Day Trips from Crete to Chania

See the crystal clear waters of Balos Bay on this memorable full-day trip. Travel to Crete's westernmost point before taking a boat over beautiful waters to Gramvousa Island. White sand beaches and turquoise seas await. Enjoy included hotel pickup and comfortable, air-conditioned transport with a local guide as you travel by bus to the lagoon, then relax and swim during an hour on the boat in Balos Bay and at Gramvousa Island.

Discover the captivating city of Chania, where Venetian architecture meets vibrant markets and picturesque waterfronts. Embark on a scenic journey to Kournas, a tranquil lake nestled amidst lush greenery, offering a serene retreat. Indulge in the idyllic coastal town of Georgioupolis, where golden sands meet the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean, perfect for relaxation and water sports. Lastly, immerse yourself in the enchanting streets of Rethymno, adorned with a rich history, charming alleys, and a Venetian fortress. Each destination in this magical route promises an unforgettable experience, brimming with culture, beauty, and adventure.

Swap Rethymno for a trip to one of Crete’s most beautiful cities—and make your sightseeing flexible and hassle-free—with this round-trip transfer service to Chania. Following pickup straight from your accommodation, enjoy a comfortable trip to the western city. Enjoy having the freedom of independent exploration time once you arrive, and opt to visit sights from the Venetian Harbor and Turkish Quarter to many historic churches and museums.

Discover scenic villages and dramatic gorges on this fully customizable tour of the Rethymno region. A typical day might begin with Spili village, the Kortialotiko Gorge and the Church of St. Nicholas of Kortialoti. Next, head to the Holy Monastery of Preveli and Preveli Beach with its natural palm forest. Finally, explore Rethymno’s Venetian old town. Your package covers door-to-door private guided transfers: meals and tickets are at your expense.

Check out Crete’s western sites on this day trip from Heraklion with your own private guide. You’ll explore with your own private guide, visiting picturesque villages such as Spili and Plakias, checking out sites like the Kourtaliotiko Gorge and the Holy Monastery of Preveli, and admiring Ottoman and Venetian architecture of Rethymno and Chania. Extra perks include coffee, and a hotel and raki liqueur tasting.

Explore the best of western Crete on this carefully designed Chania shore excursion, ideal for cruise passengers. Your experience begins with easy pickup from the dock, followed by a visit to Agia Triada Monastery. Walk the peaceful grounds, enter the church, admire its architecture, and learn about Cretan heritage and traditions. Next, continue to Stavros Beach, a scenic bay framed by mountains and known as a filming location for Zorba the Greek. Enjoy free time to relax by the sea and take in the views. The 6-hour excursion also includes a guided walk through Chania Old Town and the Old Venetian Harbor, followed by free time to explore independently. The tour includes: Guided shore excursion with port pickup and return to the ship Itinerary designed to fit cruise schedules Comfortable transportation and guided sightseeing Enjoy a balanced excursion combining history, scenery, and free time.

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.

Visit the most popular attraction of the island of Crete, the famous archeological site of Knossos, the capital of King Minos! In this half day guided tour you will have the opportunity to learn about the Cretan history, as well as to explore the new town!

Visit two legendary areas of Crete on this full-day tour from Rethymnon. Spend 3-4 hours of free time exploring the picturesque alleys and Municipal Market in Chania, considered one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. Then, spend about 2 hours of free time exploring Lake Kournas, the only freshwater lake in Crete, located in Mabamba.

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.

This is a private tour. Experience Crete from a unique perspective on this all-day Land Rover safari, combining mythology, culture, and authentic local flavors. Begin with a hotel pick-up in Heraklion and enjoy a scenic off-road drive through the eastern slopes of Psiloritis, Livadi Plateau, and Nida Plateau, with stunning mountain views along the way. Visit the legendary Idaion Andron cave, where Zeus was rased, and explore the resilient mountain village of Anogia with a traditional Greek coffee. The highlight is a hands-on cheese-making class at Psiloritis Shalet, tasting fresh local dairy and regional delicacies. The day concludes with a comfortable return, leaving you with lasting memories of Crete’s landscapes, traditions, and myths.

Discover the magic of Elafonisi Beach on a guided day trip! Enjoy pickup from select hotels in Kolimbari and travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach. Relax on the journey through lush landscapes, impressive gorges, and traditional villages. Our guide will provide you with insights about Crete and the stunning Elafonisi Beach. Upon arrival, walk along the pink and white sand, swim in crystal-clear waters, or unwind by the turquoise sea. Explore the sand dunes that are home to the protected caretta-caretta turtles. After 4 hours of relaxation, savor authentic Cretan cuisine in the charming village of Elos. Your return is scheduled around 17:30, to the pickup point. A day filled with breathtaking views, delicious flavors, and unforgettable experiences!Enjoy a unique trip to Elafonisi!

This private half-day experience blends Crete’s most beautiful beach with an authentic taste of local life. Travel door-to-door from Chania in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle with your dedicated English-speaking driver and an easy, flexible schedule. Unwind at award-winning Falassarna—turquoise waters, wide golden-pink sands, plenty of space for a relaxing swim—while we provide beach gear so you travel light. Then visit a family-run farm for a guided tasting of extra-virgin olive oils and pure Cretan honey with local bites, learning how these treasures are made. Admissions for the tasting are included, there are no forced shopping stops, and timing works perfectly for families and cruise passengers alike. Optional seaside lunch and extra photo stops can be added on request—enjoy a smooth, comfortable day that feels truly personal.

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.

Combine the best of a guided tour with independent travel on this full-day tour to Chania, Lake Kournas, and Rethymnon from the northeastern coast of Crete. Learn more about Chania and Rethymnon on a guided tour, then enjoy time to explore on your own. At Lake Kournas, enjoy included lunch items and a walk around the lake to take in the scenic views.

The bus will pick you up promptly from your assigned location and take you to Sfakia which is located in southern Chania. From there you will enter the boat that will take you to Glyka Nera. Glyka Nera it's one the most beautiful beaches in Crete. Its name stems from the fresh water spring that bubbles up amongst the pebbles. It is a spectacular beach with crystal clear turquoise water and rugger cliffs. Here you will have 2 hours free time. You then board the boat which will take you to Loutro. Loutro is amphitheatrically built above the bay where you can soak up the beautiful surroundings. Here you will have 3 hours of free time to eat in one of the many exceptional restaurants or take a swim and relax along the beachside. Our bus will be waiting to take you back to Rethymno.

Discover the Gorge of Imbros which is the second most popular gorge for walkers in Crete after the gorge of Samaria.The main reasons for this is that it is much easier to walk than Samaria. Secondly, the gorge of Imbros is easier to access and despite being much smaller in size than Samaria, there are some many spectacular sections.

Escape the typical group tour and experience Elafonisi your way. This is a fully private day, designed around you. We head straight to Elafonisi early, so you can enjoy the pink sand and turquoise lagoons before the crowds build up. You’ll have relaxed free time to swim, walk the shallow sandbar, and simply enjoy the open space. After the beach, the day becomes yours. Choose between the cliff-top Monastery of Chrysoskalitissa, a traditional village, a honey tasting, or a visit to a family winery. No fixed schedule. No rush. Accessible options are available. The beach offers pathways, and our vehicle can accommodate a wheelchair upon request. This is not just transport. It’s a private, flexible, locally hosted experience in Crete.

Explore the area of Rethymno, which also played a vital role during the Battle of Crete, both in the battlefield sector & during the evacuation of the troops towards Alexandria. After a short while, we make a stop at Kourtaliotiko Gorge, a gorge of impeccable beauty, being used for the evacuation of the troops during the battle. Our historian tour guide explains hidden aspects of the Battle of Crete and WW2 in Greece. After a while, we reach our main goal the Monastery of Preveli and the Palm Grove of Preveli which was used as an evacuating spot for the Allies during WW2. We make our way towards the artefacts of the monastery, and we understand its strategic spot, as well as learn about unknown myths and traditions of the Battle of Crete. We continue having a lunch break in a tavern that treats us with traditional Cretan specialities and delicacies, before reaching the Australian War Memorial in the city of Rethymno, and the HILL A crucial to the Battle of Crete on Rethymno side.

Apostolis Panigirakis, a certified historian specializing in contemporary history leads you through the evacuation route that ANZAC Troops took on late MAY 1941, after their retreat: We follow the troops until we get to their main evacuation port in Sfakia. In the evacuation that the Allies took during the Battle of Crete, thousands of ANZACs were safely evacuated towards Alexandria. We understand and comprehend the difficulties of the evacuation during WW2. In a short while, we arrive at a one-of-a-kind private war museum, with rare historical finds from the era of the Battle of Crete. Our specialized historian explains the history of WW2 in Greece and Crete. and the operation Mercury, as we prepare to descend towards the treacherous terrain and mountains towards the beaches and ports of South Crete. Finally, we reach the port of Sfakia, which was the main evacuation port and we pay our respects to the ANZAC war memorial.

This is a private tour with a 7-seater van for a maximum 6 guests (price is for 6 persons). In this tour we will visit a winery and olive oil factory. They have high standards of production, marrying the old traditions with modern technology and processing. In each location we will spend around one hour touring the facilities and tasting. Tastings are 25 euro each and not included in price of tour. We will enjoy stunning views, visit a 5000 year old olive tree and eat in a local restaurant. Optionally we could do beer tasting, visit Gonia monastery, Maleme airfield and the WW2 military cemetery. Tour times in each location can be modified depending on the travellers starting time and the date. No tours on weekends or holidays. Locations can be visited 1st April to beginning of November.

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.

Begin with a comfortable transfer to Elafonisi, Crete’s southwestern gem, where turquoise waters meet pink-tinged sands. Your knowledgeable guide shares insights into the island’s rich history as you pass through quaint villages, olive groves, and coastal panoramas. At Elafonisi, immerse yourself in the tranquility of the beach, lounging under umbrellas or exploring the pink sand scenery. Then, visit the historic Chrisoskalitissa Monastery, perched on a cliff overlooking the Libyan Sea, where Byzantine frescoes and the legendary golden step await. Enjoy a traditional Cretan lunch before concluding your journey with a leisurely transfer back, filled with cherished memories of this idyllic paradise.

Go off the beaten path and discover pottery, flowers, and a traditional Cretan village on this small-group tour. Discover traditional pottery making techniques at Margarites; explore a hidden valley full of orchids, tulips, and other flowers; and stroll around the charming village of Spili. Hotel pickup from many areas of northeastern Crete is included for ease.