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Rethymno & Lake Kournas: Cretan Olive Oil Tour
5.0
10 Ratings
Rethymnon
Explore the charming city of Rethymno and the stunning Lake of Kournas on this scenic private tour from Chania. Discover historical monuments, hidden spots, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the White Mountains.
Explore the charming city of Rethymno and the stunning Lake of Kournas on this scenic private tour from Chania. Discover historical monuments, hidden spots, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the White Mountains.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Rethymnon Old Town - Located on the northern coast of Crete, Rethymno is positioned between the major cities of Chania (58 km to the west) and Heraklion (79 km to the east). It is unique as the only town on the island built on a cape. Rethymno offers two distinct experiences: a vast, endless beach and an old town rich in architectural and…
- Rethymnon Old Town - Located on the northern coast of Crete, Rethymno is positioned between the major cities of Chania (58 km to the west) and Heraklion (79 km to the east). It is unique as the only town on the island built on a cape. Rethymno offers two distinct experiences: a vast, endless beach and an old town rich in architectural and historical charm. The impressive Venetian castle “Fortezza” overlooks the city, alongside numerous orthodox and catholic churches, mosques, the historic lighthouse, grand Venetian-style mansions, arches, and cobblestone streets, all contributing to a captivating atmosphere that has inspired countless visitors to capture its beauty in photographs.
- Lake Kournas - Lake Kournas is Crete’s sole natural freshwater lake, boasting a perimeter of 3.5 km. A legend falsely claims it is bottomless, a myth likely inspired by its dark hue. Some theories suggest unusual electromagnetic fields around the lake, causing mixed feelings among visitors, with some experiencing unease and others sensing positive energy. The lake’s enchanting beauty is linked to the legend of a nymph residing within its waters. As a significant wetland, Lake Kournas supports diverse flora and fauna and is protected under the Natura 2000 program.
- Melissakis Olive Mill - The Melissakis family has been involved in the olive oil industry since the 1890s. Their facilities are located in Tsivaras, Apokoronas, in the eastern part of Chania.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- USB charging ports in van
- Local tour leader (English and German speaking)
- Public liability insurance
- On-board WiFi
- Cold soft drinks, beer, bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Guided olive oil tour & olive oil tasting
- Audiovisual presentation of Cretan customs on the van
- Private transportation
- USB charging ports in van
- Local tour leader (English and German speaking)
- Public liability insurance
- On-board WiFi
- Cold soft drinks, beer, bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Guided olive oil tour & olive oil tasting
- Audiovisual presentation of Cretan customs on the van
What's Not Included
- Guided tour in Rethymno city
- Gratuities
- Guided tour in Rethymno city
- Gratuities
Additional Information
The adventure starts in Rethymno, a delightful coastal city brimming with charm, where Venetian elegance blends with Eastern influences. Wander through its scenic alleys, marvel at the impressive Fortezza Castle, and uncover hidden treasures such as ancient churches, mosques, arches, and the historic lighthouse. The cobblestone streets of the old town…
The adventure starts in Rethymno, a delightful coastal city brimming with charm, where Venetian elegance blends with Eastern influences. Wander through its scenic alleys, marvel at the impressive Fortezza Castle, and uncover hidden treasures such as ancient churches, mosques, arches, and the historic lighthouse. The cobblestone streets of the old town are ready to be explored!
Following this, the journey continues to the breathtaking Lake Kournas — the sole freshwater lake in Crete. Encircled by verdant hills and offering stunning views of the White Mountains, this tranquil location is ideal for a leisurely walk or enjoying a refreshing drink by the water.
The tour concludes at a local olive oil factory in a traditional village, where visitors can immerse themselves in the essence of Cretan olive oil production. From the olive harvest to cold-pressing and bottling, every step of the process is revealed. Naturally, a guided olive oil tasting is included — an excellent opportunity to savor the rich flavor and health benefits of genuine extra virgin Cretan olive oil.
Location
Rethymnon Old Town
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
(10 Ratings)
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Holls22
May 30, 2025
Best Crete Tour - Christine and her driver took amazing care of us.
They arranged a tour of olive oil farm, lake visit, wine tour
Gave us an information and recommendations for restaurants, a Greek lesson, and history of Crete.
They took their time and were over the top professional and easy going.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
V1845vflorrainek
May 7, 2025
A fabulous day trip! - Crete (Chania):
Christina and Thanos treated us like family from the time they met us at the port until the moment they dropped us back off. The van was air conditioned and they provided water, beer and soft drinks, as well as phone chargers. The drive to the olive oil mill was scenic and Christina provided us with a wonderful history of Crete. The olive oil mill tour was wonderful, complete with an explanation of how they harvest the olives and turn it into oil using machinery. We got to try several of their olive oils, olive paste, and balsamic vinegar. Everything was incredible.
Next we went to Kournas Lake, where we were treated to Greek coffee drinks as well as sampling the local delicacy, sfakianes. Beautiful scenery and overall a lovely stop. Made friends with a calico cat. “Who’s hungry” works yet again!
From there we went to Rethymno and took a beautiful walk around the old city which offers many cafes, restaurants and shops. We stopped and had lunch and then continued our walk along the harbor.
A wonderful tour. 10 out of 10.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lorrainekohagen
May 6, 2025
Fabulous Tour off the beaten path - Christina and Thanos treated us like family from the time they met us at the port until the moment they dropped us back off. The van is air conditioned and they provide water, beer and soft drinks, as well as phone chargers. The drive to the olive oil mill was scenic and Christina provided us with a wonderful history of Crete. The olive oil mill tour was wonderful, complete with an explanation of how they harvest the olives and turn it into oil using machinery. We got to try several of their olive oils, olive paste, and balsamic vinegar. Everything was incredible.
Next we went to Kournas Lake, where we were treated to Greek coffee drinks as well as sampling the local delicacy, sfakianes. Beautiful scenery and overall a lovely stop.
From there we went to Rethymno and took a beautiful walk around the old city which offers many cafes, restaurants and shops. We stopped and had lunch and then continued our walk along the harbor.
A wonderful tour. 10 out of 10.
Review provided by Viator
Martin_k
Apr 21, 2025
Christina and Thanos were... - Christina and Thanos were very pleasant and informative. They were also happy to vary the program as we had already visited the olive factory a couple of days earlier, taking us to the botanical gardens instead.
We had a very good time.
Review provided by Viator
466urvij
Aug 9, 2024
Super attentive, relaxing and organised! - This trip was so much fun! Our guides were amazing and sorted virtually everything for us, so all we had to do was relax and have fun! They ensured we had free time around rethymno and once we reached the lake they had everything ready for us (like the pedalo)! Super attentive, would definitely recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
182kaylinl
Mar 16, 2024
Multigenerational must! - Our favorite tour thus far on our Mediterranean cruise! We are a multigenerational family group traveling on a cruise that was rerouted to Crete. I read the reviews and selected this tour which far exceeded our expectations. Comfortable vehicle with every detail thought of! They even provided boosters for my kids and charging cables for our phones. Anything we expressed interest in or asked questions about was responded to! The kids, parents, and grandparents all enjoyed our experience! Christine and Thanos were so very hospitable and enjoyable to be with. Thank you! We hope to return to Crete and try another of their tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Costa_p
Aug 28, 2023
Excellent snapshot - We had an excellent trip to Kournas Lake and Rethymno. A great snapshot of the area. Christina and Thanisis were perfect tour guides on a perfect day. Bravo sas 😎
Review provided by Viator
Vivnen
Jun 29, 2023
Excellent well orginized trip with extremely nice & friendly tour guides! - Our experience on this tour was well beyond our expectations. First we visited the beautiful lake Kournas, the drive there from Platanias where we were picked up took maybe a bit under an hour, which went very nicely and quickly when the lovely tour guide Christine told us things about Crete, Cretans and showed us interesting photos & videos from the screen on the minivan. (very nice & comfy minivan by the way! ) She also made sure all the time that we were fine, I was travelling with my grandparents, she certainly made sure that they were okay at all times and told us that there was no hurry whatsoever, which was very nice and brought a very nice & relaxing atmosphere, just what you'd like to have on a holiday!
The drive from the lake to the city of Rethymno went very well while enjoying the great lunch we were offered. We all had our own lunchboxes with delicious sandwiches and other great local delicacies. Also we had drinks, ice cold water, soft drinks etc.. All included in the price!
Overall this was an excellent experience, if you want to have a private tour at a reasonable price, and really nice and friendly people, you should definitely choose Seabybus! You could see how greatful they were to us for choosing them, and we certainly will again when we return to Crete next year! They have tours to other interesting places too. Thank you for the nice day we got to spend with you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharon
May 16, 2023
A wonderful day trip - We thoroughly enjoyed our tour, guided by friendly and informative Christina. Everything was so well organized. Drinks and lovely lunch boxes were packed for us to enjoy, when we reached the beach at Plakias. Rethymno was beautiful to wander around the narrow streets and check out the sights. Our final stop was at Kournas lake, which was beautiful. I can highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sjonisa
Aug 21, 2021
Awesome half day trip - Our tour guide was extremely sweet and well oriented just like our bus driver. We really enjoyed ourselves and we have to admit it was a well planned trip. Our lunch and drinks were also packed for us and given in small cooling bags. We would 100% opt for SeaByBus again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
