Faliraki : Transfer & Cruise to Lindos with 3 Swimming Stops

The best part of this day is the order of events: you reach Lindos before the heat of the afternoon, then spend the return cruise stopping at three beaches. You get ancient sights, sea views, and proper swim time without arranging separate transport.

I like the $56 price, which covers hotel pickup, the cruise, Lindos, and three swimming stops. I also like the helpful Captain Sparrow service. On one outing, the captain arranged an extra coach pickup and return for a 23-person hen and stag group. The main drawback is pace: 2.5 hours in Lindos is useful, but it is not enough for a slow visit to the village, beach, and Acropolis.

Key points at a glance

• Lindos comes first: Arrive around 10:15 and get 2.5 hours for the village, beach, shopping, photos, and Acropolis.
• Three swim stops follow: Navarone Bay, Stegna Beach, and Tsampika Beach each receive about 20 to 25 minutes.
• The $56 fare includes hotel pickup: Transport is offered from 21 listed hotels around Faliraki and nearby resorts.
• The boat has a bar: Drinks, snacks, beer, and cocktails are available to buy, but they are not included.
• The day runs on a firm schedule: Depart Kolympia at 9:00 and return around 16:00.
• Bring your own swim gear: Snorkeling equipment is not supplied, and the Acropolis ticket costs extra.

Why this Lindos cruise works well as a full-day outing

Rhodes has two very different pleasures: the old stone world of Lindos and the clear coastal water around the island. This cruise joins them in one day, with hotel transport taking away the need to find a rental car, parking space, or separate boat trip.

You leave from Kolympia harbor at 9:00 and head directly toward Lindos. The first cruise section takes about 55 minutes, giving you a relaxed start before the main sightseeing stop. Lindos appears at roughly 10:15, leaving the middle of the day for the village and Acropolis.

After Lindos, the mood changes. The return journey includes three swimming breaks, each lasting around 25 minutes. That timing is long enough for a refreshing swim or some snorkeling, but short enough to keep the boat moving back toward Kolympia by 16:00.

I see this as a good fit for someone who wants a broad taste of the east coast of Rhodes rather than one long beach day. You see Lindos, visit several bays, and spend most of the day on the water. The tradeoff is that no single part gets unlimited time.

Hotel pickup around Faliraki and Kolympia

Pickup is included from a wide selection of hotels in the Faliraki area and nearby resorts. The listed options include Esperos Palace Resort, Apollo Blue Hotel, Amada Colossos Resort, Mitsis Alila Resort and Spa, Grecotel Lux Me Dama Dama, Rodos Palladium, La Marquise, Helea Lifestyle Beach Resort, Sun Palace Hotel, and several others.

The exact pickup time is sent the day before by WhatsApp or email. You can also contact the operator if you need help finding the meeting point. That is worth paying attention to, since the cruise itself begins at Kolympia harbor at 9:00, while the coach portion from your hotel takes about 30 minutes.

I would check your messages the evening before and save the pickup details. The service is designed to collect and return you to the same general hotel network, but the day depends on keeping to the coach schedule.

The excursion is listed as wheelchair accessible. Still, the overall day includes a boat, beach stops, and time around the steep and uneven setting of Lindos. If you use a wheelchair, contact the operator before booking so the practical details of boarding and moving around Lindos are clear.

The cruise from Kolympia to Lindos

Once aboard, the first sailing is a sightseeing cruise of about 55 minutes. The boat is described as a pirate boat, which gives the outing a light, family-friendly character rather than the feel of a formal ferry crossing.

You can watch the Rhodes coast from the water as the boat heads toward Lindos. The onboard bar sells drinks, snacks, beer, and cocktails. These extras are not part of the $56 fare, so bring money or a payment method if you want something during the day.

The boat is also the practical center of the excursion. You return to it after Lindos, use it as your base between swim stops, and spend the afternoon moving from bay to bay. If you are prone to seasickness, this is not the right choice. The day includes several hours on the water, and the operator specifically warns that people with seasickness may not be suited to the trip.

Bring sunscreen, a hat, swimwear, and a camera. I would also pack a light cover-up and a towel, although towels are not listed as included. Snorkeling equipment is not supplied, so bring your own if you want to look below the surface.

Lindos from 10:15 to 13:00

The main sightseeing stop lasts 2.5 hours. That is enough time to make a clear plan, but not enough to wander without a watch.

Lindos is the visual centerpiece of the trip. The white village sits below the ancient Acropolis, and the setting is especially rewarding from above. You can use your time for the Acropolis, photos, shopping, a walk through the village, or a swim at Lindos Beach.

The Acropolis ticket is not included. If you want to go inside, budget separately for admission and keep an eye on the time. The excursion does not provide a long, flexible visit, so buying a ticket only makes sense if the ancient site is a priority for you.

I would make the Acropolis your first decision. If you want to see it, head there early rather than spending the first hour shopping or sitting at the beach. If you have already visited Lindos or prefer swimming to ruins, use the time for the village and shore instead.

The 2.5-hour stop is one of the tour’s strengths and one of its limits. It is much better than a quick photo stop, and it gives you room to choose your own pace. But Lindos can easily fill half a day on its own. You will need to accept a quick visit rather than a leisurely one.

The schedule shows a short sightseeing cruise after Lindos before the first swimming stop. You leave Lindos at 13:00, so keep track of the return-to-boat time. Missing the departure would create a serious problem on a group excursion.

Navarone Bay, the first swim

The first swimming stop is Navarone Bay, with about 25 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. It follows the Lindos visit, so this is a good chance to cool down after walking around the town and Acropolis.

The stop is short and focused. You will not have time for a long shoreline walk or a full beach afternoon. Think of it as a clear-water break from the boat, with enough time to get in, swim, and return aboard.

For the best use of the stop, have your swimwear ready before the boat arrives. Keep your camera and sunscreen protected, and do not spend the whole break looking for equipment, since snorkeling gear is not provided.

Stegna Beach, a second coastal pause

The second scheduled swimming stop is Stegna Beach. Again, you receive about 25 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. The boat’s sightseeing sections separate the swim breaks, so the afternoon feels like a sequence of small coastal visits rather than one continuous swim.

Stegna is useful as a change of scene after Navarone Bay. You can compare the feel of a different bay and get another chance to swim if the first stop was crowded or the water was not right for you.

The short timing remains the key point. I would not book this outing expecting long stretches on any one beach. The appeal is variety: three stops, three chances to get into the water, and no need to organize transport between them.

Tsampika Beach, the final swim

Tsampika Beach is the third and final swimming stop. The boat allows about 25 minutes here before the last cruise back toward Kolympia.

By this point, the stop works as a final refreshment before the return. You have already had time in Lindos and two earlier swim breaks, so the day has a pleasant rhythm of sightseeing, sailing, and water time.

The return schedule is tight but straightforward. After Tsampika, the boat cruises for about 15 minutes and arrives back at Kolympia port around 16:00. The included program ends there, followed by coach transport back to the hotel drop-off network.

What the $56 price really covers

At $56 per person, the value is strongest if you would otherwise pay separately for hotel transport, a Lindos transfer, and a boat trip. The fare includes the full-day cruise, three swimming stops, 2.5 hours in Lindos, swimming at Lindos Beach, and pickup and drop-off from the listed hotels.

That is a substantial amount of transport and sightseeing for one price. You also avoid driving the east coast yourself and can spend the day looking out from the boat instead of managing roads and parking.

The price does not include the Acropolis ticket, drinks, snacks, beer, cocktails, or snorkeling equipment. Those exclusions are reasonable, but they matter when you set your final budget. The cheapest way to keep costs under control is to bring your own water, snacks, sunscreen, and snorkeling gear.

The price also reflects the group format. You follow a fixed departure, fixed return, and fixed swimming schedule. If you value flexibility more than convenience, a private excursion or rental car may suit you better, though it would likely cost more and require more planning.

Staff support and the Captain Sparrow touch

The operator is Captain Sparrow, and the service has a practical, hands-on feel. English is the listed operating language, and pickup information is sent by WhatsApp or email the day before.

One especially useful detail comes from a large group of 23 people. When their transport needed help, Captain Sparrow sent a coach to collect and return the whole group to their hotel. That suggests the operator can be responsive when a larger party has a transport issue, though you should still confirm special arrangements in advance rather than rely on them appearing automatically.

The highest praise attached to this outing centers on the friendly staff, the beauty of Lindos, and the value for money. Those points match the design of the day: it is not trying to be a private cultural tour. It is a cheerful, practical way to combine a famous Rhodes sight with swimming.

Who should book this day trip

I would recommend it to you if you want:

• A simple way to reach Lindos from a Faliraki-area hotel
• A full day that mixes ancient sights and swimming
• Several short swims instead of one long beach stay
• A boat outing with drinks and snacks available for purchase
• A fixed plan with pickup, return transport, and no driving

Families and groups may like the clear structure. The pirate boat setting, beach breaks, and flexible Lindos time give different people something to look forward to. The large group experience also shows that the service can work for celebrations and organized parties.

I would hesitate if you want a quiet, slow visit to Lindos. The 2.5-hour stop is useful, but you must choose between the Acropolis, village, shopping, and beach rather than treating all four as major activities.

I would also skip it if you get seasick or dislike fixed boat schedules. Three swim stops sound generous, but each lasts only about 20 to 25 minutes. This is a taste of several places, not a full stay at each one.

Should you book the Lindos pirate boat cruise?

Book this cruise if you want strong value and plenty of variety in one Rhodes day. The combination of hotel transport, Lindos, three swim stops, and a return to Kolympia is hard to beat at $56, especially if you do not want to rent a car.

Go in with the right expectations. You will not have unlimited time at Lindos, the Acropolis ticket is extra, and the beach stops are short. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, your own snorkeling equipment if needed, and enough time to follow the schedule.

For a first visit to Rhodes, this is a sensible all-round introduction to the island’s east coast. It gives you the famous hilltop town, several attractive bays, and a full day without making you organize every connection yourself.

FAQ

How long does the Lindos cruise and swimming trip last?

The experience lasts about 8 hours. It begins with hotel pickup and returns to Kolympia port at approximately 16:00.

Where does the cruise depart?

The cruise departs from Kolympia harbor at 9:00 every day.

How long do I have in Lindos?

You have 2.5 hours in Lindos, from approximately 10:15 until 13:00.

Is the Acropolis ticket included?

No. The Acropolis ticket is not included in the tour price.

Which beaches are used for swimming?

The planned swimming stops are Navarone Bay, Stegna Beach, and Tsampika Beach. The information also lists Agathi Beach as an alternative to Stegna Beach.

How long is each swimming stop?

Each swimming stop lasts about 20 to 25 minutes. The stated itinerary gives 25 minutes at Navarone Bay, Stegna Beach, and Tsampika Beach.

Are drinks and snacks included?

No. Drinks, snacks, beer, and cocktails are available from the onboard bar but must be purchased separately.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. You need to bring your own snorkeling equipment if you want to snorkel.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from 21 listed hotels around Faliraki and nearby resorts. The exact pickup time is sent by WhatsApp or email the day before the trip.