Lasithi Plateau Discovery: Historical Cave of Zeus, Kera Monastery and Traditional Cretan Crafts
4.4
44 Ratings
Heraklion
Discover the hidden treasures of the Lasithi Plateau, including the historical Cave of Zeus and Kera Monastery. Immerse yourself in Cretan culture with a visit to a traditional village and a workshop on Cretan crafts. End the day with a mouthwatering local lunch at a traditional tavern.
Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

  • Heraklion - We will start collecting participants from pick-up points in the morning. Depending on the place of your hotel/apartment the bus ride will differ.

  • Krasi - The little traditional village Krasi with its beautiful freshwater springs and the oldest tree on Crete, for about 20’.

  • Monastery Vidiani - The bus drive from Krasi to the Monastery of Vidiani is almost 20’ where you can enjoy the views of cretan countryside. We will stop for a visit at the Monastery for about 25’.

  • Dikteon Cave - Bus Drive to Dikteon Cave: 20’
    We will visit the Cave of Zeus for about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
    The mythical birth place of the king of gods Zeus, decorated with impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

  • Lassithi Plateau - Our participants will attend a local presenting for about 45’ how traditional products like olive oil, wine and raki are produced and see how ceramics are made.

  • Kera Kardiotissa Monastery - It will take us 30 minutes to arrive by bus to Kera Monastery, where we will spend for about 30’.

  • Lassithi Plateau - Lunch at a traditional Tavern.
    There will be a big variety of traditional dishes made from local products of the Lassithi Plateau, homemade wine and meats from the surrounding mountains.
    The meal is not included.

  • Heraklion - Embarkation in the buses and drive back to the hotels where we gathered participants in the morning.
    Depending on traffic and on the pick-up places of each one, the time of journey back to the hotel will differ.

What's Included
  • Liability Insurance Coverage by ALLIANZ for all tour participants
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Professional Driver
  • All fees and/or taxes included
  • Experienced Tour Guide / Leader
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Cave of Zeus Entrance: 6€
Additional Information

This journey allows you to discover numerous locales in the Lassithi Plateau including the historic Cave of Zeus and Kera monastery. You’ll experience the rustic village of Krasi before participating in a workshop detailing Cretan Ceramics and the creation process for local beverages and olive oil. The day concludes in an authentic Cretan eatery where a mouth-watering local meal will be served to our party (cost not included).

Location
Heraklion
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(44 Ratings)
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Msd809
Apr 15, 2024
Awesome excursion - My first time and Crete and I wanted an excursion that’s wasn’t too long. Tour guide Yianis and George was awesome. Yianis kept us entertained, sang to his lovely music and also was well informed in history. Highly recommend for a days out for any age.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Patrickrt1325mg
Oct 28, 2023
Great tour! - Both our guide and the driver did a great job. The tour is well worth it! Thank you :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Global34193634114
Oct 24, 2023
Amazing experience - Great excursion! Travel guide Sula was very enthusiastic and told all kinds of beautiful stories about Crete. The journey went through many high mountains with winding roads, but driver Nikos drove over them without difficulty. Definitely recommended if you want to see some beautiful parts of the island!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Onkeljason
Oct 21, 2023
Highly Recommended - A very nice tour, interesting history and stories. Warning: the climb to the cave can be really strenuous. Sturdy shoes are a good idea, you should use the handrails in the cave as the stairs are slippery. You will be rewarded with spectacular views.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
2302anais
Oct 8, 2023
Pleasant - The host was very kind and explained well in English and French each time The caves are very beautiful (there is some walking to do) Nice little adventure
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Faraway15635049908
Nov 9, 2023
Day trip to the Zeus cave - Very good guide and driver. The smaller monasteries are very beautiful to view, the guide knew a lot about them. The extra information about how the church system in Crete works is very nice. The Zeus cave was really beautiful. The walk there was perhaps even more fun, quite challenging for those who want it and a new path for others. Because I was there late in the season, some businesses were already closed. This was handled very well by planning a replacement activity, very neatly and quickly arranged, also very top. The miscommunication about the tour was also resolved very neatly and very well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
V1817ngjustinel
Oct 25, 2023
Good discovery of the surroundings - Very good little road trip. Well put together and organized, we had time to discover everything. Everyone goes about their business but you have to return to the bus at a specific time on the bus. We still have time to visit each stage. Small downside on the sequence of tourist buses which means that we follow one another.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Faraway01334507358
Sep 13, 2023
Great trip - It was very interesting to see a Nunnery and Monastery. Lunch was disappointing. Lovely fresh Greek salad but avoid chicken and orzo it was very bland. The scenery was awesome, the plateau and villages picturesque and some lovely ceramics to buy. The only thing that you should be aware of before you go, is that if you find a very steep climb difficult or are terrified of heights, the cave of Zeus is not for you! It’s a 20/30 minute climb at the top of the mountain to gain access to the cave and the last part is rocky underfoot. When you get to the cave itself there’s approx 200 steps down and up out of the cave. However, if you’re lucky enough to be able to manage it (and many did while we were there) it’s not very big and needs lighting up better than when we were there. Definitely an adventure! If u don’t want to go up there’s some lovely places to eat have coffee or a delicious ice cream! The tour guide was great and full of interesting facts and information. Would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
758lizr
Oct 21, 2023
10 hour road trip and not the best set of visits. - This day tour turns a visit to the caves into a day trip by adding a few underwhelming stops....two small chapels, a shop with tastings, a lunch stop at a relatively normal place with no view, but overrun with our two coaches, and a tiny place with a large old tree. I know it sounds cynical... In contrast to the two chapels on this tour, we visited an orthodox church in Heraklion and were blown away bit it's beauty....that was just a few euros on a bus ticket to the city and didn't take 10 hours. The cave was good enough, and seeing the inland region was interesting I guess....that might be enough to make the tour worth it if you've not travelled to many places like this, or if you have time to use up. But if it's this trip or something else, probably do the other thing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N5683gjjoelc
Sep 26, 2023
Organise your own travel and see it yourself. Not with this company. - The main reason we went on this trip was to see the cave of Zeus and we weren't allotted enough time to actually see it. We waited in the queue and then had to leave before we got in because the coach that the company took us on was leaving far too early. The villages and eco village were interesting but we spent a long time there and not enough time at the main attraction that we wanted to see. Very disappointed. For almost the same money we could've rented an ATV/Quadbike and driven up to the cave visitor centre ourselves and for anyone looking to see it I would recommend doing that instead. If however you are more interested in the monasteries/villages/eco village then I would say this is worth it. The staff were kind and knowledgable but their scheduling just ruined the entire trip for me
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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