Top Crete Day Trips - page 23

This was one of the highlights of our stay in Crete. Loved the cooking, wine and honey tasting and very generous with a variety of different foods and wine. Made more special by a smaller group and lovely conversations with our guide Kostas and Maria, with some gems of knowledge and history. We were made to feel so welcome in beautiful surroundings. We all had a great time, very interactive and really full at the end! Opportunity to purchase some products if you wished and also received a gift each as well as a prize for winning the quiz!

This is a great excursion especially if you don't want to drive the rough road yourself or hike down to Balos in the heat. Yiannis was an experienced and informative driver. We took great pictures of Balos Bay and then had a relaxing afternoon at Falasarnna beach. The day ended with a nice lunch at the beach tavern.

Kostas was a great tour guide. We took his private tour of East Crete. He was friendly, talkative and very knowledgeable. He took us to an olive oil factory, Zeus Cave, Knossos Palace and many other sites. The tour seems to be customizable, so let him know if there are specific sites that you wish to see. The tour included lunch at a traditional Cretan restaurant and was amazing. Kostas also had traditional Cretan treats for us to try at each stop. I would definitely recommend this tour.

1. Our guide, Michelangelo (Mikel) had a great sense of humor and knowledge of Cretan history. The guides are integral to the entertainment of the tour, as they narrate and demonstrate each stop on the way. 10/10 for our guide. 2. The stops include views of beautiful mountain, lake, and ocean vistas for photos. Because there were only 8 people in the Land Rover, we had time to take a lot of photos. Our guide also took photos for us. Most of the vistas were isolated. We don’t have to compete with other tourists for the best spot. 3. First stop was to a traditional farm house to sample homemade raki, goat cheese, bread and olive oil. We got to grind wheat in a grindstone and milk a female goat. 4. The best stop of all was to see Zeus’ Cave. The entrance fee of €15 is not included in the tour price. The line to pay at the window took about 5 minutes. One had to hike 15 minutes uphill to the to the entrance. Once inside, there are well-constructed steps (200 down, 200 back up) and railing for the large cave. The visit takes about 10 minutes. Outside of the hills are also nice cafes and souvenir shops selling local crafts. 5. Lunch at a taverna in the mountains was simple but very tasty. I elected for a baked 1/4 chicken with lemony potatoes, Greek salad, green beans, bread with olive oil, and local red and white wine. The off-road experience in an old Land Rover jeep was a lot of fun, but the car did not have air-conditioning. We were picked up at our hotel at 8 AM, and picked up two other groups before starting the journey. We were home by 4 PM. One other annoyance was that as I tried to book this tour, I was unable to use my Viator credits. Viator also did not respond to my email or text inquiries.

Can’t say enough good things about Maria and this tour. Go read all the five star reviews and believe them. She was our favorite guide of the vacation, and took us to a cafe, cultural museum, monastery, ottoman fortress, olive oil factory and winery. Maria effortlessly blended facts, legends, and modern observations about Crete, its people, the food, and culture. The day was about eight hours long, and despite everything we did, never felt rushed, and certainly never bored. Miss you already Crete, and Maria! Would give more than five stars if allowed.

Booked the VIP experience which had reserved loungers in the sun and reserved seats under the shade which was definitely worth the upgrade. Crew was great and Alfonso our host was the best! Most boat tours I’ve been on had just small snacks but this trip had coffee and breakfast offerings right at the beginning, meats, cheese and bread in the middle, an amazing fully cooked Cretan meal with shrimp orzo, Greek salad, stew, and chicken and then light snacks and fruit at the end. Lots of offerings at the bar as well. The beaches were so beautiful and the deep water was stunning. Probably our best day trip boating experience we’ve ever had. Tip them well!!!!

The experience was wonderful! Our driver to Balos was excellent. And the crew on the catamaran was amazing as well. We had a beautiful day of swimming , snorkeling and beach time and of course relaxing on the boat! Lunch was delicious too. Highly recommend this tour.

Kostas rolls out the red carpet for his guests! Having a luxurious Mercedes van with a table inside to leave our belongings in while we explored was so convenient. He took us to places we wouldn't have known about. We were able to drink fresh water from a local spring and eat the most amazing meal with a beautiful view. He also took us to an alternative cave, which my son really enjoyed, since Zeus was closed. He's a fantastic driver (how he maneuvers his van in such small spaces is a resume worthy skill) and he provides snacks at almost every stop! These aren't your average snacks either. They are homemade by his mom. In addition, he leaves you with parting thank you gifts of his families honey and some tea! I highly recommend his tour. It was fantastic!