Top Crete Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises

Combine a visit to the only freshwater lake on Crete with tastings of local olive oil on this private tour. Travel by private vehicle to Lake Kournas, where you can swim or enjoy a pedalo ride. Then visit a family-owned olive oil factory to sample products and learn about their production. This tour lasts about 6 to 7 hours, offering a relaxed pace and personalized experience.

Exploring the hidden coves and protected wildlife areas of Dia Island can be tricky without local knowledge. Save research time and get out on the water with this small-group sailing adventure. Get top tips from the crew on where to find wild goats, monk seals, and how to recognize different fish species. After working up an appetite, enjoy a delicious organic lunch with local specialties. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience.

Get a taste of traditional Cretan life by setting off on this off-road 4WD adventure to local villages off the usual tourist trail. The tour introduces you to a local shepherd who shows you how cheese is made, followed by foraging wild herbs, wandering lush vegetable gardens, and creating ceramics at a pottery studio. Cooking classes and a tasty local lunch with wine and water are included.

The Samaria Gorge is one of Europe’s longest canyons and a must-see attraction when visiting Crete. This full-day tour takes you on a hike through the gorge to admire its soaring cliffs and narrow passageways. At the end of the gorge, you are rewarded with a refreshing dip in the cool waters of Agia Roumeli Beach. Then, take the ferry to the port before returning to Chania by bus.

Instead of tying yourself to a large group tour with a rigid itinerary, take your time exploring the ancient Minoan capital of Knossos with this private audio tour. Visit the remarkable Palace of Knossos and many other highlights of this archeological site, including South Propylaeum and the West Magazines. Leave the guidebooks behind and learn about the culture and lifestyles of people living in Minoan Crete from your audio guide.

Don't waste time waiting around on vacation—this guided tour of the Palace of Knossos includes skip-the-line tickets for hassle-free entry. Listen as your guide tells you tales of the mythical Minotaur and other ancient legends, and see the ruins of one of Europe's oldest civilizations.

Go to hidden-away corners of Crete few travelers get to see with this guided all-terrain vehicle tour. Follow your guide off-road to quiet tracks far from the traffic and crowded resorts. Explore the near-abandoned ghost village of Achlada, where only a few locals still live, and Fodele, the birthplace of El Greco.

Keen foodies, and anyone who enjoys a good craft beer, will love this evening tasting tour of Chania. Timed to coincide with the beautiful sunset, this small-group walking tour will guide you through Chania’s Old Venetian Port. Learn about the local culture and cuisine with a food and Greek craft beer pairing session and plenty of samples. Ideal as the start of an evening out in Chania, or as a standalone activity.

Discover Crete by water with this private boat trip to Balos Lagoon. Climb aboard a boat for a scenic excursion in the Mediterranean Sea to Gramvousa Beach. Go snorkeling off the boat with provided equipment or swim and sunbathe. The itinerary and tour length can be customized according to your individual interests.

Maximize time in Crete with a full-day combination guided tour. Get picked up at your hotel and set out on a coach sightseeing tour focused on archaeology and culture. See popular landmarks including the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, Dikteon Cave, and the Palace of Knossos. Admire panoramic views from Seli Ambelou Lasithi Plateau, visit an olive oil factory, and go inside a ceramic workshop to see a potter at work.

Visit the former leper colony and Venetian fortress on Spinalonga Island during this private tour. Sail to this rocky island, and explore the streets, houses, and ruined Venetian fortifications where lepers were confined from 1903 to 1957. Then, relax with a swim stop and barbecue lunch before cruising back to port. Return coach transport, the boat ride to Spinalonga, and select hotel pickup and drop-off in north-coast resorts included.

Spend a day at Acqua Plus, the most popular water park on Crete. The park is divided into two sides, one for all ages and one for adults only. Facilities are clean, well-run, and safe, with multiple lifeguards on duty at all times. In addition to the many games, slides, and water rides inside the park, there is a beautiful garden in the center with Cretan flowers and trees, exotic flowers, weeping willows, palm trees, bougainvilleas,  French marigolds and more greenery, making for a nice escape form the heat and sun.

Learn the flavors of authentic Cretan cuisine during a private cooking class in a traditional village outside Heraklion. Prepare local specialties including dolmadakia and lamb with artichokes before sitting down to enjoy a homemade multi-course meal paired with local wine. The peaceful countryside setting adds an authentic backdrop to this hands-on culinary experience.

Visit some of Crete’s best beaches without having to drive yourself on a guided day tour from Rethymno. You’ll head to Preveli Beach on the island’s south coast, where you can swim and relax on the sand. On the way, stop at Kourtaliotis Gorge to admire waterfalls and springs, noting an entrance fee applies. Refuel with a traditional lunch in Plakias (at your own expense).

Get out on the water on the Black Rose Pirate Boat. After pickup from your hotel, board the boat at the port of Hersonissos. Cruise out to Agios Georgios Bay for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. Refuel with the included lunch then head to Stalis Beach for a second swimming stop. Onboard, children can enjoy face painting and other activities.

Visit the beautiful beach of Falassarna on this private van tour from Chania. Avoid the hassle of renting and driving a car, and let a personal driver take you to and from your accommodation to the long, sandy beach. Once there, enjoy plenty of free time to walk on the beach, build sand castles with the kids, participate in water sports, and more.

Relax on the paradise-like island of Elafonisi on this family-friendly day trip. Admire western Crete’s hills and traditional villages on a drive to the southwest coast, and stop for coffee at the Cave of Agia Sofia. Then, spend the afternoon on the idyllic protected islet of Elafonisi, enjoying its pink sands and clear seas. Includes round-trip transport plus select hotel pickup and drop-off.

Escape the tourist trail and spend a day exploring off the beaten track beauty near Georgioupolis. By traveling in a Land Rover, you’ll be able to access off-road sites that you wouldn’t discover otherwise. Visit incredible archaeological sites, traditional villages, and secluded beaches. If you work up an appetite, you won’t have to research where to eat as a delicious lunch in a family tavern is included. The tour will also take you to a winery, an olive oil factory, a castle, and multiple historical sites.

This day trip from Crete packs a lot into one tour. Visit the suburbs of the Chania area and taste local products such as olive oil on freshly baked bread and Cretan biscuits. Plus, have lunch in a kafeneio (traditional Greek coffeehouse) where you can hang with the locals and experience the real Crete.

Explore Chania's Old Town on this PRIVATE walking tour with a local guide. See the city’s impressive 14th-century harbor and 16th-century lighthouse. Learn about Crete’s Venetian, Egyptian and Ottoman influences as you stroll through narrow streets filled with vendors and markets. You’ll also visit historical landmarks and sample local coffee and food along the way.

Join a small-group sailing adventure from Heraklion to the beautiful, unspoiled Dia Island. With a maximum of 10 guests on board, you’ll enjoy a relaxed, semi-private atmosphere as you cruise along Crete’s stunning northern coast. Swim in crystal-clear waters, snorkel, try paddleboarding, or simply relax and sunbathe on deck. Enjoy a freshly prepared Cretan lunch including seafood or vegetarian pasta, Greek salad, and fruit salad, paired with unlimited local white wine, beer, soft drinks, and water. The friendly local crew will make you feel at home, sharing stories, laughs, and even singing to dolphins if they appear! Choose to meet at Heraklion Port or add optional transfers from nearby areas like Malia, Hersonissos, Analipsi, Gouves, and more. Whether you're traveling solo, with a partner, or in a group, this is a truly authentic and unforgettable way to experience the sea, nature, and heart of Crete.

Explore the Cretan coastline from a standup paddleboard on this guided tour around beautiful Marathi Bay. After a short instruction and safety lesson, head out into the bay, exploring smaller islets, diving spots, and a small cave system along the way. Stop from time to time to swim with the marine life or catch your breath on the beach. This tour is good for all ages and experience levels, a great way to enjoy time with friends and family on the water.

Get an up-close look at the blue waters of the Mediterranean, without so much as getting your face wet, on this semisubmersible trip around Agios Nikolaos' Mirabello Bay. Watch out for fish and maybe even sea turtles as you listen to the audio guide commentary in your choice of five languages. For the second half of the tour, come up to the upper decks for glorious views of Agios Nikolaos and the Cretan coast.

Skip crowded beaches and sail to uninhabited Dia Island or St. George Bay (dependent on tour option selected) on this intimate, small-group cruise, limited to just 10 guests. As you journey across Cretan waters, listen as your captain shares history and local secrets about the area. Upon arrival, enjoy free time to swim, snorkel, fish, sunbathe, or stroll to a charming church, before savoring a freshly prepared Cretan meal and included drinks. Choose between a 5-hour daytime trip with two island stops or a shorter 3-hour sunset cruise to St. George Bay.