Top Crete Cultural Tours - page 3

* 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 .

Although Heraklion is the perfect base to see Crete’s cultural and architectural heritage, it’s not the only part of Crete that is worthy of a visit. On this full-day tour, discover two of the prettiest cities in Western Crete—Chania and Rethymno—and immerse yourself in some of the island's loveliest scenery. Admire the White Mountains, visit Lake Kournas, and learn all about local history and culture as you explore.

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.

Step aboard the 'Mikros Naftilos' for a private cruise to the islands of Gramvousa and the Balos Lagoon. With a well-established local operator as your skipper, you'll relax on a carefully planned route that showcases the area's coastal highlights. Enjoy a lunch of regional dishes and unlimited drinks as you cruise, and stop for cool-down dips in the sea along the way.

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

Save time by visiting Santorini from Heraklion on a speedy sea jet vessel, a journey of just over two hours each way. Tour the beautiful island by bus, enjoying free time to explore at each stop. Visit the towns of Oia and Fira, where you’ll find some of Santorini’s most iconic vistas, and opt to take a boat trip out to the volcano in the bay if you like.

Get to know Chania without crowded tour buses or rowdy groups on this private half-day sightseeing tour, direct from your Chania area address. Walk through the historic buildings and charming streets of the city’s Old Town and immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the Municipal Market. Out of the city, take advantage of some hilltop photo opportunities then explore the Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada Monastery).

Elafonisi sits at the far southwest tip of Crete, a long drive on winding roads that puts many self-drivers off. Get driven there and back instead, with the route handled so you can spend the day on the beach rather than behind the wheel. Walk the pink-tinged sands and swim in the shallow, clear water of this protected reserve. Enjoy local product tasting included in the tour.

The best way to explore Crete is by boat, and this half-day cruise from Hersonissos visits St. George's Bay and the small towns of Malia and Stalis. Set sail aboard a traditional pirate ship, ideal for younger travelers; stop to swim and snorkel at the island’s beaches and bays; spot dolphins and sea turtles along the coast; and tuck into a delicious BBQ lunch on board.

Staying on Crete doesn't mean you have to miss out on visiting Santorini, though it can be difficult to do independently. This day trip makes it easy to check out the famously beautiful Cyclades island, with round-trip coach and ferry transport from Crete, along with preplanned visits to Oia and Fira. Ample time for beach lazing and sightseeing is factored in.

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.

With its sheer walls and tight passageways, the Samaria Gorge is one of Crete’s most striking natural wonders. With this tour, all the logistics are taken care of so all you need do is complete the challenging 10-mile (18-kilometer) hike. Set off from Chania in early morning and arrive at the trailhead ahead of the crowds. After the guided hike, board a boat back to Chora Sfakion, then a bus back to Chania.

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.

Explore Crete’s mountains and countryside by Polaris ATV (all-terrain vehicle) on a 4-hour buggy expedition from Rethymno. Traveling on- and off-road, rumble up mountains and through gorges and shallow rivers to experience the island’s wild side. Pause for photos, visit medieval villages, look for wildlife, and stop for snacks, including coffee at a lakeside coffee house. Choose a morning or afternoon departure, with equipment, instructions, and central Rethymno or Rethymno hotel pickup included.

Maximize time in Crete with a half-day private tour of Chania and its surroundings. Get picked up at your hotel or chosen location in Chania and set out on a sightseeing tour focused on local history and heritage. See top landmarks including the Old Venetian Harbor, Lighthouse of Chania, Firkas Fortress, and Hassan Pascha Mosque. Get to know Chania's Old Town and the many cultures that influenced its character.

Set sail on a semi-private catamaran cruise from Heraklion to Dia Island for a day of sea, sun, and swimming. Your journey begins with a warm welcome featuring coffee and local pastries. Enjoy stunning coastal views, refreshing sea breezes, and unlimited drinks as we sail. Upon reaching Dia Island, anchor in a secluded bay to swim in crystal-clear waters before indulging in a freshly prepared Mediterranean lunch onboard.

Starting early, heading west, we reach the port of Kissamos. Here we take our boat for approximately a 1 hour pleasant sail along the coastline. Arriving in the port of the ex­-pirate island of Gramvousa we hear how, during the Turkish occupation, the residents of the island started looting passing boats thus giving the island its pirate reputation. Don’t miss out on a visit to the Venetian castle on top of a steep rock as this is one of the most impressive castles in Greece. There is plenty of time for swimming or lunch on board. Our boat then departs for the Blue Lagoon of Balos, a shallow and warm water lagoon which brings to mind similar lagoons in the Caribbean. You will be disembarked at a distance of 50 meters from the shore according to the Law , as there will be no approach pier. Balos is one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world. Enjoy a fantastic swim and relax for approximately 3 hours before boarding for the return sail. An experience to remember a lifetime !

From the Knossos Palace to the 2,400-year-old plane tree in Krasi Village, the Lasithi Plateau is home to some of Greece’s most historic sights. Combine a walk through history with a cultural adventure on this full-day private tour. Visit olive groves, pottery studios, traditional villages, and the legendary Cave of Zeus with a 1-hour stop while sampling traditional Cretan foods, olive oil, and wine before exploring archaeological marvels at Knossos Palace.

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.

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.

See the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Palace of Knossos more intimately on a small-group walking tour, and learn more than you would wandering around alone. Explore the palace without the rush and bustle of larger sightseeing tours, and catch all the commentary about ancient Knossos and Minoan Crete. The tour includes a skip-the-line ticket for quicker entry, plus an optional guided visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum to complete the Minoan experience.

Visit the family home of a local Cretan for an evening of cooking, eating, and cultural exchange. Begin your visit in the vegetable gardens, where you harvest ingredients to use in your recipes. Learn traditional dishes from your hosts, hear the stories behind each, and taste local cheeses. Enjoy views of the Aegean Sea and the mountains, then sit down to a meal you helped prepare, paired with local wine.

The volcanic island of Santorini lies north of Crete. And this daytrip by fast cat is a great chance to take a close-up look at it. Curved around a colossal, sea-filled caldera that was formed by a massive volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago, it's all black cliffs, whitewashed villages and blue-domed churches. It's picture-postcard Greece. Once you're on dry land, you'll take off on a scenic tour, exploring many of the island's attractions and learning about its history. Explore a town where whitewashed houses, cobbled streets and tavernas cascade down the cliff-face in steep terraces. You'll spend about 90 minutes in Oia – the village with the most magnificent views on Santorini. From its lofty clifftop perch, the panorama over the volcanic caldera is pure wow-factor. Then it's on to Fira, the island's capital. You'll have an hour or so to snap up treats in the quaint shops and boutiques.

Getting to know the real Chania isn't always easy—but on this private, half-day tour, your guide will help you discover its local charms. Enjoy a cafe visit with a view; next, head to a winery for a sommelier-led indigenous wine tasting. Then it's on to Old Town Chania, where you'll go for a walking tour, visit a local restaurant, and enjoy a range of Cretan delicacies, from breads and cheeses to pastries and beyond.