Full-Day Land Rover Safari from Heraklion with Lunch
Recommended by 100% of travellers
Badge of Excellence
Crete, Greece
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover ancient Minoan history, Cretan farming culture, and magnificent island views on this full-day off-roading adventure from Heraklion. Travel in a rugged Land Rover along historic mountain trails, stopping along the way to visit the mythological Diction Cave, shepherds’ villages, the scenic Lassithi Plateau, and an eco park where traditional ways of life are still practiced. Replenish your energy with an included lunch and taste of ‘raki’ liqueur at a local tavern.
- Full-day off-road adventure from Heraklion
- Travel through the gorgeous Cretan mountains in a Land Rover
- Visit traditional farming villages and an eco park
- Stop at the Diction Cave, the mythological birthplace of Zeus
- Take in spectacular views of the Lassithi Plateau
- Learn about the history of Crete and the ancient Minoan civilization
- Includes lunch at a local tavern
- Small group ensures personal service
What's Included
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
- Driver/guide
- Lunch3-course lunch with unlimited wine
- Fuel surcharge
- Local taxes
- Bottled waterWith the Lunch bottled water and wine are included
- Greek Mytholgy Theme Park Entrance Fee 6 Euro
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We pick up from all hotels situated between Heraklion and Sissi
Operating hours.08:00
Itinerary
The adventure begins with morning pickup at your Heraklion hotel and a trip out of town in a sturdy Land Rover with a small group. Drive along the coastline and into the Cretan mountains, stopping first at the Aposelemis Basin Reservoir and an ancient Roman aqueduct. Journey on to the foothills of the Afendi Mountains for a hearty breakfast (own expense) and visit the forgotten village of Sfendili.
Follow an ancient Minoan path, winding through scenic mountain passes as your guide relates the history and myths of Crete. Get a glimpse into the local shepherding lifestyle with a visit to a mitato to feed the livestock and watch a cheesemaking demonstration. Next, snap photos of the Lassithi Plateau on the way to the famous Dikteon Cave, known as the birthplace of Zeus according to Greek mythology. If you like, pay a small entry fee and climb the rocky steps up to the cave.
After working up an appetite, break for lunch at a local tavern, where you can choose from traditional and vegetarian starters and main courses, served with wine. In the afternoon, observe traditional ways of mountain life and handicrafts at the Lassinthos Eco Park and the farming village of Seli, located on the Lassithi Plateau. Make a final stop in Krassi, known for its natural spring water and 2,000-year-old tree, before the scenic return drive to your hotel.
Follow an ancient Minoan path, winding through scenic mountain passes as your guide relates the history and myths of Crete. Get a glimpse into the local shepherding lifestyle with a visit to a mitato to feed the livestock and watch a cheesemaking demonstration. Next, snap photos of the Lassithi Plateau on the way to the famous Dikteon Cave, known as the birthplace of Zeus according to Greek mythology. If you like, pay a small entry fee and climb the rocky steps up to the cave.
After working up an appetite, break for lunch at a local tavern, where you can choose from traditional and vegetarian starters and main courses, served with wine. In the afternoon, observe traditional ways of mountain life and handicrafts at the Lassinthos Eco Park and the farming village of Seli, located on the Lassithi Plateau. Make a final stop in Krassi, known for its natural spring water and 2,000-year-old tree, before the scenic return drive to your hotel.
1
Sfendili
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Greek Mythology Thematic Park
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Lassithi Plateau
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Platanus Tree
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travellers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveller Photos
Featured review
Cuong_L
We had Yiannis as tour guide and he was excellent. He was very informative, funny and very accommodating, which made the tour enjoyable for everyone in the group. We definitely recommended this tour especially with Yiannis.
Reviews
5.0
based on 1,404 reviews
ALEX_A, May 2026
We had a great tour around the mountains and the Lisithi Plateau. Seeing goats, sheep, vultures, the oldest Plane tree, a tour around an olive mill. Lunch was included which was really nice. We were given time to wander around certain places and were offered Raki everywhere we went. It was interesting to listen to the history of the island and learned a lot and tasted some amazing cheese. Darryl our tour guide was really knowledgeable and made it fun. Thank you.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Alex, we're so glad you enjoyed your trip! Thank you for the excellent review. We'll pass on your praise to Darrel. Thank you so much! See you next time on a Safari Club tour. Sunny greetings from your Safari Club Team.
Karen_W, May 2026
Fun day trip with many view and tasting stops. Lunch was a chance to taste local foods. Lots of history of the area shared by guide Darrel.
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear Karen, thank you so much for your excellent rating! We are delighted by your kind words and hope to welcome you back soon to offer you another exceptional safari experience. Warmest regards!
Your Safari Club Team
Jayne_B, May 2026
This trip was so fun and informative. Our guide, Jason, was amazing. I highly recommend it. We had a variety of people with us and all were able to manage the trip. It's a rough ride in the truck and there are significant altitude changes along the way.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hallo Jayne_B, vielen Dank für deine tolle Bewertung und die Weiterempfehlung. Schön, dass es Euch gefallen hat. Mit sonnigen Gruessen. Euer Safari Club Team
Saul_S, May 2026
Excellent tour! We went to places that are only accessible to an off-road vehicle. The tour guide was terrific! He was extremely knowledgeable of the history, culture, fauna and flora of the island.
Response from Host, May 2026
Excellent tour! Excellent review! Thank you so much. There's always so much to discover and learn about Crete. Hope to see you again. Until then – have a wonderful time!
Your Safari Club Team
Susan_B, Apr 2026
The day was spectacular! We got to go places we would have never seen on our own. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and kind! He took us to lovely local stops!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for sharing your top notch review .
We're so glad you had such a great day. We'd love to do it again. See you again in Crete for another wonderful experience.
Best regards
Your Safari Club Team
Margaret_S, Apr 2026
Great once-in-a-lifetime experience with incredible views of Crete!! Lots of fun and excitement with laughter along the journey! The lunch was delicious and we truly enjoyed this safari!! Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for sharing your top notch review. We are happy to see that you enjoyed the excursion. We hope to welcome you back in the near future. Kind Regards
Your Safari Club Team
Erika_L, Mar 2026
We went off season in March 2026. Because of this, the shepherd and goats were not migrated back to the mountain. No cheese tastings, we just toured the structure. There was no goats to feed. We saw no other animals so calling this a safari was a bit miss leading. The taverna lunch was wonderful, we had the restaurant to ourselves. There was one other family with us in the vehicle, so 9 people in total. We were picked up first in Heraklion and drove about 40 minutes to Hersonissos to pick them up. I think it was on the way but it was extra time in the car on both sides. The driver has only 1 language spoken in the car to include all travelers. Travelers are required to change seats throughout so people arnt stuck in same car seats. Note this tour is driving up dirt/gravel roads to the top of a mountain, very close to edge with no guardrails. If you get squeamish I would not recommend this tour. The olive oil/raki tasting was fine, in a local bar that was a bit run down. We went to an olive oil factory the day prior that seemed a lot more official. The taverna owner was very kind to the children, giving them candy and oranges. Walked through an Eastern Orthodox cemetery. Saw an old village. Overall an OK day, but perhaps look at other options if off season.
Sherry_F, Mar 2026
Great experience! Awesome travel guide who was very knowledgeable about the area! We would recommend this trip
Miranda_F, Mar 2026
This day was PERFECT. We learned so much about the way of life and culture in Crete. Our guide made sure we were well taken care off even in the rain. Highly recommend anyone book this tour for an authentic taste of Crete!
Joane_W, Feb 2026
Nikos was a great tour guide! We had a great time with him. We learned a lot about the area and the Cretan culture. He was a great photographer too! Highly recommend!
Renee_P, Dec 2025
A wonderful small group experience. Great visit from pick-up to drop-off! Small group experience with 7 of us - fantastic guide (funny, welcoming, inclusive, felt like family!). Entire day was magical - would do it again if we ever make it back to Crete.
Christina_R, Oct 2025
Safari experience was lovely Kosta was knowledgable; only downside was we were in a mixed tour group with English and German, so it was difficult to communicate effectively. Nevertheless I would recommend it, the sites were beautiful, a lot of herbs on the route to smell, and a wonderful cave.
Alexa_V, Oct 2025
We had the best time on our safari, with your guide Kostas! He was SO funny, kind, and knowledgeable about anything and everything! Kostas made the trip the highlight of our vacation!
We loved being able to see parts of Crete we would otherwise be unable to on our own. The off road adventure was a thrill of its own! Being able to visit local villages, try their food and products, was also so special to us. Everyone we met was so hospitable!
We also loved our free time near the Cave of Zeus. Although the cave was closed, we chose to check out the Mythology Theme Park, which was very fun!
Thank you, Kostas, for being such a wonderful guide! We will never forget our adventure together!
gary_b, Oct 2025
A fantastic day seeing parts of Crete you may otherwise not see. Darryl our English guide was excellent throughout the day and highly knowledgeable.
Only warning I would give is that some of the roads (if you can call them that) can get rather bumpy.
Overall I would recommend this excursion to anyone
Ruxi_C, Sept 2025
Excelent driver, worst ever off road vehicle. Ancient car, no A/C, no shock absorbers and springs, terrible condition
jodee_r, Sept 2025
It was a wonderful day lots of history about Crete and the views were amazing. Lunch was wonderful too. Loved the goat farmer the best. Gary was very knowledgeable and had great corney wrote jokes
We would recommend it if visiting Crete
Regina_D, Sept 2025
Chris was incredible. He took us places we never would have seen without him. His passion, knowledge and all around positive and fun attitude made the day. We highly recommend him and this tour.
Darren_G, Aug 2025
This is one of the best excursions we did in crete. Yannis was our driver and provided excellent knowledge of cretes history whilst also being friendly and funny. All the places we visited were different and enjoyable, we brought some locally made cheese and the food provided was excellent...top tip is to bring some euros to buy drinks , cheese, souvenirs
Jennie_C, Jul 2025
A great day out. Beautiful views in the mountains, visited an olive factory, a shepherd and had a fabulous lunch at a tavern. Sadly the cave of zeus is closed so we were unable to visit. Tony was an informative, fun guide.
Alyssa_J, Jul 2025
This was a great day…. Coming back to tell you that the fertility tree worked! Exactly one year after we touched the tree, I went into labor with our son!
Jennifer_P, Jun 2025
We had one day to get the most of this area, we are so glad we booked this tour. We had a great experience with Costa. He is great at making us really understand not only the history but importantly the people and culture of the region. Don't be afraid to ask all questions.. they make for great conversations. The day goes fast and we loved walking the towns and meeting the locals.
Cuong_L, May 2025
We had Yiannis as tour guide and he was excellent. He was very informative, funny and very accommodating, which made the tour enjoyable for everyone in the group. We definitely recommended this tour especially with Yiannis.
Meg_M, Apr 2025
Amazing all day experience exploring the history and terrain of Crete. Visited a local village, learned about the tumultuous history of the island, and the impressive resilience of the Cretians. Our guide Daryl was funny, warm, and so knowledgeable about the island and its culture.
Stefan_S, Apr 2025
Christian was a fantastic tour guide. His stories and anecdotes were amusing and insightful. It's well worth the money, the lunch itself was a feast! We couldn't beleive it when after we stuffed food down us we were told the mains were coming, it's the first time i've been scared to eat more food. Very generous. We couldn't get into the Zeus cave but we went to a kitch theme park instead which was very charming and reminded me of being a kid again.
We felt safe the whole time despite driving on very bumpy offroads, it was so much fun.
Richard_B, Dec 2024
We had Kostos as a guide. Great personality and knowledgeable. Riding up the mountainside was great, stop for snacks in a small village, see goats and sheep, and stop for lunch. Well worth the day.
One con was that Kostos missed several key potholes; his driving was too good for the road.
Devette_S, Nov 2024
We booked this trip for October 9, 2024. We learned shortly before arriving in Greece the Cave of Zeus tour was closed, however, our guide Kosta more than made up for it!
We were picked up first, so from the very beginning he regaled us with his knowledge and history of his home; little nuggets of information that gave us a better understanding of Crete's rich history.
The island has so many hidden gems. We loved the random stops to see nuts, fruit, vegetables, even seasoning growing along the road. Feed the goats! We thoroughly enjoyed the fresh food and drinks served at lunch. They waste NOTHING, even leftover lunch was put to good use. Thank you for a memorable visit to the beautiful island of Crete.
Highly recommend this tour for couples, families, and groups! You won't be disappointed.
NOTE: if you're a taller person (above 6"): it can be a tight fit for the day in the jeep. Still fun, but if a full tour - tight!
Shaun_T, Oct 2024
Amazing views from up in the mountains and a brilliant tour guide with informative commentary.Excellent.
Stephen_G, Oct 2024
The cave of Zeus is closed for the next 18 months. That should be updated on the tour description. We knew it was closed only because we requested a wheelchair capable vehicle
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you very much for the 5 star review and the concern that other customers didn't get this information.
As you can't change the descriptions in the middle of the season, we informed every single booking going on the tour with us after 30.09.2024 that the cave is closed and that we visit the monastery of Vidiani instead. We hope we can welcome you again one day.
Your Safariclub Team
Robert_D, Sept 2024
George was an amazing guide and driver. He showed us the other Crete, far from the tourist spots along the coast. The coastal spots are justly proud of their beauty and history. The interior of Crete is a vision to behold. The topography is stunning. We got to meet a shepherd who makes goat cheese the traditional way; and we got to meet his goats. We saw a tree in Krasi frequented by writers like Niko Kazantzskis. And we got a history lesson on the struggles of the local inhabitants to simply live their lives. George was a wealth of knowledge on the various local views and customs when queried about a local spot. The off-roading was awesome. This trip was exactly what I was hoping for and more.
Jeanne_H, Sept 2024
We had a great trip touring around with Costa. He was an awesome guide, so full of energy and information. You could tell he loves his job and proud sharing his live of his home. Just the right amount of stops. Psychro cave was interesting, as well as the Minoan Trail. Goats were adorable. Lunch was very good. Highly recommend this tour.
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