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Crete Tour: Knossos, Zeus Cave & Local Delights
5.0
201 Ratings
Knosos
Embark on a journey of discovery through Crete’s majestic Knossos Palace and Zeus Cave. Immerse in the art of olive oil production, savor authentic local cuisine, and indulge in the finest flavors of Crete. Join us for an unforgettable day trip!
Embark on a journey of discovery through Crete’s majestic Knossos Palace and Zeus Cave. Immerse in the art of olive oil production, savor authentic local cuisine, and indulge in the finest flavors of Crete. Join us for an unforgettable day trip!
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Knossos Archaeological Site - This excursion takes you to two of Greece’s most significant landmarks: the Knossos Palace and the Zeus Cave, Diktaion Andron. The tour begins with a visit to the Knossos Palace, the ceremonial and political hub of the Minoan Civilization during the Bronze Age. Here, you will explore the magnificent palace built for…
- Knossos Archaeological Site - This excursion takes you to two of Greece’s most significant landmarks: the Knossos Palace and the Zeus Cave, Diktaion Andron. The tour begins with a visit to the Knossos Palace, the ceremonial and political hub of the Minoan Civilization during the Bronze Age. Here, you will explore the magnificent palace built for King Minos, considered the oldest city in Europe.
- Omalia Olive Press - Our journey into Cretan culture starts with an introduction to “liquid gold.” At the traditional, four-generation olive oil production factory, you will learn about the history of the olive, the harvesting methods from ancient times to the present, and have the chance to taste high-quality olive oil—an experience that will elevate your senses.
- Krasi - The next stop is the village of Krasi, home to the famous plane tree of Krasi, which is over 2000 years old. Here, you will have ample time to enjoy a coffee at one of the local tavernas and take unforgettable photos.
- Lassithi Plateau - The tour’s highlight is the Lassithi Plateau, the largest plateau in Crete. After the 1950s, it hosted the first, largest, and most beautiful wind farm in the world, with approximately 13,000 windmills. Today, only a few windmills remain operational on this fertile plain surrounded by the imposing Dikti Mountains.
- Dikteon Cave - The Zeus Cave will be closed for construction starting October 2, 2024.
- Mochos - The tour concludes in the traditional village of Mochos, where you can mingle with the locals in the village cafes and feel the spirit of Crete. At the end of this tour, you will be driven back to your location with wonderful memories and a big smile.
- Kera Kardiotissa Monastery - Explore a 14th-century Byzantine gem known for its beautiful frescoes and the legendary miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. Visitors can admire stunning views, learn about the monastery’s rich history, and experience its peaceful surroundings, making it a perfect stop for both culture and serenity.
What's Included
- Pickup and drop-off from your hotel, harbor, or designated meeting points
- Private tour pickups: Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Shared mini-group: Heraklion region only
- Liability insurance
- Bottled water, coffee
- Private knowledgeable local guide
- Transport by luxury air-conditioned minivan with free Wi-Fi on board
- Pickup and drop-off from your hotel, harbor, or designated meeting points
- Private tour pickups: Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Shared mini-group: Heraklion region only
- Liability insurance
- Bottled water, coffee
- Private knowledgeable local guide
- Transport by luxury air-conditioned minivan with free Wi-Fi on board
What's Not Included
- Endrance to Knossos 15€ Pensioners above 65 and non EU sitizens from 6-25 discount 50%
- Gratuities ( optional)
- Official Licensed Tourist Guide at Knossos Palace (optional)
- Lunch (optional)
- Pickup from the Rethymno or Chania regions is available upon request with additional cost
- Endrance to Knossos 15€ Pensioners above 65 and non EU sitizens from 6-25 discount 50%
- Gratuities ( optional)
- Official Licensed Tourist Guide at Knossos Palace (optional)
- Lunch (optional)
- Pickup from the Rethymno or Chania regions is available upon request with additional cost
Additional Information
• Explore the grandeur of Knossos Palace, picturesque traditional villages, and the stunning Lasithi Plateau.
• Immerse in Local Culture: Experience Cretan traditions, savor authentic cuisine, and enjoy the finest olive oil, honey, and raki, all while basking in warm Cretan hospitality.
• Learn the art of olive oil production on our exclusive olive oil…
• Explore the grandeur of Knossos Palace, picturesque traditional villages, and the stunning Lasithi Plateau.
• Immerse in Local Culture: Experience Cretan traditions, savor authentic cuisine, and enjoy the finest olive oil, honey, and raki, all while basking in warm Cretan hospitality.
• Learn the art of olive oil production on our exclusive olive oil tour, where you’ll sample some of the island’s best offerings.
• Enjoy a relaxing journey in our minivan with small groups or upgrade to a private tour with an expert guide/driver.
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off from your hotel, port, or designated meeting points.
Discover the Majesty of Crete: Knossos & Authentic Delights! Our private or small-group tour reveals Crete’s hidden treasures. Experience the splendor of Knossos Palace, explore traditional villages, and visit the ancient Platanus tree in Krasi, a symbol of Cretan heritage. This journey blends culture, history, and gastronomy, creating lasting memories that capture the essence of Crete.
Location
Knossos Archaeological Site
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
(201 Ratings)
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James_y
Dec 1, 2024
An Olive Oil expert and great guide/guy. - Our tour guide has been kind, and helpful. He knows about olives and olive oil so we'll. We enjoyed his sharing and learned quite a bit about how the olive oil was made and how to grade them. He knows the history of the area as well as things in the areas, including Knossos palace. A very good driver too to have manipulated the curvy and narrow mountain roads so well.
Review provided by Viator
Will_w
Nov 21, 2024
A Must! - Amazing memorable tour! Our guide was funny, attentive and really gave us a rich history of all the sites we visited.
Review provided by Viator
Phillip_f
Nov 18, 2024
Excellent Tour - This tour is a great choice for people who want to experience Knossos but also want to experience something of Crete other than Heraklion. At Knossos, there was time to visit the nearby shops, which was important. The experience of the mountain drive, the tiny mountain villages, the plateau, learning something about the "modern" history of Crete, was meaningful to our group of 3. The selection of the "lunch" restaurant offered good food. The tour of the olive oil "factory" was both informative and interesting. It's unfortunate that the Cave of Zeus is under construction and not open, but that is not attributable to the tour. Our guide was Marinos. He was knowledgeable. His English was excellent. He was pleasant to travel with and navigated the mountain roads with expertise. We would take this tour again and recommend it to others. Thank you!
Review provided by Viator
Audrey_c
Nov 12, 2024
Small Group “See the Real Crete” Tour - Our guide Marinos provided us with a wonderful day. Our small group beat the crowd to Knossos and took wonderful pictures without people and he gave us helpful tips about getting a guide. The olive oil factory tour was very informative and co-incided with the first day of crushing olives for the season so we got to try first press olive oil crushed within the last day. We saw spectacular views and quaint villages around the Lastithi Plateau, ate at a restaurant with mountain goat views snd good food. It was the highlight of our Heraklion stay.
Review provided by Viator
277rubyj
Nov 5, 2024
Wonderful history and every knowledgeable. - The most wonderful tour. You will NOT be disappointed!!! My daughter and I went and there were two other couples on the tour also.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mzdetail
Nov 5, 2024
Marinos is the best! - Four of us had such a great time with Marinos! The small village of Krasi with it's ancient "laundromat" and huge old tree, the gorgeous farm land in the Lasithi valley, fabulous lunch near the old windmills (for milling flour, and destroyed by the Germans), and the olive oil tour with old traditional equipment and the current machinery, plus tasting, were fantastic to see. Marinos is so knowledgeable about the places and the history, and so personable. I felt like he was a family member showing us around!. The Cave of Zeus is up a very steep hillside, and would have been more pleasant if it wasn't so hot and humid. Knossos was interesting to see, but from photos, I thought there would be more original ruins there. A lot had been "restored" or actually built (reconstructed) by the architectural team in the early 1900s. I was disappointed, since their "vision" may not have been accurate, and they used a lot of cement in their efforts. Marinos was an excellent driver, the van was air conditioned, and he explained everything we were seeing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Supeper
Nov 3, 2024
Great Experience - Niko was very helpful and informative. He felt like a local friend showing us his hometown. I would recommend this tour and look for Niko if he's available:)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Homeinthevines
Nov 2, 2024
Amazing trip - We had an amazing time with Marinos on this trip. The pace was leisurely, the company stellar and Marinos was so knowledgeable. All of the stops were unique and engaging. We loved it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ibdgirl
Nov 2, 2024
A Most Excellent tour with a Great Host - We ended up being just my husband Kenny and myself, Sharon, with Nikko. Nikko went out of his way to make sure we had a great time since the Cave of Zeus was closed. His recommendations at lunch - the goat was as good as if not better than the lamb! Who knew? - were perfect and he showed us things we would never have noticed - like a goat in a tree! We had mountain tea that was a favorite of mine - I brought some home - and wish I had bought more while we were there. The coastline was amazing and seeing the differences in how tourists stay in Greece and how the locals live was telling. Thank you Nikki for showing us the sights but more for educating us on the History of Greece. You showed us plants and told us how they work in the daily lives of locals in the area. You pointed out different animals and introduced us to people you knew could give us a real life experience. Thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharron_c
Nov 2, 2024
Great experience! - Nikos was very energetic and knowledgeable of the historical sites we visited. He made sure we experienced Crete like locals via cool places to see and eat.
Review provided by Viator
