15 Halkidiki Tours, In Order of What They Give Back

1.Mount Athos Glassbottom Cruise with Ammouliani Island visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 592 reviews · 5 hours · from $35Our pick

Join Eirinikos Glassbottom Cruises from Ouranoupoli for a five-hour trip along the western side of Mount Athos. You’ll see six monasteries from the sea, pass the Drenia islets, view the reef below the boat, and spend about 100 minutes swimming or eating on Ammouliani Island. Commentary is offered in several languages, with English and Greek live guidance.

“We arrived early so got great seats, everything was as described and the guys were very friendly. The boat was great and the island stop fantastic”

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2.Sithonia Beaches and Scenic Villages Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 328 reviews · 12 hours · from $100

Spend 12 hours touring Sithonia with driver-guide Stefanos in an eight-seat minivan. Swim at Karydi, Fava, Kavourotrypes, and Kalamitsi, then stop in Sarti, Porto Koufo, and Neos Marmaras. The day mixes beach time, coastal views, lunch, village walks, and useful local advice, with hotel pickup available in central Thessaloniki.

“I booked a private Sithonia tour and expected a nice, scenic trip with beach stops. What I got was so much more! Our driver Stefanos gave us a great commentary along the way, including history, culture, every day life, customs and answered all the questions. He was extremely flexible, extended our stay at certain beaches when we asked him to and adjusted the schedule when necessary to avoid the big crowds. When I said I was planning to visit Ano Poli, the upper city, he changed the return route in order to pass thru Ano Poli at sunset time, so we got glorious views of the city from above! The…”

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3.Ouranoupoli: Mount Athos Peninsula Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 305 reviews · from $28Best value

From Ouranoupoli, you’ll spend three hours cruising the west side of the Mount Athos Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See eight monasteries from the water, including Dochiariou, Xiropotamou, and Panteleimonos. Multilingual onboard commentary explains Orthodox traditions and entry restrictions. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase, and dolphins may appear.

“It was really great and fun trip. To know a little bit of Athos peninsula history was really inspiring.”

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4.From Ouranoupolis: Cruise to Mount Athos Monasteries

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 298 reviews · from $28

Sail from Ouranoupolis, the gateway to Mount Athos, for a 3.5-hour coastal cruise past eight of the peninsula’s 20 monasteries. An onboard guide and audio commentary explain more than 1,000 years of Orthodox tradition. Binoculars are included, and you may spot dolphins or a Mediterranean monk seal.

“It was a very beautiful cruise, the audio guide was transmitted in different languages and that was great. During the cruise, near Saint Paul monastery a monk came on board with some reliques and everyone had the time to adore and pray. The only negative aspect was that there were a little bit too much passengers and there weren't enough seats to stay outside. Overall was a wonderful experience!”

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5.Halkidiki Blue Lagoon Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 277 reviews · 10 hours · from $77

Spend 10 hours traveling from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki by air-conditioned transfer and three-level pirate ship. Swim in the Blue Lagoon, visit quiet Sithonia beaches, cruise around Diaporos, and enjoy a light lunch. Pickup is from central Thessaloniki, with an English-speaking guide and drinks available to buy on board.

“The trip was fantastic.The views from the boat were amazing.Two stops in a beatiful lagunes for swimming.Two suprices for kids on boat during the trip. Information from the guide given in 4 lanuages (english,german,italian, greek).We had fantastic time and would go again in the future.”

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6.Chalkidiki: Blue Lagoon & Ammouliani Island Cruise & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 269 reviews · from $45

Set out from Ouranoupoli on Eirinikos Glassbottom Cruises for a six-hour family boat trip to Sithonia, Diaporos, Vourvourou, and Ammouliani. You’ll see yellow coral through the glass-bottom keel, swim in the Blue Lagoon, eat souvlaki and Greek salad, then spend time at Alikes Beach. A DJ, drinks, and a VIP deck add a lively touch.

“It was the best thing ever , we had a lot of fun ❤️❤️”

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7.Ouranoupoli: Mount Athos Sightseeing Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 141 reviews · 3 hours · from $29

Join Eirinikos Glassbottom Cruises for a three-hour sail from Ouranoupoli along Mount Athos. An onboard guide explains the monasteries in several languages while you view the coast, Ouranoupoli Reef, Drenia, and possibly dolphins. The boat has a bar, toilets, safety gear, and traditional music.

“Totul a fost profesionist (ora de plecare, personalul vasului, prezentarea obiectivelor in limba romana).”

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8.Halkidiki Blue Lagoon Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 102 reviews · from $73

Spend 11 hours traveling from Thessaloniki to Ormos Panagias, then cruise to Ammouliani for a village stop, swimming, beach time, and lunch with wine or juice. You’ll also stop near Vourvourou and the Diaporos islands for a short swim. An English-speaking host helps at the ports, with audio commentary in several languages.

“The tour guide was really friendly and we were surprised to get that much for the price we paid. We had a perfect amount of time at each stop and the food was very delicious for both vegetarians and meat eaters. The transportation had and A/C but was quite full but later on the boat that was no problem at all. I recommend for friends and families but maybe not for people with bad mobility because we had to walk (very short) distances uphill and get up on a ladder after jumping into the water (optinal).Read more”

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9.Mount Athos & visit Ammouliani’s island (mixed cruise)

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 100 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $36

From Ouranoupoli, you cruise along the Mount Athos coast with multilingual commentary, viewing several monasteries from offshore. The boat then stops for about 90 minutes at Ammouliani Island, where you can swim, sunbathe, or relax. A glass-bottom section may reveal marine life, and dolphins are sometimes spotted.

“Depart à l'heure , joli vue de la ville. Mais le temps pour arriver au 1er monastère est vraiment long et on ne s'approche pas assez pour bien voir. Fond de verre inutile: on ne voit rien d'interessant”

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10.Sithonia Private Full Day Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews Top rated

Spend 7 to 8 hours with your private group of up to seven on a captain-led cruise around Sithonia. Swim at Karydi, Robinson’s Beach, Blue Lagoon, Portokali, or Sykia, with a possible lunch stop at a beach tavern. The route can shift with your captain, weather, and your group’s priorities.

“We had a wonderful excursion with Nakas as our skipper! Nakas is a highly professional and knowledgeable guide. We rented a private boat through his agency and we will definitely return again. The views and the whole experience was out Read more”

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11.Chalkidiki: Scuba Diving for Beginners in Kassandra

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 83 reviews · 3 hours · from $92

Learn scuba basics with PADI instructor Emilio in a small Kassandra group, then spend about 45 minutes underwater among Mediterranean fish, octopuses, anemones, and more. Equipment, PADI eLearning, mineral water, and pickup in much of southern Kassandra are included. No license or previous experience is needed.

“The guide was a very good professional. He was patient with each of the participants and managed to make us feel safe even in rough water conditions.”

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12.Blue Lagoon-Vourvourou Lunch Cruise from Ouranoupolis

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 83 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $48

Meet at Ouranoupolis’ Byzantine Tower at 11 a.m. for a six-hour cruise to Vourvourou’s Blue Lagoon and Alykes beach. You get two 90-minute swimming stops, souvlaki lunch, boat water slides, and English service. Theodosis and his future wife are among the friendly crew members praised for making the day enjoyable.

“We enjoyed the route and the scenery. We did not like the fact that many more tickets are sold than the available seats. You must arrive at the ship at least an hour before departure if you want to find a seat outside at the bow”

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13.Snorkeling trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $57

From Kassandra, your guide takes you to Loutra Agias Paraskevis Beach for a one-hour shore-based snorkeling trip. Emilios or another Dive Greece instructor supplies the wetsuit and gear, explains the basics, and leads groups of no more than four through reefs, tunnels, caves, and clear water where you may see octopuses, starfish, fish, and bats.

“Great experience! Emilios is an excellent guide! In 1h, we saw a lot of different sea landscapes, underwater caves, fishes... and the photos were great and included in the price. Would love to do it again! ☺️👍”

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14.Ouranoupoli: Mount Athos Cruise with Ammouliani Island Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 65 reviews · from $39

Spend seven hours cruising Mount Athos with a multilingual guide, seeing monasteries, skites, ports, and the 2,033-meter peak from the sea. Drinks are included, and the boat stops at Banana Beach on Ammouliani Island for swimming, sunbathing, snorkelling, music, and a light Greek lunch.

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15.Blue Lagoon Cruise on a Pirate’s Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 64 reviews · 9 hours · from $46

Spend nine hours aboard the pirate-themed Menia Maria III from Ormos Panagias. You will swim and snorkel at the Blue Lagoon, cruise past Diasporos Island, stop at Sithonia beaches, and enjoy a light lunch with an English-speaking escort, animator, and crew. Pickup is available from parts of Kassandra and Sithonia.

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