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Crete Tour: Discover Authentic Villages
5.0
604 Ratings
Iraklio
Discover Crete’s hidden gems: Zeus Cave, traditional villages, olive oil factory, and authentic Cretan cuisine. Book now for an unforgettable small-group adventure.
Discover Crete’s hidden gems: Zeus Cave, traditional villages, olive oil factory, and authentic Cretan cuisine. Book now for an unforgettable small-group adventure.
Duration:
7 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Heraklion - The tour begins in Heraklion.
- Gouves - Drive through without stopping, or it can serve as a potential pick-up point.
- Hersonissos - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a pick-up location.
- Malia - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a potential pick-up location.
- Omalia Olive Press - Visit the…
- Heraklion - The tour begins in Heraklion.
- Gouves - Drive through without stopping, or it can serve as a potential pick-up point.
- Hersonissos - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a pick-up location.
- Malia - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a potential pick-up location.
- Omalia Olive Press - Visit the olive oil factory to learn about the production process using both modern and traditional machinery.
- Mochos - Stroll through the village’s charming narrow streets and enjoy a coffee or fresh juice at the main square.
- Windmills Of Lasithi Plateau - View the historic windmills that once pumped water from underground and those that ground wheat and corn into flour.
- Kera Kardiotissa Monastery - Drive by without stopping.
- Platanus Tree - Visit the village of Krasi, explore the stone narrow streets and old houses, and take photos at Crete’s oldest and largest Platanus tree.
- Stalis - Drive through without stopping, or it can be a potential pick-up location.
- Lasithi Mesa - Stop at a family restaurant on the mountain for lunch, which is OPTIONAL.
- Aposelemis Canyon - Pause to admire the stunning views from above the Aposelemi Dam, a perfect spot for photography enthusiasts.
- Knossos Archaeological Site - This is the final stop of the tour and is OPTIONAL.
What's Included
- Private knowledgeable local guide
- Bottled water, coffees, teas
- Liability insurance
- Pick up and drop off from your hotel, port or meeting points
- Olive oil, honey and Raki tasting
- Transport by comfortable air-conditioned vehicles and free WiFi on board
- Private knowledgeable local guide
- Bottled water, coffees, teas
- Liability insurance
- Pick up and drop off from your hotel, port or meeting points
- Olive oil, honey and Raki tasting
- Transport by comfortable air-conditioned vehicles and free WiFi on board
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Knossos Palace entrance fee 15 euros per person, half price for up to 25 years old .
- Lunch
- Knossos Palace entrance fee 15 euros per person, half price for up to 25 years old .
Additional Information
- Join this full-day small group tour or opt for a Private tour to discover the authentic side of Crete, away from the crowds.
- Stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Traditional Villages and relax with an iced coffee in the village’s main square.
- Tour an olive oil factory, learn about olive oil production, and sample a variety of oils.
- Travel…
- Join this full-day small group tour or opt for a Private tour to discover the authentic side of Crete, away from the crowds.
- Stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Traditional Villages and relax with an iced coffee in the village’s main square.
- Tour an olive oil factory, learn about olive oil production, and sample a variety of oils.
- Travel in comfort with our air-conditioned vehicles.
- Savor some local honey and a glass of Raki while learning about local traditions, history, mythology, and culture.
- Visit the charming village of Krasi and see the monumental Platanus tree.
- Explore the Lasithi Plateau, the Old Wind Mills, and enjoy breathtaking views from the mountains.
- Sampling a few local dishes is a must while in Crete. (OPTIONAL)
- Experience Greek hospitality and create memories that will last a lifetime.
- Enjoy convenient pick-up and drop-off from your hotel or Heraklion cruise port.
- Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking.
Location
Heraklion Port Passenger Station
Leoforos Nearchou
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(604 Ratings)
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Tomcattravel
Jan 5, 2025
A day with a man in the know - Stavros, our guide, was a dynamite. Be ready to engage and interact with a treasure trove of knowledge. The passion and love he has for his home land is apparent throughout the day. You will not regret booking s day with Stavros and his company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nsparks7
Dec 26, 2024
Above and Beyond - Stavros, with Explore Real Crete, MADE our Heraklion visit, going above and beyond! He was knowledgeable, relatable, humorous, and such a kind soul. Stavros took us to ALL the places we wanted to see, even though it was off-season. He made sure we would have an educational, fulfilling time. Even though the weather on our tour day didn't cooperate as much as it could have, Stavros STILL gave our family THE BEST experiences. Stavros even offered to reschedule because of the weather, but we wanted to continue. Stavros arranged for us to privately tour Omalia Olive Press with an authentic tasting, as well as a stop in a valley of olive trees, explaining the olives and process. He bought us coffees in a quaint, charming village, drove us to the windmills on the Lassithi Plateau, to Knossos Palace and to the ancient Platanus Tree in Krasi. As we visited in off-season, the winery we wanted to visit had already closed for winter, but Stavros went ABOVE and BEYOND, providing multiple varieties of wines and rakis for us to try in the natural beauty of the mountains. He did not have to do this, but provided this experience for us. Because Stavros customizes his tours per requests, he also took us to see highlights in Heraklion, such as the Venetian walls and the Rocca a Mare Fortress and to a cute stop for lunch. Stavros and Explore Real Crete are the BEST!! TEN out of five stars!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stay11053515278
Nov 10, 2024
Highly recommend! - The trip is definitely a must do in Crete. The guide is super energetic, thoughtful and very knowledgeable about all places covered during the trip. Food is delicious and fresh from local areas, too. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P7755qzmartinm
Nov 1, 2024
A Unique and Authentic Adventure - The trip was truly amazing! Our guide Edie was fantastic, entertaining, and kept surprising us with new activities, so we never had a dull moment. I appreciated that we didn’t spend long hours in the car but had plenty of time to enjoy everything. The experience of picking sweet strawberries and tasting excellent wines was unforgettable, with a lovely, authentic, and friendly atmosphere. If you’re looking for a way to explore Crete beyond the usual tourist spots and see it from a different perspective, I highly recommend this trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabeth_b
Oct 26, 2024
See the real Crete - Ed was a wealth of knowledge and humor with a playful sense of adventure. A great tour guide to spend your day with!
Review provided by Viator
Kara_a
Oct 19, 2024
Amazing experience!! - Stavros was AMAZING!!!! We spent the whole day exploring the REAL Crete…what a fantastic time we had picking strawberries, visiting the windmills, seeing the largest tree on Crete, and having a simply delicious authentic Cretan meal. All capped off with a tour of Knossos.
Review provided by Viator
Anneh4750
Oct 19, 2024
Fascinating tour! - We loved everything about this tour led by our extraordinary guide Mike (Michail) with his vast historical & botanical knowledge of the island, fun visits to small towns, an olive oil factory & a delicious lunch. We never would have gleaned so much knowledge & appreciation of Cretan culture on our own.❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vona278
Oct 15, 2024
Kudos to Ed! Amazing Tour! - Best Guide Ever! Thanks Ed for the authentic greek tour! Our family enjoyed it so much! I asked my daughter how was the Ed’s tour and she said 15/10! Hope we get to see you again someday! It was really a pleasure meeting you and thanks for letting us see the wonderful island of Crete! All the best, Ed! Keep up the good work :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bjulia47
Oct 15, 2024
The best tour - What an amazing experience.
We loved every minute with Ed.
We laughed, learnt and soaked up the 'real' Crete on this trip.
Whilst we wanted to see Knossos Palace, we soon realised there was so much more to enjoy.
We saw olive oil production, the old windmills, the villages, good 'Freddo' coffee 😋, and all of the farms and fruit on the plateau.
The food, wine, and raki we're all amazing.
If you can only do one tour go with Explore Rwal Crete, as the name implies you'll come away enriched with a new appreciation for this lovely island and its people.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarah_k
Oct 2, 2024
Book this tour! - Really great tour to see the authentic side of Crete. We visited sites like the windmills, an olive oil factory and Knossos Palace but we also visited some small villages, two local farms and a local restaurant for delicious Cretan food.
Stavros (Ed) was a great guide. He is full of energy and information to keep the tour going for the full day. He is really passoniate about showing off his home island and really gives a personal tour.
Would definitely recommend this tour if you want to see more than the normal tourist sites.
Review provided by Viator
