All Inclusive Full-day Private Tour of Crete Villages from Chania
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Chania, Greece
- 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Venture away from the busy streets of Chania and spend a day exploring traditional Cretan villages on this full-day excursion. With a private guide, discover what makes Crete special as you learn about its ancient history, warm hospitality, and delicious gastronomy, and see its beautiful landscapes. Round out your day with a traditional Cretan lunch at a family-run taverna and a wine tasting at a local vineyard.
- Learn about the island’s rich history and culture
- Enjoy tastings of olive oil, coffee, snacks, and wine
- Tour the Ottoman Fortress and Gavalochori village
- A private tour means a personalized experience
What's Included
- Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle for a relaxing journey
- Private transportation, just for you
- Friendly, professional English-speaking driver and local guide (one person)
- Delicious Cretan snacks and lunch with local flavors
- Bottled water and refreshments throughout the day
- Olive oil mill tour with tastings of Crete’s famous “liquid gold”
- Museum entrance to explore Cretan history and traditions
- Coffee and/or TeaCoffee at a traditional coffee shop
- Monastery entrance fees
- Wine tasting at a local winery (or a delicious lunch at a traditional restaurant)
- All fees and taxes covered—no hidden costs
- Personal expenses
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
* In the case that your accommodation is in the pedestrian zone of the old Venetian harbor, we’ll meet you at the nearest accessible location for our vehicle. * The pickup and dropoff is included within 20km of Chania city center. Pickup and dropoff outside of this zone until the Rethymno city center will incur an additional surcharge.
Itinerary
1
Ottoman Fortress
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Kalyves
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Historical & Folklore Museum of Gavalochori
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Gavalochori
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Agios Georgios Monastery
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
6
Winery Dourakis
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour is designed to be inclusive and accessible for everyone. Our vehicle is fully adapted to accommodate guests with mobility needs, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable journey. Most stops, including wineries, olive oil mills, and historic sites, have been carefully selected for their accessibility, allowing every guest to experience the beauty and culture of Crete with ease. Please let us know about specific accessibility requirements in advance so we can ensure the best experience.
- Alcohol will only be served to guests aged 18 and older.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Jennifer_D
We went on a Mediterranean Cruise and Crete was our entire families favorite stop. Our guide Maris was such a delight. You can tell how much she loves her home and is quite versed on the history. She met us with homemade treats from her mother which was so unexpected and wonderful. The food we were treated two was fresh, beautiful and amazing. Our tour of the olive oil factory was so fun and we bought so many wonderful items here. We would highly recommend Maris for your visit to Cete!
Reviews
5.0
based on 80 reviews
Susan_B, Mar 2026
Maria is absolutely terrific. She is kind, knowledgeable, flexible and funny. She has a remarkable ability to adjust to her group. She knows the people at the stops and they clearly know, like and respect her. You will have a great day with Maria!
JOdi_N, Mar 2026
What an amazing day with our wonderful tour guide Maria. She was so friendly, knowledgeable and personalized our tour for us. The village meal was amazing we couldn’t believe how much food there was. We even got to take home some lemons and oranges from her own personal garden and they were so delicious! Highly recommended. 12/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your truly kind and generous review.
It was a real pleasure spending the day together and sharing local moments, flavours and stories from Crete. I am very happy you enjoyed the experience and the small treats from my garden.
I wish you many beautiful travels ahead and I hope to welcome you again one day on the island.
Warm regards,
Maria
Jennifer_D, Jan 2026
We went on a Mediterranean Cruise and Crete was our entire families favorite stop. Our guide Maris was such a delight. You can tell how much she loves her home and is quite versed on the history. She met us with homemade treats from her mother which was so unexpected and wonderful. The food we were treated two was fresh, beautiful and amazing. Our tour of the olive oil factory was so fun and we bought so many wonderful items here. We would highly recommend Maris for your visit to Cete!
Laura_M, Oct 2025
Our day with Maria was so special - she's incredibly welcoming and has a great sense of humor! My sister and I had so much fun seeing historical sites and experiencing Cretan culture with Maria's fantastic knowledge of history, traditions, and customs. The day went so smoothly thanks to Maria's careful curation of our stops - perfect!
Ilmillian_F, Sep 2025
This was the best thing we did on Crete! I wasn’t sure what to expect of this tour but I knew from previous reviews it would be a good one. Maria and her tour far exceeded our expectations. Every stop we made was well thought out. She took care of us as if we were her own family and showed us parts of Crete we never would have been able to visit. She was wonderful with my children but more importantly with my disabled mother. She made her feel welcomed and included. She even has a van that can transport a wheelchair (although we did not have a wheelchair it was special that this was an option). Everything is included in the price of the tour so you will not be hungry or thirsty. I will tell everyone I know who comes to Crete to book with Maria and if you are not sure about this just trust me- this is the tour to book.
Paul_G, Sep 2025
We had a wonderful day with Maria visiting interesting places in the hills behind Chania. We learnt a lot from her about family life and traditions of Crete.
Charles_F, Sep 2025
We had an awesome day with Maria. The tour covers so many aspects of the Chania area. The small villages are very quaint and great fun to visit. Maria has vast information about the island and very fun facts about Greek family life. It was a wonderful introduction to Chania life off the beaten path. We highly recommend this tour.
Kerri_C, Sep 2025
This was definitely one of the top excursions my husband and I have ever done. Our guide, Maria, was fantastic and we really felt like with got to see/experience the local villages along with the historical sites. Maria was great about explaining the history and the culture of the area. All of our stops were fun and interesting!
Victoria_E, Sep 2025
Maria is beyond amazing. We had a wonderful tour of Chania. The scenery and learning about the history was excellent. We saw a monastery, a fort, had a drink and treat in a local coffee shop, went to a museum of a traditional home, took a tour of an olive oil company and had a tasting, had a wonderful lunch and wine, tasting at a vineyard and saw downtown Chania. Maria could not have been more gracious. She brought us spinach pies and treats that her mother had baked. We got to see her little girls (het chickens). She has an amazing extended family and they all get together, which is wonderful.
It was an excellent day and highly recommend.
Joseph_D, Aug 2025
Maria was an excellent guide and customized the tour so that our two young girls were able to enjoy while the adults learned a bit more about the history of Crete. Highly, highly recommend this experience in Crete!
Jonathan_A, Jul 2025
What a fabulous chance of pace! We had a great tour through small villages in the interior of the island. Maria was a fantastic guide who took care of everything! Our trip to the fortress offered incredible views of Crete and the sea. Our trip to the winery included amazing food and wine, and a great tour of the cellar. We highly recommend this tour and Maria!
Brian_M, Jul 2025
What an amazing experience! Maria, our private tour guide, gave us a tour like we have never been on! She is so friendly and her knowledge of the Cretan history and culture was so impressive! The tour of the olive oil factory was so interesting as well as the tour of a typical Greek home. The monestary was a neat stop with rich history. We finished our tour at a local wine distillery and tasted several wines and finished with a gourmet Cretan dinner! So many opportunities for great photographs all along the way! Thank you Maria for making our day so special! Highly recommend!
Ken_S, Jul 2025
We had the best day! Maria picked us up on time at the cruise terminal and met us with local snacks as well as fresh baked goodies from her mom. The van was remarkably clean and she was an excellent driver who was very knowledgeable. She was able to keep us on schedule while also making sure we never felt rushed. We got an appreciation for the history and daily life of Crete. We thoroughly enjoyed everywhere we went but our favorite stops were the olive oil factory and winery. Since it was a private tour, we could go to smaller places that truly felt like we were hanging out with locals. The wines in the tasty were deliciously unique and we had probably the best lunch of our whole cruise. Our only regret is that we did not have enough space in our stomachs to eat is all. We don’t have enough good things to say and highly encourage everyone to book this tour! We can’t wait to come back, stay several days, and book another tour with Maria.
George_A, Jun 2025
Our guide, Maria, was amazing. Very knowledgeable, ultra friendly and communicated in English fluently. We had wonderful experience. Highly recommend this tour.
mary_k, May 2025
Our tour of Crete with Maria and Michilas was absolutely outstanding! They are such lovely, gracious people—you feel like part of their family from the moment you meet them. Their warmth, kindness, and deep love for Crete shine through every part of the experience.
We visited charming little villages off the beaten path, met wonderful locals, and enjoyed an incredible winery that was a true highlight. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, and we felt completely immersed in the authentic beauty and culture of Crete.
When I accidentally booked the tour for the wrong date, Maria handled everything with incredible grace. She quickly adjusted the schedule, arranged for her wonderful cousin Michilas to step in, and went above and beyond to make sure everything still worked out smoothly. Then, when Viator unexpectedly canceled our tour due to a credit card issue, Maria personally worked with us to reinstate the reservation and even allowed us to pay the day before the tour. She’s amazing.
We visited special little villages that felt untouched by time, met wonderful locals, and enjoyed an unforgettable winery. Every part of the day was thoughtfully curated and deeply authentic.
When I accidentally booked the tour for the wrong date, Maria handled everything with incredible grace. She quickly adjusted the schedule, arranged for her wonderful cousin Miklas to step in, and went above and beyond to make sure everything still worked out smoothly. Then, when Viator unexpectedly canceled our tour due to a credit card issue, Maria personally worked with us to reinstate the reservation and even allowed us to pay the day before the tour. She’s amazing.
If I could give Maria 10 stars, I absolutely would!
This was more than just a tour—it was a heartfelt journey, and we are so grateful to Maria and Michilas for making it unforgettable.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Dear Mary,
Reading your words truly touched me. Thank you — not only for this beautiful review, but for the heart you brought to the day. From the very first moment, it felt like we had known each other for much longer.
I’m so happy that everything came together in the end — even after the hiccups with the booking and Viator. Life doesn’t always go exactly as planned, but sometimes those little twists make the day even more meaningful.
Michalis also spoke so warmly about you both — and I couldn’t agree more. Kind, open, full of good energy… you made it easy to share the best of Crete with you.
Please know how grateful I am that you chose to spend your day with us. And if you ever return to this island, I’ll be waiting with open arms.
With all my warmest wishes,
Maria
Deborah_H, May 2025
We so enjoyed our tour with Maria. She was a lovely person and guide. So knowledgeable and attentive. We saw so much and ate so well. The village meal was delicious and the people wonderful. The villages tour was a highlight of our Crete experience.
Robert_H, May 2025
This was the perfect day for us to visit Crete while at port of Chania for the day on our cruise. Maria (owner) of Imable Travel met us at the port with water and homemade treats and she gave us a palate of options for things to see and do while only there for the day.
Maria was detailed in explaining all the sights she took us to. We visited ancient ruins, had beautiful scenic views, visited historic monastery and we chose to visit a working olive oil processing facility.
Good thing we did not have to worry about weight of our luggage because we purchased about 25 pounds of various olive oils & balsamic. So delicious and fresh!
Maria included a stop for lunch at an authentic restaurant for what we thought would be a light lunch and the hosts treated us to a multi coursed feast that was over and above any expectation we had. Delicious!
As we were finishing our tour, Maria escorted us through Chania's old town historical district to sightsee and some quaint shopping.
This was by far more than what we expected or could have hoped for. Was a beautiful day with a professional, friendly, comprehensive guide. Maria was the best and I would not hesitate in the least to recommend her services or to have her spend a day together again.
Maria can accommodate a small group to mid size group and her van is wheelchair accessible.
Was one of the best stops on our cruise and hope to get back again soon!
Dale_L, May 2025
Don’t miss this tour with Maria! She has a wealth of information about the area, easy to communicate with, and adapts the tour based on your choice of activities. We had a wonderful day in Crete with her!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words — it really means a lot!
It was such a pleasure spending the day with you and shaping the experience around what you enjoyed most. I’m so glad you had a wonderful time in Crete — I truly enjoyed our day together too.
Wishing you all the very best, and who knows… maybe one day we’ll meet again on this beautiful island.
Warm regards,
Maria
Martin_K, Apr 2025
Maria was a very knowledgeable and friendly guide I would highly recommend this very interesting tour.
Isabelle_B, Oct 2024
Typical cretan lunch and the Monastery and the view from the hill top Maria was an excellent Guide. She took the time to answer questions and ensured that the tour was conducted in a very relaxed and personalized way. Absolutely the best tour we've ever had with Viator.
Thomas_B, Oct 2024
We enjoyed the olive oil tour, monetary tour and winery very much. Maria made each stop memorable with a fabulous lunch at the winery.
Strinati_Y, Sep 2024
Our guide picked us up at the cruise terminal and showed us some lovely places that we would not have found on our own. She also brought homemade local treats for us to taste. Thank you Maria for a lovely day.
Maria_K, Aug 2024
We had an incredible day with Maria! She is a fantastic tour guide and so much fun to spend a day with. She cracked jokes with us while we were driving, explained the history of each place we went to and shared excellent recommendations for things to do and places to eat and drink on the island. We cannot recommend her tour enough!
Marjorie_M, Jun 2024
Maria was a wonderful guide! Incredibly warm and thoughtful and funny! Great stories and full of knowledge about Cretan life and its history. Everything was wonderful- from the museum to monastery to olive factory and the amazing oils and . Wonderful coffe stop with delicious food-butter beans amazing!! Winery was the perfect ending and the food! So many delicious dishes and of course perfect wine pairings! Thank you, Maria, for a memorable day! Happy name day August 15 and buy those chicken bonnets!!
Patty_C, May 2024
Maria is an exceptional tour guide. She spent so much time communicating with me before the trip in attempt to come up with an itinerary that would please our entire group and which took into consideration our limited time in Crete (we are cruise passengers). Maria gave us a an interesting tour of Chania Old Town and the Harbor and she took great photos of our group. She then brought us to a delicious wine and olive oil tasting at Anoskeli Winery. From there we toured the beautiful Gonia Odigitria Monastery which also had some nice views of the sea. Then Maria arranged for us to have a wonderful Greek lunch right on the beach in Kolymbari. Maria is so personable and knowledgeable. She cared so much for our comfort and brought along refreshing beverages and snacks (which many tour guides in our other tours did not do) including delicious savory pies that her mother had baked. It was like touring Crete with a family member. I highly recommend both this tour and Maria!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! It was truly a pleasure working with you to create the perfect itinerary for you and your family, especially with the limited time you had in Crete. I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour of Chania, the wine and olive oil tasting, and the visit to the beautiful Gonia Odigitria Monastery.
Sharing those moments with you felt like showing friends around, and I’m delighted that my mother’s savory pies added a special touch to your day. Your kind words about our time together mean the world to me, and I’m so grateful for your recommendation.
Wishing you all many more wonderful travels, and I’d love to welcome you back to Crete someday! My greetings to everyone.
Warm regards,
Maria
Danielle_S, May 2024
We had a wonderful day trip with Maria! From the big, air conditioned and wheelchair accessible van to the homemade pastries made by her mom for us, it was all great. We learned a lot and had a lot of fun on the way. The olive oil factory was our favorite, followed by the wine experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, and congratulations again on this new chapter of your life! It was truly an honor to be part of such a special trip for you both. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the day, especially the olive oil factory and wine experience – two of my favorite stops as well!
Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness, and I’d love to welcome you back to Crete for more adventures together in the future!
Warm regards,
Maria
Amanda_L, May 2024
One of a kind private tour of Chania! Maria was a fantastic tour guide and made us feel like family! We went to numerous places and ended the day with lunch at a beautiful winery! To top it off Maria’s mother made us some delicious homemade treats! I highly recommend this tour in Chania, can’t wait to come back!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your lovely review! It was a true pleasure showing both of you around Chania and sharing some of the island’s special spots. I’m so happy you enjoyed the lunch at the beautiful winery – such a perfect way to end the day!
I’m already looking forward to your return and can’t wait to explore even more of Crete with you and Kyle. Your recommendation means the world to me!
Warm regards,
Maria
Anonymous, May 2024
Maria was amazing. We learned so much about Crete and got to experience so much off the typical touristy stuff. I appreciated getting to learn so much about the Creatian way of life and getting to try some of the local favorites. Would definitely recommend this tour for anyone wanting a full day of great cultural knowledge and experiences.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review and for allowing me to be part of your family’s Crete experience! I’m thrilled to hear that you all enjoyed the cultural insights and off-the-beaten-path adventures. It was a joy sharing the local favorites and Cretan way of life with your family, and I hope the memories you made will last a lifetime.
I truly appreciate your recommendation, and I’d love to welcome you all back to Crete for more explorations in the future!
Warm regards,
Maria
hope_c, Oct 2023
I have been on many Viator tours over the past five years. This was by far the very best! Our tour guide, Maria, was outstanding. She took us to some of the most authentic villages in Crete. Villages off the beaten path that were so warm and inviting we didn’t want to leave. Her knowledge of the area is unsurpassed. She was prompt, friendly, knowledgeable and very engaging. Don’t hesitate book this tour!!!
Mark_S, Oct 2023
I could not recommend this tour more highly. First of all the communication with Maria prior to the tour was top notch. She gave us numerous options and different routes depending on our interests. She also minimized car time. If you want a private tour and have it catered to your tastes and interests than look no further.
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All Inclusive Full-day Private Tour of Crete Villages from Chania
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