Recently Viewed
Knossos Palace and Lassithi Plateau Tour: Explore Minoan Civilisation and Cretan Traditions
3.9
16 Ratings
Iraklio
Immerse yourself in the Minoan civilization and Cretan traditions on this full-day tour. Explore Knossos Palace, learn about local customs, and enjoy scenic mountain routes to Lassithi Plateau. Visit revered monasteries and descend into the mythical Diktaion Cave. End the tour with a traditional Cretan meal or a pottery workshop.
Immerse yourself in the Minoan civilization and Cretan traditions on this full-day tour. Explore Knossos Palace, learn about local customs, and enjoy scenic mountain routes to Lassithi Plateau. Visit revered monasteries and descend into the mythical Diktaion Cave. End the tour with a traditional Cretan meal or a pottery workshop.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Lassithi Plateau - Experience the journey along the stunning mountain routes to the enchanting Plateau of Lasithi, a breathtaking panoramic plain nestled high in the mountains of eastern Crete. The Lasithi Plateau extends 11 km (6.8 mi) east-west and 6 km (3.7 mi) north-south. It is located approximately 70 km (43 mi) east of Heraklion and sits at…
- Lassithi Plateau - Experience the journey along the stunning mountain routes to the enchanting Plateau of Lasithi, a breathtaking panoramic plain nestled high in the mountains of eastern Crete. The Lasithi Plateau extends 11 km (6.8 mi) east-west and 6 km (3.7 mi) north-south. It is located approximately 70 km (43 mi) east of Heraklion and sits at an average elevation of 840 m. The plateau is renowned for its white-sailed windmills, or more precisely, wind-pumps, designed locally and used since the early 20th century to irrigate the land.
- Monastery Vidiani - The Monastery of Panagia Vidiani is an Orthodox monastery established in the mid-19th century on the Lassithi plateau, surrounded by small villages and cypress groves on the island of Crete. The Byzantine icon of Panagia Vidiani, which lends the monastery its name, is a site of worship and pilgrimage. The monastery serves as a living testament to monastic institutions that played a significant role in Cretan history—not only as places of worship but also as sanctuaries and support centers for the local community and those who resisted invaders.
- Kera Kardiotissa Monastery - The Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa is situated 50 km southeast of Heraklion, in a forested area of the North Dikti Range, adjacent to the road leading to the Plateau of Lassithi. This historic monastery has given its name to the nearby settlements of Kera and Ano Kera Kera. The beautiful stone-built church of the monastery is dedicated to the Nativity of Mary (celebrated on September 8). The current church was constructed in four phases, beginning as a single-aisled temple and later expanded with two rooms and a smaller chapel. Noteworthy are the ancient 14th-century frescoes, which have been significantly weathered over time.
- The Palace of Knossos - Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and is often referred to as Europe’s oldest city. Explore the renowned Palace of Knossos, where the intriguing myths of the Minotaur and historical facts are intricately woven together.
What's Included
- Convenient hotel pick-up
- Comfortable air-conditioned transportation
- Expert tour guidance
- Convenient hotel pick-up
- Comfortable air-conditioned transportation
- Expert tour guidance
What's Not Included
- Single entrance ticket to the Knossos palace (up to 25y.o. free)
- Entrance to Kardiotissa Monastery (up to 18 y.o.free)
- Single entrance ticket to the Knossos palace (up to 25y.o. free)
- Entrance to Kardiotissa Monastery (up to 18 y.o.free)
Additional Information
Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to explore the highlights of the Minoan civilization on a full-day tour. Discover Cretan traditions, enjoy breathtaking views along the scenic mountain routes, and visit an incredible natural site at the tour’s conclusion.
- Explore the island’s main attractions and gain fascinating insights into the customs…
Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to explore the highlights of the Minoan civilization on a full-day tour. Discover Cretan traditions, enjoy breathtaking views along the scenic mountain routes, and visit an incredible natural site at the tour’s conclusion.
- Explore the island’s main attractions and gain fascinating insights into the customs of the local people.
- Uncover how the mysterious myths of the Minotaur are intricately woven with reality while visiting the renowned Knossos Palace.
- Experience the beauty of traveling through stunning mountain routes to the enchanting Lassithi Plateau and admire the miraculous icon at one of the most revered local monasteries, “Kera Kardiotisa - Our Lady of Heart,” or Panagia Vidiani Monastery, a nunnery dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
At the end of the tour, there will be time to enjoy a meal at a traditional Cretan tavern or visit a pottery workshop.
- If an infant does not sit on lap in the bus, It is necessary to pay a child ticket.
- Pick-up from the specific bus stops next to the hotels. From Area 1: all the villages between Amudara/Heraklion/Karteros/Amnissos/Kokkini Hani/Gournes/Gouves/Analipsi/Anissaras/Hersonissos/Stalida/Malia/Sissi
- Area 2: Sises/Fodele/Agia Pelagia/Ligaria/Achlada/Mades/Ammoudi/Rodia/Palaiokastro/Pantanassa /Linoperamata/Gazi
- After booking we will contact you to arrange the pick-up. Please, note, if you do not provide your pick-up details up to 24 hours before the tour, we do not guarantee the pick-up. For pick-up from different location, please, contact us.
- Monday: English, German, French
- Tuesday: English, German, French, Russian
- Wednesday: English, German, French
- Friday: English, German, French
- Saturday: English, German, French
Location
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Chatzidaki
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
3.9
(16 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
James_c
Oct 6, 2024
Highly recommended - We done this trip with Cretan Odyssey on 1st October. Picked up near hotel at 8:15am then after a few more pickups we headed into the Plateau of Lassithi. We started with a brief stop high up in the mountains looking over the Plateau for some stunning views. Also seen and heard the mountain goats crossing nearby with their ringing bells which was so lucky. We then visited a Church and Museum nearby followed by a stop in Lasinthos Eco Park where we could sample some local delicacies and the small Zoo. Then headed into the pretty village of Krasi and the Lyrakis Olive Oil Mill for a demonstration of olive oil production and some lunch. Unfortunately the Zeus Cave was closed for restoration so we couldn't visit this too. Mid afternoon we finished off our trip at Knossos Palace with a full audio tour from our Guide (Nectaris). The site was not too big so easy to see all the ruins and imagine the original construction. The tour overall was fantastic and we fitted in so much. Our Guide's knowledge was superb and so informative. Great value for money.
Review provided by Viator
Grazyna_a
Sep 17, 2024
Very nice trip to the jewels of Krete - Beautiful sites, very good service and an excellent guide. Highly recommend. The places were top attractions.
Review provided by Viator
672carolynv
May 30, 2024
A Must Tour to Add to your itinerary - Thoroughly enjoyed our excursion. The coach is air conditioned and comfortable. The tour guides are knowledgeable… in particular Eleni. Eleni is so interesting to listen to. Her knowledge of Greek history is impressive. She’s funny and caring and made the whole day such a delight. Eleni also went out of her way to assist us in locating our lost phone. She was so helpful and we are so appreciative. This tour is a must if you love history. The lunch we had was some of the best food we’ve enjoyed in Greece so far!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeancharlesd742
Jul 5, 2023
Great! - The guide was very nice. The view was beautiful and the activity very interesting. I recommend for a whole family ☺️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deons2024
Aug 14, 2024
The Wonders of East Crete - I really enjoyed the amount of stuff this tour offered and got to experience a little bit of everything. The plateau is one of the most beautiful places I have seen. The Cave of Zeus and Knossos Palace were intriguing, and throughout the trip we got to check out a pottery shop, including an olive oil factory and samples to taste, not to mention a lunch prepared at a local taverna. I did miss the monastery visit at the start unfortunately due to an accident where I was told to wait for another bus I should have been on, but the prompt customer service, and staff making me feel welcome on arrival made a tour that started on a low finish on a high.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jens
May 4, 2024
Worth visiting - Nice excursion destinations.
Knossos is Europe's first culture.
Many restaurants on the plain.
Potteries where you can see production.
Olive oil from the factory.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Loril_k
Oct 3, 2023
Details would be appreciated - Overall you got what was offered from the excursion but BEWARE of a few details left out in the details. One being if you are one of the first stops being picked up as early as 7:45, you can be on the bus or shuffle buses for 2 dehours before your first stop at the monastery. The second detail left out was the cave of Zeus requires the proper footwear and stamina to climb the steep, rocky incline before you even get to the admission gate. Third, the restaurant where you are " guided" to eat lunch, it is a cafeteria disguised as a taverna. The food was good but pricey for such a small town, and the waiter pushy on what to eat and brought bread to the table for which they charged without knowing. Also, some foods not available even though on the menu. Also, the credit card machine just happened not to work. Guide did not give ANY information on the theater as an option to visit while waiting at the plateau. Guide knowledgeable and the knossos experience was good.
Review provided by Viator
Andrewb
Sep 26, 2023
Could be a nice day - In summary, the tour is very interesting and we had a very good guide but the organization and quality of the tiur bus was disappointing.
The details - the first 95 minutes of the day were devoted to picking guests up at various hotels and moving them around to get the right people on the right language tour! There has to be a better way!
Our first bus broke down (these things happen) but the replacement bus was old and had very weak air conditioning so it was hot and stuffy with everyone complaining.
It was a nice day but better organization and a bus with functioning air conditioning would certainly have made it better.
Review provided by Viator
Pascalbd3431wd
Oct 3, 2024
BOF - Quite honestly for 15€ the entrance, there is not much to see...
Some remains of remains and still half reconstructed by a vulgar concrete, no explanation on the site in question is quite disappointing.
In 15 minutes the tour is done, nothing to amaze you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Natecbr
Jul 3, 2024
No to Knossos tour - I made a booking online, received confirmation email, but never got a pick up time for hotel and so the bus was full on the day when I went to confirm pick up time. Operator didn’t apologise for the mistake and was fairly ambivalent about it all.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
