entirely built by the Republic of Venice and has a small Venetian harbour. Chania’s old town sits beside its old harbour, and its central Kasteli quarter has been inhabited since Neolithic times.
Which tour types and seasons suit a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno?
Book a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno as a shared coach tour, a private tour or a pedal-boat trip. The pedal-boat trip comes with a hotel transfer. Summer brings sand, swimming and crowds, while spring and early autumn avoid the height of the tourist season.
A shared coach or minivan tour is the plainest Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno. One such tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, a guide, and hotel pickup and drop-off. Food and drink are not included, and they are not allowed on board.
A bigger coach tour sets its bus by group size and takes between 14 and 55 passengers. Its guide speaks English and German, and drinks and snacks are not included. The tour has no age restriction.
A pedal-boat version of the Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno centres on the water. It includes one hour on a pedal boat and hotel pickup and drop-off. A flamingo pedal boat and a pedal boat with a slide are not included. Groups of 3 to 4, 5 to 8 or 9 to 15 can book it.
A private Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno keeps the vehicle for your own party. One private tour provides an English-speaking driver and an air-conditioned vehicle. Another provides an English-speaking guide, bottled water and a private vehicle. Both include hotel pickup and drop-off.
Tours reach the lake from other towns too. A coach tour from Heraklion joins the old town of Chania, the lake and Rethymno. A private SUV trip leaves from a hotel in Chania. It lists pedal boat rental, meals and drinks as not included.
The seasons change the shore. In summer the water falls and white sand shows along the edge. In winter the water rises, the sand disappears, and walking around the lake becomes harder.
Summer suits a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno if you want to swim. Rethymno has a mean daily maximum of 30 degrees Celsius in July and August, against 13 in January. Summer brings crowds, and the afternoons are the busiest.
Spring and early autumn sit outside the height of the tourist season. In autumn the crowds are thinner. In spring the water still stands higher than in summer. Whatever the month, pack for the lake and for the towns on the same day:
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
- A swimsuit and a towel
- Cash or a card
- Comfortable walking shoes for the old town of Chania
Families get clear terms. A private tour provides a baby seat free on request. Infants on the pedal-boat tour sit on an adult’s lap. One coach tour is not accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Another coach tour accepts strollers but not wheelchairs.
Reserve a Kournas Lake day trip from Rethymno ahead of the day itself. Shared tours need a minimum number of travellers, and a short group gets another date or a full refund. Cancelling at least a day before departure also earns a full refund. A last-minute booking is not always eligible for free cancellation.