This was quite an experience. I would advise anyone who chooses the excursion to do the hike and see the castle. The views at the top are magnificent. I'm not really a hiking person but I'm glad I did as the hike was worth it. Also the beaches are very nice. However the transport company we used seemed to have a lady who seemed to be drunk or confused which was not ideal. There was a mix up with people who had booked and paid for lunch as well on the boat. However, when we got to the port, another lady sorted this out quickly. Finally, we had someone who knew what she was doing and had lots of energy. The driver was very friendly and he was waiting for us when we arrived from the excursion. Additionally, he dropped us first at our dropping point as we were the first ones to be picked up in the morning. This was fair and thanks to the driver. Overall, it was an amazing experience

Please take appropriate foot wear. Decent trainers or trail shoes ( a pair of swim shoes) the accessibility of this tour is difficult as there is no dock. The boat has plenty of food on to fill you up and it’s a bit chaotic but we had a great trip, pack everything you need for the day change of clothes etc as this will make the trip better. The day we went it rained but Balos is so beautiful

Bus was not new and not very clean. "Guide" was there to get tickets and inform about organizational stuff - which boat to get in, where to look for times, how to come back, no extra information was provided. The Boat it self was crowded - to be expected in mid-August during the peak of the season. You could get drinks and food on the boat, you could also (and should) rent a umbrella as there is no shade in the beach. Beaches are nice, lots of people, but you could find some place. One side is perfect for small children, as there is only 30-40 cm of water for couple hundred meters with a sandy bottom. Another is rocky and gets deeper quite fast, saw quite lot of people snorkeling too. Overall you get what you pay for - trip with a boat, beautiful beach and views in the castle and share it all with a crowd. Good value for the money. For better experience - find a smaller group.