Crete to Kera Kardiotissa Monastery

Discover Crete’s history, mountain landscapes, and local traditions on a private tour of Knossos Palace and the Lassithi Plateau. Travel comfortably between highlights including the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery while exploring ancient Minoan history, traditional villages, and regional gastronomy with the flexibility of private transportation. The varied itinerary offers a rewarding mix of archaeology, culture, and scenic countryside.

* Embark on this full day small group Tour or choose the Private Option so we can show you the real side of Crete . * Walk through the narrow streets of the old traditional villages , enjoy an iced coffee , mountain tea …… * Visit an olive oil factory , learn all about olive oil production and taste a few different ones . * Enjoy the ride with our comfortable air conditioned vehicles. * Taste a glass of Raki and some local wine while learning about local traditions, history, mythology and culture. * Visit The picturesque village of Krasi and the monumental Platanus tree . * Visit the Cave of Zeus , explore Lasithii Plateau, the Old Wind Mills and enjoy amazing views from the mountains. * Tasting a few local dishes is a must while in Crete .( OPTIONAL) * Experience the Greek Hospitality and create memories that will last a life time. * Pick up and drop off from your hotel or Heraklion cruise port .

*** ZEUS CAVE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE SEASON 2026 *** This is not just a sightseeing trip—it’s a journey into the quiet, authentic heart of Crete. We don’t follow the crowds. Instead, we guide you through mountain villages, sacred caves, peaceful monasteries, and working olive mills that still do things the old-fashioned way. You’ll travel in comfort with a local guide who knows the backroads and the stories behind every stop. From the taste of fresh olive oil to the shade of a 2,000-year-old tree, every moment is real and unhurried. It’s a tour designed for those who want to see **how Crete truly lives and breathes**—beyond the postcards and into its living soul.

Visit a olive oil factory where we learn all about olive oil production and we get to taste different kind of olive oil . Visit the village of Mochos and Krasi and walk through the old narrow streets, Enjoy a coffee at the main square. Visit the Cave of Zeus ( OPTIONAL) Enjoy the ride with our comfortable air conditioned vehicles while learning about local traditions, history and myths. Visit a family pottery workshop ( OPTIONAL) Stop at a family restaurant up on the mountain to taste a few local dishes ( OPTIONAL) Dive into the Minoan civilization while exploring Knossos Palace .( OPTIONAL) Experience the Greek Myth with us and create memories that will last for ever. We can customize the tour on your wishes and needs so just let us know. We can pick you up from Heraklion port and Region . From Agios Nikolaos Port and Region, From Elounda , From Rethimno Region we can pick you up only if you book the PRIVATE OPTION.

Take this trip to find out and enjoy a breathtaking view. Begin with a guided tour to the traditional olive mill and learn all about the process of olive oil production. Grab the opportunity to taste one of the healthiest olive oils, straight from the source of production. Continue with a visit at the theme park of Greek mythology and the Minoan civilization! It is an approach with the utmost respect for the Minoan civilization, Greek mythology, and rural life in Crete 100 years ago. After your exploration, optionally make a stop to Lasithi plateau to find the ideal place to relax. The orthodox Panagias monastery, is worth a visit. Admire the mesmerizing architecture in the stone-built Byzantine church. Lastly, we are taking you to the picturesque and charming village of Krasi. This traditional village is famous for its old plane tree, 2000 years old! Relax and recharge with a view; we are finally having lunch at a picturesque traditional tavern, with some wine and local dishes.

Don’t miss out on Knossos and Lassithi because you lack transport; this day trip includes hotel pickup and offers a convenient way to visit the sites and learn from a guide at the same time. You’ll stop for a lunch break in a Lassithi village, see the believed birthplace of Zeus, visit the Greek Mythology Park, and explore the Palace of Knossos. Entry fees are extra.

Start your day with a comfortable pickup with our fully equipped SUV vehicles. After meeting our professional drivers, your adventure begins! Our first stop is a traditional olive oil factory, where you will enjoy a guided tour and learn about the process of olive oil production and its importance to the Cretan lifestyle. Continuing our journey, we visit a preserved section of an ancient Roman aqueduct, a reminder of the island’s rich history. Shortly afterwards, the adventure begins as we leave the main road and start our off-road experience, driving through mountain landscapes towards the Lasithi Plateau. Upon arrival, we visit the legendary Cave of Zeus (Dikteon Cave), believed to be the birthplace of Zeus! Next, we stop at a traditional pottery workshop before enjoying a delicious lunch at a local taverna with authentic Cretan flavors. After lunch, we begin our relaxing return journey back to your accommodation, ending a memorable day of culture, nature, and adventure.

Lasithi Plateau is one of the few areas in the Mediterranean with permanent inhabitants at an altitude over 800 meters. It is surrounded by the Dikti Mountains and 18 quaint villages, which still retain the atmosphere of another era. Here you can visit the Dictean Cave with the fantastic stalactites and stalagmites, where according to the myth the father of the Greek ancient Gods, Zeus, was born. The next stop will be the famous village of Psychro, well known for its handmade ceramics. Tzermiado, the capital of the villages on the plateau, will amaze you with its natural beauty. Our last stop is monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, a monastery inhabited and run by nuns, which is located in an idyllic landscape. 10:15 Arrival in Dicteon Cave 11:45 Departure from Cave 12:20 Departure frpm Psychro - ceramics 12:40 Arrival in Tzermiado – Time for lunch 13:40 Departure from Tzermiado 14:00 Arrival in Monastery of Kera 14:30 Departure from Monastery 16:00 Arrival Heraklion

We will go to the largest plateau of Crete – Lasithi Plateau. It is called the valley of thousands of mills, the birthplace of Zeus. Our path will go to the east of the island. This picturesque plateau will amaze us with its magnificence. Today it is the largest agricultural center. Local citizens are actively engaged in growing: Vegetables, Apples, Cereal crops. The plateau attracts tourists with its picturesque landscapes and Original culture. Windmills It is one of the most prominent highlights of Lasithi. Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa. We will come over to the monastery of Kera –a convent founded in the medieval period. It gained great popularity due to the miraculous icon of God’s Mother. Zeus Cave On one of the slopes of Dikti, we will visit the famous Zeus Cave. According to one of the legends, it was here that the greatest god was born. Ceramics Center We cannot only communicate with the masters but also learn the secrets of making crafts and watch the work of the potters.

This is going to be a very busy day but very excited. This tour has everything you need to take a taste of Crete. It is suitable for visitors with the cruise ships also. I, with the help of the Experienced Licensed Professional Tourist Guide, who will be with you in the whole tour, Crete is an island full of treasures, you need a lifetime to discover. With the help of our Experienced Professional Licensed Tourist Guide, who will be with you in the whole tour, and admire the signs of all the different civilizations that stopped by the island through the ages . Then you will visit the Knossos Palace Get in touch with the Cretan History, the famous Cretan Hospitality, the Culture, the Cretan Cuisine, the base of the Mediterranean Diet. This tour is very flexible, being a Strictly Private Tour. With this tour you take back home nice feelings, beautiful impressions for a lifetime and you look forward to come back

A tour that includes both the Lasithi Plateau and the Palace of Knossos stands out because it blends nature, culture, history, and authentic Cretan life in one unforgettable day. Here’s what truly makes it unique: Two Completely Different Worlds in One Tour. Knossos Palace offers ancient history, Minoan legends, and archaeology. Lasithi Plateau gives you mountain scenery, traditional villages, fertile farmlands, and real Cretan hospitality. Few tours combine both—making this itinerary richer and more balanced. Deep Cultural Experience, Not Just Sightseeing You don’t only see landmarks—you interact with local life. Village stops, meeting locals, visiting traditional workshops, or tasting products from the plateau add authenticity you can’t get in standard city tours. Stunning Nature and Peaceful Mountain Landscapes After exploring the busy archaeological site of Knossos, the quiet, green and panoramic beauty of Lasithi Plateau provides the perfect contrast.

Private guided tour by an experienced local guide. a journey to history, flavours and traditions of Crete. Travel in style in a luxury air conditioned mini van. Honey and raki tasting included . A tour that suits all interests. Let’s create some unforgettable memories. Amazing moments you wil remember for ever .Don’t miss it book now!

See central Crete’s religious, mythological, and archaeological highlights in a single shared tour. Visit Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, the windmill-dotted Lassithi Plateau, and a traditional pottery workshop before exploring the Greek Mythology Park with wine and olive-oil tasting. At the Palace of Knossos, a guided visit introduces the 5,000-year-old Minoan civilization, legendary labyrinth, and Minotaur. The itinerary includes views over the Pediada Plain and time for an optional lunch in a traditional village tavern.

Check off Lassithi Plateau and several area highlights all in one day on this convenient tour. Instead of waiting around for taxis or dealing with fussy car rentals, enjoy hassle-free pickup from many areas of northern Crete. Travel in comfort between the sights, including Kera Kardiotissa Monastery and the Cave of Zeus, in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Combine the highlights of the Lassithi Plateau with Knossos Palace on this full-day sightseeing tour. See the windmills of Lassithi, admire traditional pottery making at Psychro, explore Dictean Cave (said to be the birthplace of Zeus), view the traditional architecture at Tzermiado, and visit the Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, before finishing the tour at Knossos Palace.