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Crete Tour: Discover Traditional Villages
5.0
612 Ratings
Iraklio
Discover Crete’s hidden gems: Zeus Cave, traditional villages, olive oil factory, and authentic Cretan cuisine. Book now for an unforgettable small-group adventure.
Discover Crete’s hidden gems: Zeus Cave, traditional villages, olive oil factory, and authentic Cretan cuisine. Book now for an unforgettable small-group adventure.
Duration:
7 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Heraklion - The tour begins in Heraklion.
- Gouves - Drive through without stopping, or it can serve as a potential pick-up point.
- Hersonissos - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a pick-up location.
- Malia - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a potential pick-up location.
- Omalia Olive Press - Visit the…
- Heraklion - The tour begins in Heraklion.
- Gouves - Drive through without stopping, or it can serve as a potential pick-up point.
- Hersonissos - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a pick-up location.
- Malia - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a potential pick-up location.
- Omalia Olive Press - Visit the olive oil factory to learn about the production process using both modern and traditional machinery.
- Mochos - Stroll through the village’s charming narrow streets and enjoy a coffee or fresh juice at the main square.
- Windmills Of Lasithi Plateau - View the historic windmills that once pumped water from underground and those that ground wheat and corn into flour.
- Kera Kardiotissa Monastery - Drive by without stopping.
- Platanus Tree - Visit the village of Krasi, explore the stone narrow streets and old houses, and take photos at Crete’s oldest and largest Platanus tree.
- Stalis - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a potential pick-up location.
- Lasithi Mesa - Stop at a family restaurant on the mountain for lunch, which is OPTIONAL.
- Aposelemis Canyon - Pause to admire the stunning views from above the Aposelemi Dam, a perfect spot for photography enthusiasts.
- Knossos Archaeological Site - This is the final stop of the tour and is OPTIONAL.
What's Included
- Bottled water, coffees, teas
- Liability insurance
- Pick up and drop off from your hotel, port, or meeting points
- Private knowledgeable local driver guide
- Olive oil, honey, and Raki tasting
- Transport by comfortable air-conditioned vehicles and free WiFi on board
- Bottled water, coffees, teas
- Liability insurance
- Pick up and drop off from your hotel, port, or meeting points
- Private knowledgeable local driver guide
- Olive oil, honey, and Raki tasting
- Transport by comfortable air-conditioned vehicles and free WiFi on board
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Knossos Palace entrance fee 15 euros per person, half price for up to 25 years old .
- Private Guide inside Knossos Palace could be arranged for an extra charge.
- Lunch
- Knossos Palace entrance fee 15 euros per person, half price for up to 25 years old .
- Private Guide inside Knossos Palace could be arranged for an extra charge.
Additional Information
- Join this full-day small group tour or opt for a private experience to discover the authentic side of Crete.
- Stroll through the charming narrow streets of traditional villages, and savor an iced coffee or mountain tea.
- Tour an olive oil factory, learn about the production process, and sample a variety of olive oils.
- Travel in comfort with our…
- Join this full-day small group tour or opt for a private experience to discover the authentic side of Crete.
- Stroll through the charming narrow streets of traditional villages, and savor an iced coffee or mountain tea.
- Tour an olive oil factory, learn about the production process, and sample a variety of olive oils.
- Travel in comfort with our air-conditioned vehicles.
- Sample local honey, enjoy a glass of Raki, and taste local wine while learning about the area’s traditions, history, mythology, and culture.
- Visit the picturesque village of Krasi and see the monumental Platanus tree.
- Explore the Lasithi Plateau, admire the Old Wind Mills, and take in breathtaking mountain views.
- Sampling local dishes is a must while in Crete. (OPTIONAL)
- Experience Greek hospitality and create unforgettable memories.
- Convenient pick-up and drop-off from your hotel or Heraklion cruise port.
- Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking.
Location
Heraklion Port Passenger Station
Leoforos Nearchou
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(612 Ratings)
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L8640ttjoshuac
Mar 9, 2025
Personal and Amazing! - Extremely personal experience! Leaving the crowds and experiencing small mountain villages was a once in a lifetime opportunity! Best tour I have ever been on.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Morgansv8093fk
Mar 3, 2025
Best tour ever - This tour was one of a kind. My family was in Crete on the off season, and having Stavros show us a round made the trip. We learned so much about history, geography and mythology. We saw the cretian culture and were fully immersed for a day! This tour is a must book great for small families and smaller groups.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laukitai
Feb 21, 2025
Amazing guide in crete! - We had an incredible experience with Stavros in Crete! With 25 years of experience, he was not only extremely knowledgeable but also made the entire tour engaging and fun. He spoke perfect English, was punctual, and incredibly kind.
He took us to a fantastic local bakery and a great lunch spot with authentic food at very reasonable prices. The tour itself was a perfect mix of history, culture, and entertainment—he managed to keep my teenagers engaged for six hours with fun games and interesting stories, which is no small feat!
I highly recommend him and will use him wuthout a doubt!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rebeccadg9637lu
Feb 19, 2025
Perfect Day in Crete! - The tour is absolutely amazing!!! We started with a trip to Knossos palace, which is very pretty and since we went early, we had the whole place almost to ourselves. Then, we went to an olive oil factory where we got to see how olive oil is made and taste some! After that, we had a tour all around some mountain villages. There were so many things to see (historical windmills, the cave of Zeus, goat herds, mountain and beach views, orchards) and so many delicious foods to try (tea/coffee, fresh yogurt, carob, olives). And we learned so much about Crete geography, history, and mythology! Our guide was an incredible host! It was the perfect tour and I highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kiara
Feb 7, 2025
Book it! - Went to Crete on my honeymoon and was interested in seeing sights outside of our resort. Reached out to him directly through messenger and received a timely response. Very friendly, detailed and organized touring company! We were able to taste authentic olive oils, wines, foods and fruits! If you are thinking about booking with Ed don’t think twice!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C2006uajasonp
Feb 6, 2025
Great Tour for a Great Day on Crete!!! - We had one day on Crete and we were looking for a way to get the most out of it. And wow! We had a great time! The scenery, the smells, the flavors. But also the stories and the history. What a great place and what a great day! I will never forget it. We could not have done it without our tour guide showing us around, guiding us on a great experience! From the villages to the palaces all worth seeing. Great tour, well organized, very knowledgeable tour guide. Tour guide was friendly, outgoing and really enthusiastic about his work! Made sure that everyone was having a good time. Hope I can do it again some day! Fully recommend it to anyone visiting Crete!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Henry_m
Jan 13, 2025
We had a great time on... - We had a great time on this tour with Stavros, he was a great guide with tons of knowledge about the island and all of the places we visited. If we come back to Crete we will always book with him for any tour that we would like to do around the island.
Review provided by Viator
Anthonypm3213an
Jan 12, 2025
The REAL deal. - Stavros is an absolute LEGEND. You will not find a more authentic, amiable and jovial host whose knowledge of his homeland is only surpassed by his generosity and authentic Greek hospitality. You'll feel more like you're visiting a long lost cousin than on a tour. All of the stops offer excellent views, very real history and extreme respect for the local inhabitants as well as plenty of delicious natural snacks along the way from the best local farms.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tomcattravel
Jan 5, 2025
A day with a man in the know - Stavros, our guide, was a dynamite. Be ready to engage and interact with a treasure trove of knowledge. The passion and love he has for his home land is apparent throughout the day. You will not regret booking s day with Stavros and his company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nsparks7
Dec 26, 2024
Above and Beyond - Stavros, with Explore Real Crete, MADE our Heraklion visit, going above and beyond! He was knowledgeable, relatable, humorous, and such a kind soul. Stavros took us to ALL the places we wanted to see, even though it was off-season. He made sure we would have an educational, fulfilling time. Even though the weather on our tour day didn't cooperate as much as it could have, Stavros STILL gave our family THE BEST experiences. Stavros even offered to reschedule because of the weather, but we wanted to continue. Stavros arranged for us to privately tour Omalia Olive Press with an authentic tasting, as well as a stop in a valley of olive trees, explaining the olives and process. He bought us coffees in a quaint, charming village, drove us to the windmills on the Lassithi Plateau, to Knossos Palace and to the ancient Platanus Tree in Krasi. As we visited in off-season, the winery we wanted to visit had already closed for winter, but Stavros went ABOVE and BEYOND, providing multiple varieties of wines and rakis for us to try in the natural beauty of the mountains. He did not have to do this, but provided this experience for us. Because Stavros customizes his tours per requests, he also took us to see highlights in Heraklion, such as the Venetian walls and the Rocca a Mare Fortress and to a cute stop for lunch. Stavros and Explore Real Crete are the BEST!! TEN out of five stars!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
