Day trip to Rethymno, Chania & Kournas lake
Heraklion, Greece
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
If you like to explore independently but prefer to avoid self-drive, this western Crete tour is ideal. Cover ground you couldn’t hope to cover on public transport and save yourself more than four hours’ driving when you book this convenient trip to historic Rethymno, Venetian Chania and Lake Kournas, Crete’s only freshwater lake. A guide accompanies your bus but you’re free to discover each stop at your own pace.
- Wander the gorgeous Venetian architecture of Rethymno and Chania old towns
- Swim in or stroll by the clean, clear waters of Kournas Lake
- Includes hotel pickup and drop-off in the Heraklion area for convenience
- Guide can troubleshoot and provide travel advice if required
What's Included
- Pickup and Drop off
- Transport by air-conditioned coach or minivan
- Guide
- Food & Drink
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pickup and Drop off provided from the areas of Sissi, Malia, Stalida, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Analipsi, Gouves, Gournes, Kokkini Hani, Karteros, Heraklion, Amoudara. Pickup time depends on the location of the accommodation hotel. The exact pickup time and location will be sent via email.
Itinerary
1
Rethymnon Old Town
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Lighthouse of Chania
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Lake Kournas
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Food and drinks are not allowed on board the vehicle.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.9
based on 54 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Eoin_M, Jul 2026
Be prepared to do a bit of walking and pack some water for the trip too. Bring some togs with you and sun cream.
Myles_B, Jun 2026
Plenty to see and enjoy at each of the three stop and on the coach. Lots of great information given along the way and good guidance at each stop. A great day out.
MicheleJohn_W, May 2026
This was a superbly organised tour to the Chania region with three stops which gave plenty of time for sightseeing, shopping or eating. The tour was expertly conducted by Michael who spoke to the tour in three languages, English, French and German, thoroughly enjoyable.
Brian_J, May 2026
Our 9 hour trip ended up being 15 hours!! No eating or drinking allowed on the vehicles. Chania and Rethymno were beautiful, but 3 hours in the two towns was not worth 12 hours of riding. They should have been more transparent on how long it would take for all of the pickups and dropoffs. Our tour guide was good, but the poor guy had to repeat everything in 3 languages.
Sonja, May 2026
We had a great time. Everything was so organized. The lake was nice, but we could have spent more time in the other two locations. For the price it was a great day.
Patricia_D, May 2026
We enjoyed both Rethymnon and Chania but would have preferred more time in Rethymnon rather than go to Lake Kournas. Lake Kournas was a little disappointing in that it is over commercialised and you don't really get to enjoy the Lake and it's surroundings as much due to all the businesses taking the frontage.
bharti_a, Oct 2025
Places were really nice. Chania had a really nice view. Beautiful colourful buildings! Loved Chania!
Raju_D, Oct 2025
Tour was exactly what was advertised. Sufficient time at each destination. Guide Michael was very informative. Tour bus was comfortable ride.
Reiss_S, Sep 2025
This “excursion” managed to turn a 1hr 20min trip into a 2hr 30min endurance test of hotel pick-ups. The bus was too small for the amount of passengers, so people were stressed about not sitting next to each other and kept playing musical chairs — and Michael, our guide, could not have given less of a s**te. I told him I was carsick and someone had taken my seat near the front, and his words of comfort were basically: “When you’re about to throw up, come sit at the front.” Inspiring stuff. 👍🏻
The actual stops? Pretty meh. Highlight was sitting in Starbucks for 40 minutes — Then there was the toilet incident. Someone unleashed what can only be described as biological warfare, leaving a stench so bad it should’ve come with a health warning. I sat outside for fresh air, but unfortunately was instead treated to the recurring aroma of someone’s a***hole every 10 seconds.
Biggest issue was we spent more time on the bus than we did on the tour itself.
Grant_W, Jul 2025
Fantastic trip, well organised with a great guide Michael and driver David. Well recommended - a must see !
Zoe_Z, Jun 2025
Highly recommended, delightful excursion to picturesque Western Crete and its golden pearls Rethymno, Chania and Kournas Lake. Magnificent scenery along the way. Perfect organization and smooth transport in a comfortable bus. Warm applause for the professionalism of our knowledgeable, witty and kind-hearted guide Mihalis, who has taught as a lot about captivating Crete and the spots we were visiting. Many thanks as well to the bus driver David and shuttle drivers Stelios and Konstantinos for a safe and punctual drive. Congrats and best wishes!
Terry_P, Apr 2025
This trip was a great way to see the Western region outside of Heraklion. The pick up was prompt and the mini bus was very comfortable. It was difficult to fully appreciate the beautiful coastline as it was cloudy and raining for the day. We felt the tour guide was a bit flat in his enthusiasm. Additionally, the 45 minute stop at Lake Kournas could have been shortened as no one wanted to stand around in the rain to look at it.
bruce_p, Oct 2024
An excellent opportunity to see the north shore of Crete and to explore the old towns of Rethymno and Chania. Our guide was excellent and explained the history and key aspects. We had time to wonder around and soak up the history with time for coffee and lunch along the way.
Monica_G, Sep 2024
We could not open the Viator app at our hotel, not sure why as we already downloaded it as soon as we change the SIM card. Any way, we contacted tour operators on WhatsApp a few times to work it out on pickup location. The agent was very professional, calm, and made arrangements for a different location for us to catch the bus in a timely fashion. I m very appreciative for his support and you can certainly trust the tour operator.
Timothy_G, Sep 2024
Chania is charming, Rethymno was quaint, and it was fun pedal boating on Lake Kournas. Essentially is transportation to the various stops with free time at each stop.
Raymond_W, May 2024
Overall the trip was great. If there is one thing to change, we would think kornad Lake should be skipped. Instead, the tour should allow more time in Chania.
Julie_M, Oct 2023
Rethymno and Chania are beautiful towns/cities with lots of character and charm. The tour made it possible for me to visit them. Kournas Lake is not necessary. Beware! We had a full bus of 40 people, 3 languages and of course you have to find your own way once you get to the places.
Debbie_P, Aug 2023
This tour experience was impacted by the heat, the bus and the time. The air conditioning on the bus was extremely poor. Although passengers requested for the air to be turned up, it did not appear to make a difference on the temperature inside the bus. With just over an hour in two of the locations and a little over two hours in Chania, it felt very rushed. By the time you had to walk to and from the bus, it left little time to enjoy the stops on the tour.
Robin_R, Jul 2023
Michael hates what he does, it’s obvious by his attitude on the tour. He’s rude and reads his script like a robot.
He doesn’t introduce himself or encourage a harmonious time amongst the fellow travelers.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
We are really sorry for your unpleasant experience. We are really proud of the services our guides offer, they follow strict guidelines in order to maintain a smooth experience for the whole group. Our guides are instructed that special requests by individuals that degrade the quality of the experience for the whole group should be dismissed and judging by the feedback we have from the day, our guide really did a good job with that.
Karen_D, Jul 2023
I really enjoyed this bus trip as a solo traveller I met sone lovely people and got to see multiple places in one day .. friendly guide great value trip .. !
Carol_W, May 2023
Lovely bus ride and very good guide who kept us informed. Well organised and time to explore destinations. Would recommend to anyone wanting to explore with limited time.
Russell_S, May 2023
All Three are Jewels of Western Crete. The trip is a long one, but it is one that will not disappoint. Have a Coffee and a snack in Rethymno, then along the coast to Chania for Lunch, taking in the charming Cafes and restaurants of the Old Town Harbour. Then on the return trip, stop off and take a dip in Kournas Lake, or maybe a pedaloe ride. Stunning all the way there and back again.
Jennifer_P, Oct 2022
Good day trip to visit a few hours in each city. I enjoyed walking around the cities more and spending time at the lake eating lunch.
Martin_H, Oct 2022
Both towns are worth the visit, but especially Chania. The lake was a nice moment of relaxation at the end. But it's not just the towns and the lake, the views as you drive down the coast are amazing, and the drive through the hills and mountains even more so.
The guide was also very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable throughout the day.
On the face of it, It appears to be along day but it is well worth the time and money.
JEAN_M, Jun 2026
The cities of Rethymnon and Chania are magnificent. I would have liked to have more time to better appreciate the restaurants and shops. The excursion went well with a guide who explains in 3 languages. An excursion to recommend
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Christiane_L, May 2026
Excursion very interesting and complete, but a little tiring, so much there is to see!
We particularly liked the cities of RETHYMON and LA CANEE and it makes us want to come back there again.
The MICHAEL guide is very friendly and takes good care of all tourists.
The explanations given during the trips are exciting and allow to discover all aspects of Cretan life, past and present.
A great experience ... with a great time!
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Antonio_A, Apr 2026
Suffering visit, very damaged by the persistent and torrential rain that became felt.
The guide did not adapt the program to these circumstances - namely as to the time, clearly excessive, of visiting the lake.
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Rocio_B, Mar 2026
I would have liked more time in Chania, so I could appreciate the place better and be able to walk along the different streets. The rest was okay.
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Angela_J, Sep 2025
The day is very long, that is what you should prepare for. Time in Rethymnon was a bit tight.Perhaps you should leave the lake out.
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Peter_K, Jul 2025
These day trips are never to be forgotten, you see the places you want to go in 1 day.
Amazing!!
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From $49.94
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Day trip to Rethymno, Chania & Kournas lake
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