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Crete Tour: Knossos, Zeus Cave & Local Delights
5.0
220 Ratings
Iraklio
Embark on a journey of discovery through Crete’s majestic Knossos Palace and Zeus Cave. Immerse in the art of olive oil production, savor authentic local cuisine, and indulge in the finest flavors of Crete. Join us for an unforgettable day trip!
Embark on a journey of discovery through Crete’s majestic Knossos Palace and Zeus Cave. Immerse in the art of olive oil production, savor authentic local cuisine, and indulge in the finest flavors of Crete. Join us for an unforgettable day trip!
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Knossos Archaeological Site - This excursion takes you to one of Greece’s most significant landmarks: the Knossos Palace. The tour starts with a visit to the Knossos Palace, the ceremonial and political hub of the Minoan civilization during the Bronze Age. Here, you will explore the magnificent palace complex, built for King Minos and recognized…
- Knossos Archaeological Site - This excursion takes you to one of Greece’s most significant landmarks: the Knossos Palace. The tour starts with a visit to the Knossos Palace, the ceremonial and political hub of the Minoan civilization during the Bronze Age. Here, you will explore the magnificent palace complex, built for King Minos and recognized as the oldest city in Europe.
- Omalia Olive Press - The journey into Cretan culture begins with an introduction to its renowned “liquid gold.” At a traditional, four-generation olive oil production facility, you’ll uncover the rich history of the olive, learn about harvesting techniques from ancient times to today, and enjoy a tasting of premium-quality olive oil—an experience sure to delight your senses.
- Lassithi Plateau - The journey continues to the Lasithi Plateau, a captivating destination rich in natural beauty and ancient mythology. Encircled by the towering Dikti Mountains, this fertile land is steeped in history and believed to be the birthplace of Zeus. Once home to the world’s first wind farm, the plateau still retains remnants of its past, with a few windmills scattered across the landscape. As you explore this peaceful haven, you’ll be captivated by both the breathtaking views and the legendary tales that make this land so unique.
- Dikteon Cave - The Zeus Cave will be closed for construction starting October 2, 2024.
- Restaurant Tzanakis Michael - Here, you have the option to stop for lunch at a traditional tavern overlooking the Lassithi Plateau, where you can savor authentic local dishes, cooked in a wood-fired oven.
- Kera Kardiotissa Monastery - A 14th-century Byzantine treasure, renowned for its exquisite frescoes and the legendary miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. As you pass by, you’ll be able to appreciate its stunning setting and learn about the monastery’s rich history and spiritual significance, offering a glimpse into a place of culture, faith, and tranquility — even without stopping.
- Mochos - The tour concludes in the traditional village of Mochos, where you can mingle with the locals in the village cafes and experience the spirit of Crete. At the end of this tour, you will be driven back to your location filled with wonderful memories and a big smile.
- Krasi - The next stop is the village of Krasi, home to the famous plane tree of Krasi, which is over 2000 years old. Here, you will have ample time to enjoy a coffee at one of the local tavernas and capture unforgettable photos.
What's Included
- Pickup and drop-off from your hotel, harbor, or designated meeting points
- Private tour pickups: Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Shared mini-group: Heraklion region only
- Liability insurance
- Bottled water, coffee
- Private knowledgeable local guide
- Transport by luxury air-conditioned minivan with free Wi-Fi on board
- Pickup and drop-off from your hotel, harbor, or designated meeting points
- Private tour pickups: Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Shared mini-group: Heraklion region only
- Liability insurance
- Bottled water, coffee
- Private knowledgeable local guide
- Transport by luxury air-conditioned minivan with free Wi-Fi on board
What's Not Included
- Entrance to Knossos €20 per person, payable on-site. Free admission for visitors under 18 years old.
- Gratuities ( optional)
- Official Licensed Tourist Guide at Knossos Palace (optional)
- Lunch (optional)
- Pickup from the Rethymno or Chania regions is available upon request with additional cost
- Entrance to Knossos €20 per person, payable on-site. Free admission for visitors under 18 years old.
- Gratuities ( optional)
- Official Licensed Tourist Guide at Knossos Palace (optional)
- Lunch (optional)
- Pickup from the Rethymno or Chania regions is available upon request with additional cost
Additional Information
- Discover Knossos Palace, picturesque villages, and the breathtaking Lasithi Plateau.
- Dive into Local Culture: Engage with Cretan traditions, enjoy authentic cuisine, and relish olive oil, honey, and raki, all with warm hospitality.
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Unique Olive Oil Tour: Discover the craft of olive oil production and sample the island’s finest selections.
-…
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Discover Knossos Palace, picturesque villages, and the breathtaking Lasithi Plateau.
-
Dive into Local Culture: Engage with Cretan traditions, enjoy authentic cuisine, and relish olive oil, honey, and raki, all with warm hospitality.
-
Unique Olive Oil Tour: Discover the craft of olive oil production and sample the island’s finest selections.
-
Comfortable Travel: Journey in a minivan with small groups or opt for a private tour with a knowledgeable guide.
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Convenient pick-up and drop-off from your hotel, port, or designated meeting points.
Uncover the Splendor of Crete: Our private or small-group tour unveils Crete’s hidden treasures. Experience the grandeur of Knossos Palace, wander through traditional villages, and visit the ancient Platanus tree in Krasi—a symbol of Cretan heritage. This adventure blends culture, history, and gastronomy, ensuring unforgettable memories of Crete.
Location
En Plo
Egeou
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
(220 Ratings)
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540kayap
Feb 17, 2025
Great tour of an extremely unique place - I had a fantastic tour! Marinos was an excellent guide, and he knew the history of everything and everyone along the way. The mountain villages and scenery were straight out of a fairytale. Knossos was incredible as well! 10/10 would recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laura_w
Feb 6, 2025
Traditional country life and rural sights of Crete - Our tour guide, Marinos was a local from Crete and arrived promptly at our Hotel in a cheery demeanour.
His vehicle was exceptionally clean with bottled water and homemade biscuits provided. We were fortunate that we were the only ones on the tour (noting the off-peak season).
We were given a precursory tour of the local town from the car and informed of interesting historical facts like the venetian shipyards and the 18 Englishmen roundabout.
We then visited the Knossos Palace, home of the Minotaur legend, and once belonging to the Minoan civilisation. Tickets to this site are extra, however well worth it! Marinos gave us ample time on our own to explore this fascinating archaeological site and did not rush us.
Our next journey was to the local olive oil production plant. Marinos gave insight into how the oil is made today versus historically. We then climbed by car up the picturesque snowy mountains where there were herds of goats.
We were then treated to a local villager's home in Krasi, and offered a traditional brewed tea and Greek spirit called Raki. An insight into the life of a Cretan Shepherd was explained and we appreciated the hospitality provided.
We then proceeded on to the famous plane tree, believed to be one of the oldest in the world and hold magical healing powers to increase fertility!
Onwards then with breath-taking views of the hills and early spring flowers of almond trees. There were a few traditional Greek windmills on display. We were fortunate to try local Greek yoghurt made from goat's milk. Local honey was also offered, but we found it was perfect on it's own.
Tastes and smells of wild herbs (Sage and Dill) were picked by our guide. Finally, we visited a monastery where there were three nuns remaining.
Our tour being in late January, featured cold winds with occasional showers, but the bonus of minimal tourism and road traffic made it worthwhile. Marinos also provided us with umbrellas and was willing to stop at picturesque sites so that we could take photos.
Definitely a must do if visiting Crete!
Lisa and Laura
Australia
Review provided by Viator
Mohammadrafii_m
Jan 5, 2025
Excellent - Everything went smooth.
Guide was very courteous and knowledgeable. I strongly recommend him for further tours.
Review provided by Viator
Jeevanp94
Jan 4, 2025
Crete Tour - Mr. Marinos, is an excellent person with a wide knowledge of Crete. We had a full day tour with him and had a wonderful time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christianeb933
Jan 1, 2025
Great day trip for those who want to discover more of Crete - On the last day of the year, my husband and I went on a beautiful informative day trip with Marinos to village Crete, for example Krasi with the oldest plane tree in Crete at around 2,400 years old, about which Marinos had exciting and informative stories to tell us. His excellent knowledge of history and his very warm manner as well as his perfect English were a great overall package. He is also a very prudent driver! Thank you for this beautiful experience on New Year's Eve 2024. All the best for 2025!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
James_y
Dec 1, 2024
An Olive Oil expert and great guide/guy. - Our tour guide has been kind, and helpful. He knows about olives and olive oil so we'll. We enjoyed his sharing and learned quite a bit about how the olive oil was made and how to grade them. He knows the history of the area as well as things in the areas, including Knossos palace. A very good driver too to have manipulated the curvy and narrow mountain roads so well.
Review provided by Viator
Will_w
Nov 21, 2024
A Must! - Amazing memorable tour! Our guide was funny, attentive and really gave us a rich history of all the sites we visited.
Review provided by Viator
Phillip_f
Nov 18, 2024
Excellent Tour - This tour is a great choice for people who want to experience Knossos but also want to experience something of Crete other than Heraklion. At Knossos, there was time to visit the nearby shops, which was important. The experience of the mountain drive, the tiny mountain villages, the plateau, learning something about the "modern" history of Crete, was meaningful to our group of 3. The selection of the "lunch" restaurant offered good food. The tour of the olive oil "factory" was both informative and interesting. It's unfortunate that the Cave of Zeus is under construction and not open, but that is not attributable to the tour. Our guide was Marinos. He was knowledgeable. His English was excellent. He was pleasant to travel with and navigated the mountain roads with expertise. We would take this tour again and recommend it to others. Thank you!
Review provided by Viator
Audrey_c
Nov 12, 2024
Small Group “See the Real Crete” Tour - Our guide Marinos provided us with a wonderful day. Our small group beat the crowd to Knossos and took wonderful pictures without people and he gave us helpful tips about getting a guide. The olive oil factory tour was very informative and co-incided with the first day of crushing olives for the season so we got to try first press olive oil crushed within the last day. We saw spectacular views and quaint villages around the Lastithi Plateau, ate at a restaurant with mountain goat views snd good food. It was the highlight of our Heraklion stay.
Review provided by Viator
277rubyj
Nov 5, 2024
Wonderful history and every knowledgeable. - The most wonderful tour. You will NOT be disappointed!!! My daughter and I went and there were two other couples on the tour also.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
