Small Group Turtle Tour Zakynthos
Description
Avoid the crowded boats and enjoy a relaxed small-group turtle tour in Zakynthos. With just a few guests on board, there’s space to relax and enjoy a more personal experience with a friendly local skipper. We explore the Zakynthos Marine Park, where turtles are often seen close to the boat. If conditions allow and it’s safe, you may even have the chance to swim near them. You’ll also visit hidden beaches and sea caves, and thanks to the smaller boat, we can enter some caves to experience the stunning blue water up close. This tour is ideal for those looking for a smaller group, a relaxed pace, and a well-organised experience from start to finish, including guests visiting Zakynthos by cruise ship. Please note: Due to Greek maritime law, every passenger — including children and infants — must be counted as a full seat. This allows us to keep groups small and comfortable. To make the experience more accessible for families, we offer reduced rates for younger guests.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Every year hundreds of Caretta Caretta sea turtles emigrate to the shores of Zakynthos. This tour gives you the perfect opportunity to see them swimming in their natural habitat. Our small boat does not bother or overshadow the turtles. They often swim happily by the side of the boat oblivious to the fact that we are there. This gives you peace of mind knowing that we are not disturbing them. this also allows us the perfect view and holiday photographs. Plus If your captain thinks that it is safe for you and the turtles he will allow you to jump in and swim peacefully alongside them giving you an experience that you'll never forget.
You'll explore the large caves and coves of Keri, where you'll stop for a swim in the crystal-clear blue waters. One advantage of using a small boat is that you can actually enter the caves—something larger boats can't do. Inside, you’ll witness spectacular sunlight reflections off the deep waters, turning them bright blue. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even swim through a small connecting tunnel between the caves.
More commonly known as 'Turtle Island.' Not only is this an important nesting beach for the sea turtles, but the island is also shaped like a giant mother turtle! You'll sail around Turtle Island discovering its small caves and hidden beaches before stopping on its main beautiful beach for sunbathing, swimming, and maybe even a treat from one of the floating bars offering cold drinks and ice cream.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Return hotel transfers are included from resorts within a 6 km radius of Zakynthos Airport (Zakynthos Town, Argassi, Kalamaki and Laganas). We aim to collect guests directly from their accommodation; however, to minimise overall travel time, a convenient nearby pick-up point may occasionally be arranged. Tour departure and pick-up times may vary by up to 30 minutes either side of the stated departure time due to multiple pick-up locations, traffic conditions, and seasonal operational requirements. Guests will always be informed of their exact pick-up time in advance. Pickups from areas just outside this zone, such as Tsilivi, are available for a €5 return (round-trip) pickup fee per person. Pickups from all other areas of the island are available on request and subject to confirmation, and may incur an additional fee depending on distance. Unfortunately, we are unable to collect from Vasilikos. Argassi is the closest available pick-up point for Vasilikos guests. Guests may also request a preferred pick-up location within the included radius. We recommend contacting the supplier after booking and prior to the tour to confirm the exact pick-up point, time, and any applicable supplement.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The boat is easily accessible via the beach but not wheelchair accessible. It is a 100 meter walk from the car park. The captain will meet you at the carpark (official meeting point of tour) and show you to the boat. To enter the boat we must walk to the boat and enter via a small step onto the back of the boat. The captain and crew will assist you. To reach the boat we must walk through shallow water for ten meters.
Reviews(157)
Amazing tour with a reliable and patient captain. We saw a turtle at the very start of the tour, and even swam with it for a while! There were only 5 guests on the boat. And with the small boat, we were able to enter many blue caves along the shore, and did swimming/snorkeling in 2 or 3 of them. Snorkeling equipment and lifejackets were provided on the boat as well.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a fantastic review! 🐢💙 We're absolutely delighted that you enjoyed your time with us and that you were lucky enough to spot a turtle right at the beginning of the tour – those moments are always so special! 😊 It's wonderful to hear that you appreciated the benefits of our small-group experience. Keeping our tours small allows us to explore the beautiful blue caves, enjoy more swimming and snorkelling stops, and give every guest a more personal and relaxed experience. 🌊🤿 A huge thank you as well for your kind words about our captain. We pride ourselves on creating unforgettable experiences while always treating Zakynthos' incredible marine life with the respect it deserves. 🫶🐢 We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board the next time you're visiting our beautiful island! 🇬🇷☀️ Warm regards, Ian & the Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷🚤
The tour from start to finish was absolutely amazing. Pandelis was our captain and took great care of us. He picked us up from our hotel (which was out of the catchment) along with two other couples and took us to the harbour. The group size of six people was perfect. We started off by seeing the turtles then went onto have a tour of the island and caves. We had an island stop which allowed for a nice break to swim and chill. We then went onto explore different caves which was incredible. He was a very experienced captain, very attentive to our needs and was extremely knowledgeable. They practice the ethical tourism they preach, he always remained an appropriate distance from the turtles but still enough distance to have a great view. And they were out in plenty!! This experience blew us away and we are grateful for his expertise in making it!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We're absolutely delighted to hear you had such an amazing day with Pandelis. Your kind words about his knowledge, care and professionalism will mean a great deal to him. 💙 We're especially grateful that you noticed and appreciated our approach to turtle spotting. Respecting these incredible animals and practising responsible, ethical tourism is at the heart of everything we do. We truly believe in practising what we preach, so it means a lot to hear that this stood out during your tour. 🐢 Thank you again for choosing Boat Share Greece and for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. It was a pleasure to have you on board, and we hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos one day! 🇬🇷💙 — Ian and the Boat Share Greece team
Wonderful trip. Saw a turtle within the first 10 mins. Really knowledgeable guide.
Thank you very much for your review! 😊 We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and were lucky enough to spot a turtle within the first 10 minutes. 🐢 It’s also great to hear that you found your guide knowledgeable and informative. Thank you for choosing Boat Share Greece 🇬🇷 and enjoy the rest of your holiday! 💙 — Ian and the Boat Share Greece team
This tour was amazing! I went with two friends and there were 7 people total on the boat. Perfect combination of boating, swimming and getting to see a sea turtle.
Thank you for your fantastic review! 💙 We’re delighted you enjoyed the small-group experience and that you were able to spot a sea turtle 🐢. Creating a relaxed mix of boating, swimming, and wildlife encounters is exactly what we aim for. Thank you for choosing Boat Share Greece 🇬🇷 and for helping other travellers with your recommendation. 😊 — Ian and the Boat Share Greece team 💙🇬🇷
Very good tour ! The guide Pandelis was very nice and extremely professional ! He was a fantastic driver on the road and on the see ! We have seen a lot of tortues and the nice caves ! I enjoyed a lot ! Thank you. The service was great 👍 Sylvie
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely review! 💙 We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that Pandelis helped make the experience so memorable. He takes great pride in showing guests the very best of Zakynthos while ensuring everyone feels safe and comfortable both on the road and at sea. 🚐🚤 It's wonderful to hear that you were able to see so many turtles and enjoy the beautiful caves. Encounters like these are what make the Zakynthos Marine Park so special. 🐢✨ Thank you again for choosing Boat Share Greece. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos again in the future! 🇬🇷☀️💙 — Ian and the Boat Share Greece team 💙🐢🌊
Oh, great. Seen several turtles and even swam with 1. Very nice captain. Doesn't overload information unless you ask for something but lets you enjoy the surroundings. You come to the most beautiful places on the edge of the cliffs and in small ‘caves’. Also snorkeled in a beautiful place. The captain also goes with the water me and shows up all sorts of things. Also nice that you are not on a boat with 50 people but maximum with 6 people. Had a nice click with the 4 Canadians who were with us. Highly recommended if you want to enjoy the surroundings and the turtles quietly and on a small scale.
Hartelijk dank voor uw fantastische review! 💙 Wat fijn om te horen dat u zo’n mooie ervaring heeft gehad en meerdere schildpadden heeft kunnen zien tijdens de tour. Het doet ons veel plezier dat u genoten heeft van de ontspannen sfeer, de prachtige snorkellocaties, de grotten en natuurlijk het gezelschap aan boord. Wij geloven dat een kleine groep het verschil maakt, zodat iedereen de kans krijgt om echt van de natuur en de omgeving te genieten zonder de drukte van de grote boten. Het is geweldig om te horen dat dit voor u zo goed heeft uitgepakt. Nogmaals bedankt voor uw vriendelijke woorden en voor het kiezen van Boat Share Greece. We hopen u in de toekomst opnieuw te mogen verwelkomen in Zakynthos! 🇬🇷🐢💙 — Ian and the Boat Share Greece team 💙
We booked the 🐢-tour starting in the morning at 09:30 and would definitely recommend. The harbour is so peaceful in the morning! Our Skipper did a fantastic job spotting turtles super quickly and showed us the most beautiful spots for snorkeling and the stunning caves! Super nice skipper and a second couple were with us, it was an experience we will never forget!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely review! 💙🐢 We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the peaceful morning atmosphere in the harbour and had such a memorable experience with your skipper. Spotting turtles quickly, exploring the beautiful caves, and discovering great snorkelling spots are exactly the kind of moments we hope our guests will remember long after their holiday ends. One of the things we love most about our small group tours is the relaxed and personal atmosphere on board, so it's wonderful to hear that sharing the experience with just a few other guests made the trip even more special. Thank you again for your recommendation and for choosing Boat Share Greece. We hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos again in the future! 🇬🇷☀️💙 — Ian and the Boat Share Greece team 💙🐢🌊
It was a wonderful experience! I got to swin with a turtle and in the keri cave’s. I would recommend going on this boat instead of going on a fully packed boat yhatvfeels like a tourist-trap
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review! 💙 We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed swimming in the beautiful Keri Caves and that you had the unforgettable experience of seeing a turtle up close. Encounters like these are what make Zakynthos so special. 🐢 We're also very pleased that you appreciated the small-group nature of the tour. One of our main goals is to offer a relaxed and personal experience away from the crowds, allowing our guests to enjoy the island's natural beauty in a more authentic way. Thank you again for your recommendation and for choosing Boat Share Greece. We hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos in the future! 💙🇬🇷 — Ian and the Boat Share Greece team 💙🐢🌊
The captain was brilliant. We had so much fun and learnt lots. We saw 2 large sea turtles and managed to swim so close to them
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 💙 We're delighted to hear that you had such a great time on the tour and that you were able to spot two sea turtles during your trip. 🐢🌊 It's fantastic to hear that the captain helped make the experience both fun and informative, creating memorable experiences is always our goal. Thank you for choosing Boat Share Greece and we hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos again in the future! ☀️🇬🇷💙 — Ian and the Boat Share Greece team 💙🐢🌊
My husband and I, along with our 10, 12, and 20 year old children all absolutely loved this tour, it was definitely the highlight of our Zakynthos trip. . .highly recommend! Thee were only 7 guests total on the boat which was fantastic, and the water was very calm on this day. We began by spotting turtles, which the captain was very skilled at finding (we ended up seeing 6-7 of them; not all of which surfaced but you could clearly see even the ones that didn't) then passed by Turtle Island. We then went on to see the Keri caves where the captain was able to safely steer us into many of them, just gorgeous!! He took family pictures in one of the caves which was so nice for our memories. The water is an unforgettable shade of blue especially in the caves. We stopped at a swimming spot as well. Not going to lie, the water was really cold! But even I (who likes my pool at home at 90 degrees) couldn't miss getting in this beautiful spot. I am not a swimmer so they provided me (and my younger children) a lifejacket as I requested. We much appreciated the hotel pickup and drop-off. TIPS: bring your own towel, sunscreen, underwater camera pouch, and snacks/drinks.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review! 💙 We’re delighted to hear that the tour was the highlight of your family’s stay in Zakynthos. It’s fantastic that you were able to enjoy the experience together and that the small group size helped make the day feel even more special and relaxed. Seeing 6–7 turtles in one trip is always a memorable experience, and we're so pleased that your captain was able to find them and give you such great views while always respecting the animals and their environment. 🐢💙 The Keri Caves are one of our favourite parts of the tour, and we’re glad you were able to experience those incredible shades of blue and create some lasting family memories with the photos taken in the caves. We agree – the water can be a little chilly at times, but it's hard to resist a swim in such beautiful surroundings! 😄 Thank you as well for mentioning the hotel transfers and the life jackets. We always try to make the experience as comfortable and accessible as possible for all our guests. It was a pleasure having you and your family on board, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos again in the future! 🇬🇷☀️💙 — Ian and the Boat Share Greece team 💙🐢🌊
