West Crete Tour from Heraklion: Rethymno-Chania-Kurnas
Crete, Greece
- 9 to 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Conveniently join this tour outside your Heraklion hotel
- Avoid the hassle of hiring a car and driving on Cretan back-roads
- See and do more in one day than you easily could on your own
- Visit multiple sights and cities, all in a single day of travel
What's Included
- Information about the island and the route during the bus ride
- Pick-up from your hotel (at the specific tourist bus stop, outside of the hotel)
- Transfer with air-conditioned bus
- Additional insurance for tour participants
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Select your preferred tour option to see hours.
Itinerary
1
Lighthouse of Chania
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Rethymnon Old Town
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Lake Kournas
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- If an infant does not sit on lap in the bus, It is necessary to pay a child ticket.
- Pick-up from the specific bus stops next to the hotels. From Area 1: all the villages between Fodele, Agia Pelagia, Xeropotamos(West Heraklion), Area 2: Heraklion Center and East, Carteros, Kokkini Hani, Gouves, Gournes, Hersonissos, Stalida, Malia, Sissi.
- After booking we will contact you to arrange the pick-up. Please, note, if you do not provide your pick-up details up to 24 hours before the tour, we do not guarantee the pick-up. For pick-up from different location, please, contact us.
- Tuesday: English, German, French
- Wednesday: English, German, French
- Thursday: English, German, French
- Friday: English, German, French
- Saturday: English, German, French
- Sunday: Russian
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.2
based on 116 reviews
Adriana_G, Oct 2025
Both towns were great to visit. Wish the time at the lake was a lot shorter and more time Was
given to enjoy Rethymano.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your review!!
Marlene_M, Sep 2025
A lot of bus time like others said. Nice to see other cities however other than waterfront and fortress just more restaurants and shops. The one hour at the lake was a waste of time. Helena provides good info about the area. In order to ensure people don’t get lost returning back to the bus coordinates or a street name or something should be provided, and our van driver did not identify himself for pick up so he was just sitting there and we were just standing there and not realizing if there was a sign in the windshield it was covered by the wipers. It might be helpful if he got out and asked those waiting there or have some kind of a shirt identifying himself.
Dora_D, Sep 2025
The tour was advertised as an English Tour, the guide translated in other languages. I forgot what she said because of the distraction of other languages. They only took us to their favored restaurant for lunch and didn't mention others and discouraging us from eating in Chania altogether. The tour was only to go and drop us off in shopping districts. They should advertise as a shopping tour. We didn't see many good sites for photographs. In fact, a trip I took the least photos. The bus was large and not properly air conditioned. The seat in front of me was broken and it was almost on my lap.
Marcelo_H, Jul 2025
This is not a tour for those who want to deeply know each place, but works as a sample. Gives a nice taste and leaves you wanting more. which I guess is the intention. The time on each place feels short compared to the time in the bus, but I can't see an alternative considering the size of the island. I do appreciate the freedom to do whatever we want instead of running around without options. My only complaint is the multilingual approach. I do appreciate that they try to acommodate multiple languages and what is said is very interesting, but the amount of time it takes to go through all three languages feels awkward.
Susan_S, May 2025
Way too big a group, used a double decker bus. Took forever entering and exiting. No clear instructions for each stop. Would not recommend.
Terrence_M, May 2025
Exceedingly long day. 14 hrs!!!!
5 hours at the sites, 9 hours on bus!
Too many stops collecting and dropping off fellow travellers.
Lake not worth visiting!
Response from Host, May 2025
As you can understand, the distances in Crete are great since it's a large island, and the tour you chose is one of the farthest, especially if your accommodation is several kilometers away from the places you'll visit.
Next time, you can choose a tour closer to your accommodation.
Donna_S, Apr 2025
Although a bit confusing on pickup, the tour was very good. Unfortunately at the lake it was rainy and cold but you can’t choose the weather. With lunch at the lake there is not much time to see the lake anyway. If you are someone who wants to actually get out in the lake and swim or paddle around, I would suggest getting a quick bite to eat in Chania and you are at the Lake for just 1.5 hours. But it was a great day and great tour
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you very much for uour review!!!
Giby_V, Apr 2025
Good coach driver and tour guides.
Good information from tour guides.
Good time plans for each place.
Enjoyed the trip.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your review!!
Alison_T, Nov 2024
Very interesting and just the right amount of information - thank you so much for a wonderful guided tour of Chania, Rethymno and the lake.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!
Haiqing_Z, Oct 2024
There are sufficient time staying in each of three spots so you can walk around and eat in restaurant. Pick up service is so well arranged with very detail map and instruction provided.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!!
Stephen_M, Oct 2024
Enjoyable way of seeing the west of the island. Efficiently conducted with a good guide providing useful insights.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!!
Frances_Q, Oct 2024
An excellent tour with plenty of time at each stop. Elizabeth our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and talked about the history of each town. We had an excellent lunch above a lake.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!!
Christine_A, Oct 2024
Beautiful town of Chania overlooking water wandering through the town and eating fresh yiros /Gyros and swimming in the freshwater lake
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!!
Marisa_A, Oct 2024
Bus ride was a bit chaotic as the driver could not fit through the small streets of Heraklion and backed into a branch causing the window to break, bus ride was small and cramped and stuffy. However the destinations were beautiful, but plan for a very long day.
Selena_N, Oct 2024
Worth the money! Tour guide was very sweet and informative. Pick up and drop off we’re very convenient.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!!
Daniel_S, Oct 2024
Everything was perfectly planned, nice Staff, good story’s about Crete (history) on the road and enough time for sight seeing at every spot. Personal Tip for Chania: walk through the small alleys like they also recommend, but inform yourself before and try to see some nice hidden gems as well. Nice trip when you’re motel around Heraklion and you would like to have a chilled, guided day. Was very nice.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!!
Vandana_C, Sep 2024
The places seen were nice , especially Chania and Rethymno. It is a beautiful island and we had a good chunk of time at the various stops to enjoy the attractions and food.
Felt the guide could have been a little more engaging, but was fine overall.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you for your review!!
Keramy_A, Sep 2024
Our guide, Tania, did a good job explaining everything in both English and German and the visits to Chania and Rethymno were worthwhile as both were interesting to see. The lake at Kournas was less appealing as the natural beauty of the lake had been rather spoilt with too many pedalos and litter scattered about.
If going again I'd book direct with Cretan Odyssey as it was them who provided the coach and guide rather than MLB who are just a travel agency. MLB had to be chased to provide the voucher for our trip and they charged 14.5% more than Cretan Odyssey for the same product.
Julien_G, Sep 2024
Very nice tour and helpful guide who gave us many interesting information during the bus ride. Out of the bus we were independent, which is perfect.
Tip: if you want to fully enjoy each stop, bring your own food. We couldn't get on the lake because we ate there at the restaurant. The stops are too short to fully visit AND eat.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you very much for your review!!
Malika_O, Sep 2024
Very great excursion. Elizabeth is a very good guide. She is a expectional woman filled with happiness and joy.
Very good organisation. Pick up at time.
You can do it easily.
Malika
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you very much for your review!!
whogodere, Sep 2024
While staying in Heraklion I thought it would be worth seeing the west, the guide was informative without being overwhelming which I appreciated. The driver was excellent.
There was enough spare time in each city to explore on your own.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you very much for your review!!
Zissis_M, Sep 2024
In this trip we saw Chania and rythmnos. Absolutely fantastic, so pretty much we saw everything in two hours each and it felt like we’re there for the whole day rememberable fantastic and Emmanuel was just brilliant.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you very much for your review!!
Juan_I, Jul 2024
Chania, Lake Kournas, and Rethymno each have their own unique charm and are well worth the visit. Think of it as an appetizer if you are on limited time, and if you are ever able to return, you may want to spend a few days at each town to really get “the full meal”. This tour was perfect to give you a taste of what each town is like and hopefully you’ll want to return as much as I do!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!!!
Rosanne_J, Jun 2024
The trip is a great Crete sampler if you don't want to hire a car! We really enjoyed our time in Chania exploring the Venetian Harbour and in the centre of Rethymno. The stop at Lake Kurnas was okay but I would have preferred longer in Chania and Rethymno.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for your review!!
Lorine_S, Jun 2024
We liked seeing the countryside of Crete. The views were amazing. Chania and Lake Kounas appealed to us more than Rethymno. The itinerary said swimming at the lake would be last and that appealed to us. Swimming before lunch and quickly changing to get lunch was very rushed.
My husband and I were with our 13 year old grandson. By the time we joined the bus there were no longer seats near each other.
We weren't prepared for a bilingual tour. There seemed to be a lot of talking from the guide.
However, it was worth the time to visit Chania and see the countryside!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for your review!!
robert_l, Jun 2024
The towns of Remfinmo and chania were amazing…definitely worth the day trip. The views during the drive itself were beautiful with ocean vistas. Our guide, Elizabeth was very knowledgeable and shared a ton of interesting facts.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!!
Micheal_L, Jun 2024
Great tour to see some of the highlights of the island. Our Guide was very good. A long day, but worthwhile.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you very much for your review!!!
Abbi_B, Jun 2024
Great way to see the West area of Crete. We were based in Gournes with our transfer picking us up promptly from the main road. We visited Rethymno, Lake Kournas and Chania - it was great to see some Greek History. Our tour guide Eleni was very knowledgable and provided information throughout the whole journey and at the various stops!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for your review!!!
Hayley_S, May 2024
Had a wonderful day seeing the west side of Crete. Pickup was prompt and smooth and the drivers and guide were fantastic, friendly and knowledgeable.
Our guide provided the tour in both English and French. Perfect amount of time provided for each location, enjoyed the fact we had free roam, and the restaurants available in each spot were fantastic.
I will say it is a very long day with a lot of travelling, but well worth it - recommend taking the day after the tour to relax :)
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you so much for this detailed review! We are really glad you enjoyed this tour!!!!!
Beatriz_M, May 2024
The driver and tour guide were courteous, knowledgeable and welcoming. It was an amazing day of great sites and insights on the history of Crete and the towns visited. Highly recommend Cretan Odyssey tour company.
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you for your review!!!
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