Top Crete Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises

The Greek islands boast a rich history dating back to the days of antiquity, but exploring independently means missing the hidden secrets they hold. On this private tour of Crete, delve into the island’s colorful past with your guide—with round-trip transport from your Crete hotel or the port included. Travel back 4,000 years at the Palace of Knossos, and learn of ancient civilizations at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

Immerse yourself in one of Crete's ancient wonders on this private guided tour of the Palace of Knossos. Associated with the myth of the Minotaur and the labyrinth, the palace has thousands of years of history. Explore the archaeological site at your own pace with a private guide to learn about its rich lore and legacy.

Travel south through Crete’s scenic mountains on a full-day tour that combines scenic and historical highlights. Stops include St. Anthony Gorge (Gorge of Patsos), Kourtaliotiko Gorge, the Spili botanical garden, and beautiful Plakias Beach, where you’ll have time to swim and relax. Enjoy convenient hotel pickup and travel in a climate-controlled vehicle for comfort while exploring a quieter, less-visited region of Crete.

Elafonisi Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Crete—if not Greece and even Europe. But it’s on the other side of Crete from Rethymnon, a 3-hour car trip each way if everything goes smoothly. This tour takes care of the driving, picking travelers up in Rethymnon and its surrounds, and stopping for coffee in Topolia Gorge. Travelers have the chance to relax at the beach for about four hours.

Lace up your hiking boots for a guided walk through the Samaria Gorge National Park. With a guide, discover the trails that might be difficult to find alone, taking in the landscapes around the Tara River en route. It’s a long hike, with roughly six hours of walking time, but the route provides some of the most beautiful nature on Crete. Round-trip transport from Heraklion is included.

Located just off Crete’s northern coast, Watercity Waterpark is a family-friendly adventure destination full of wild water slides, rides, pools and games for young and old alike. There are over 30 attractions at Watercity, from relaxing jacuzzis to powerful hydro-slides, and this ticket gets you access to them all. And don’t get tied down to just one rigid entry time: with this ticket, visit Watercity at your leisure during its opening hours, from morning until early evening!

Get to know Crete by E-Bike The beautiful island will present itself to you from a completely different perspective. Crete consists of 85% mountains and thus the e-bike is the most suitable means of transport to travel the island in a sporty, but at the same time, leisurely way. You will drive through the touristically neglected inland with its endless vineyards and olive groves, visit old churches, small chapels and picturesque villages and experience the hospitality of the old and young Cretans up close, accompanied by a local guide.

Visit Elounda and ride a boat to Spinalonga Island on this day trip.  Travel to Elounda and cruise to Spinalonga in Mirabello Bay, where a Venetian fortress and old village once housed a leper colony. Explore the ruins where lepers were confined, and enjoy a swim and barbecue lunch. After docking back at Elounda, drive to Agios Nikolaos’ to see its harbor and reputedly bottomless lake. Pickup and drop-off from selected hotels included.

If you want to make the most of your limited time on Crete, get a skip-the-line ticket for the Palace of Knossos. With over 1500 rooms to explore, you’ll want to maximize your visit to the well-preserved labyrinth. Avoid the long line of tourists and exposure to the elements. Instead, collect your ticket upon arrival from a conveniently located operator.

Explore Crete on an all-day off-road tour with a personal driver. After a convenient pickup from select hotels, hop in a 4x4 and get off the beaten path with an informative private guide. Visit otherwise inaccessible parts of the island, take a refreshing swim at the famed Preveli Beach, and enjoy a delicious lunch included in the tour price.

See parts of Crete that tour buses can't reach on this 4WD off-road safari with hotel pickup and drop-off within 20 kilometers of Hersonissos. Visit the eerie abandoned village of Sfendili, drowned by the Aposelemis Dam, enjoy lunch with a view in a mountain village, drive across a river, and explore a sacred cave. Choose between private or small-group options to suit your interests.

Samaria Gorge, Crete's longest gorge, extends for around 10 miles (16 kilometers). As it's a 1-way hike, a tour is your only practical option for exploring it. This private door-to-door transfer service lets you walk and have lunch at your own pace. After your driver drops you at the head of the gorge, hike to Agia Roumeli Beach, then catch the ferry (own expense) to Chora Sfakion for pickup.

The hike down Samaria Gorge—a national park and biosphere reserve—is a challenging 10-mile (16 kilometers) journey to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, making the return journey difficult. This tour descends the gorge with a guide in roughly five to six hours and makes the return journey to the tour bus on a public ferry. Breakfast and admission to the national park are included, with convenient hotel pickup provided.

The Palace of Knossos, mythical home of the Minotaur, is Crete's top ancient attraction. Pair it with the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and the world's finest collection of Minoan art, on this full-day private tour from Heraklion with a stop at the Koules Fortress (Castello del Molo). Entrance fees are at your expense, and your driver is not licensed to accompany you around the sights.

Travelers interested in nature and ancient history and mythology will enjoy this small-group day tour of Crete’s Dikti mountain range. Enjoy sweeping views and discover hidden attractions. Look out for mountain wildlife, including eagles, on the Katharo and Lassithi Plateaus. Visit traditional villages with picturesque churches, and head underground to the Cave of Diktaion Andron, said to be Zeus’ birthplace.

Go off the beaten path and get a glimpse of Chania that most first-time visitors miss on a private tour of Crete’s countryside and Chania’s Old Town. You’ll enjoy the flexibility to tweak your itinerary as you travel between top attractions—including the Old Venetian Harbor, Firkas Fortress, and Chania Old Town—in air-conditioned comfort, without having to navigate.

Learn about olive oil, wine, and traditional village life in Crete on this private tasting tour from Heraklion. Begin with an optional visit to Knossos Palace, then sample fresh olive oils at a family-owned factory. Explore mountain villages, enjoy local wines, and optionally stop for lunch on the Lasithi Plateau. Return to Heraklion with included hotel pickup for added convenience.

Discover a side of Crete that few other visitors get to experience—and enjoy a more personalized way to travel—on this private, full-day Jeep safari tour. After pickup from your Chania hotel, head into nature and off-road as you drive through the White Mountains, spot the Samaria Gorge, and more. In between, visit wine and olive oil producers, discover a 3,000-year-old olive tree, enjoy a traditional local lunch, and more.

Set off from Hersonissos for the ultimate private sunset safari adventure. Travel in an open-top Jeep and access remote scenery and mountain routes that sightseeing buses can’t reach. Along the way, see vineyards, olive groves, and traditional Cretan villages. A highlight is a stop to watch the sunset from a spectacular viewpoint, followed by a tour of the Lassithi Plateau, and a delicious dinner.

Through this route you will discover the wild side of South Crete and will arrive at one of the best beaches of Crete with clear water Οur first stop is the village of Patsides where we will have the opportunity to know the way produced cretan honey will try traditional raki and local delicacies also we will admire the cretan Herbs and taste traditional flavors in jams and local delicacies! In the follow-through of a beautiful route We arrive at Archanes Traditional village where will have free time to know to admire the traditional architecture up close and to feel the hospitality After we will drive a amazing off road in asterousia and climb to an altitude of 850 meters Here begins to seem the wild side of South Crete and real landscapes are gorgeous and dreamy Crossing the beautiful gorge we find ourselves in one of the best beaches of Crete with clear waters Here enjoying an amazing meal and we get our swim

Southern Crete is full of beautiful remote beaches that are challenging to find without a guide. On this private day trip, take an easy hike through the Agiofarango Gorge to a fine pebble sand beach for swimming and beach lounging. Drive past vineyards and grape-growing villages along the way, and enjoy lunch before heading back to your hotel in Crete.

Visit the uninhabited island of Dia on a luxury yacht cruise and enjoy a nutritionist-designed healthy lunch with organic local produce, protein cocktails, and unlimited drinks as you cruise the Mediterranean. Set sail from Heraklion, and take in the views of the coast while you enjoy local grilled fish, wine, beer, and typical Cretan side dishes. Once you arrive at Dia, snorkel or swim in the warm sea, or sunbathe on the beaches or on deck.

Discover a side of Crete many visitors miss on this action-packed full-day tour. Admire the ancient Knossos Palace, visit a local pottery village, enjoy panoramic views of the Aegean Sea, and stop for a fresh taverna lunch with drinks. Travel in style and comfort aboard a Land Rover Discovery for a hassle-free experience.

Central Crete is home to ancient Minoan paths, plateaus, and caves, but without an off-road vehicle, it can be hard to explore the more remote parts. Take the stress out of transport planning and go on this Land Rover safari tour instead. Visit an ancient Roman aqueduct, the Aposelemis basin reservoir, Kastamonitsa village, Dikteon Cave—the birthplace of Zeus, Lassinthos Eco Park, and a local tavern for a delicious lunch.