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Crete's Scenic Journey: Cretan to Libyan Sea
Explore ancient Phaistos, Gortyn, and Matala Beach. Discover history, local traditions, and stunning landscapes on this panoramic South Crete tour.
Explore ancient Phaistos, Gortyn, and Matala Beach. Discover history, local traditions, and stunning landscapes on this panoramic South Crete tour.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Archaeological Site of Phaistos - Phaistos, Phaestos, Festos and Latin Phaestus, is a Bronze Age archaeological site at modern Faistos, a municipality in south central Crete. It is notable for the remains of a Minoan palace and the surrounding town.
- Ancient Gortys - Remains of the Archaic period (7th century BC) were located in the area of…
- Archaeological Site of Phaistos - Phaistos, Phaestos, Festos and Latin Phaestus, is a Bronze Age archaeological site at modern Faistos, a municipality in south central Crete. It is notable for the remains of a Minoan palace and the surrounding town.
- Ancient Gortys - Remains of the Archaic period (7th century BC) were located in the area of the Acropolis, while the large inscription, the Gortyn Law Code, dated to the 5th century BC, attests the prosperity of the city, which continued throughout the historical times.
- Matala Beach - Mátala was the ancient port of Phaistos and Gortys and a former fishing community which has developed into a modern holiday center.
What's Included
- Hotel pick-up (within 800m of specific tourist bus stop)
- Air-conditioned bus transfer
- Guided tour in your chosen language
- Hotel pick-up (within 800m of specific tourist bus stop)
- Air-conditioned bus transfer
- Guided tour in your chosen language
What's Not Included
- Ticket entrance to Matala caves(Adults 4 euro)
- Entrance fees to museums/sights, individual expenses.
- Food and drinks
- Ticket entrance to Matala caves(Adults 4 euro)
- Entrance fees to museums/sights, individual expenses.
- Food and drinks
Additional Information
Panoramic tour from the Cretan Sea to the Libyan Sea - through the central and widest part of Crete, taking in part of the Psiloritis massif, where the magnificent Messara Valley stretches at the foot of the mountains. A unique combination of archaic and Christian history, traditions of local life and recreation in one tour in the Magnificent Matala Bay…
Panoramic tour from the Cretan Sea to the Libyan Sea - through the central and widest part of Crete, taking in part of the Psiloritis massif, where the magnificent Messara Valley stretches at the foot of the mountains. A unique combination of archaic and Christian history, traditions of local life and recreation in one tour in the Magnificent Matala Bay on one of the best beaches in Crete.
- If an infant does not sit on lap in the bus, It is necessary to pay a ticket.
- Pick-up from the specific bus stops next to the hotels. From Area 1: all the villages Heraklion region, Area 2: Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos region.
- 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.
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
4.5
(27 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Antoniop523
Aug 26, 2024
BEACH TO VISIT - BEAUTIFUL BEACH, CROWDED IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST. CHARACTERISTICS THE CAVES IN THE ROCK OF WHICH THERE IS MUCH TALK. BEAUTIFUL SEA. IN CRETE I FOUND BETTER. STILL TO VISIT
Review provided by Tripadvisor
S5762czch
Jun 3, 2024
Ricardo is the best. 100 percent recommendation - After I gave up on my trip to Matala because everyone told me it wasn't possible on Tuesdays, I wanted to try again...
And not only did it work, Ricardo is the best and I asked myself why I didn't book all the other excursions here...Thanks also to the great team Datria and Jeanette.
Ricardo is the best, I had no more questions and in the future I will only book all excursions here...
Muchas gracias
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lairdsgate
Nov 14, 2019
brought the book to life - We loved this trip. It was amazing seeing the island and hearing the stories after reading the book. The guide was knowledgeable and interesting to listen to.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P_
Nov 2, 2019
Very Nice! - Stops:
1. Spinalonga
2. A little Island for lunch
3. Agios Nikolaos
Review:
1. Very very interessting to see yourself, but when we heard the "real" story it just blew our minds. Paul is an excellent storyteller and it was a pleasure to listen to him. Sadly we were in a hurry and he had to finish earlier.
2. Nice island but no option to hide from the sun, except on the boat. The food was really good.
3. Agios Nikolaos is a lovely city, sadly very touristic, still worth visiting.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brianac2002
Oct 31, 2019
Historical day out - Picked up and dropped back at our hotel. Taken by coach, however you do pick up others on the way. Nice short boat trip to the Island. Were we lucky or is it the norm, our guide spent ages with us and gave the full history of Spinalonga, not just about the lepers. Had about 40 minutes of free time wen the guide left us. We missed the opportunity to visit the church and the mass graveyard. Our fault, If only we had walked a little further. But this did not distract from a very enjoyable visit. Boat trip back to the coach and a short drive to Nikolaos. A very nice trip visiting the markets and walk around the water passing all the cafes and bars. We went in late October and is was just nice and steady with tourist although I could imagine it being crazy busy during the summer months. If on the Island of Crete it is well worth a visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shoefan
Oct 26, 2019
Great day out - Great day out. We booked with Jet2 and cannot recommend this trip enough. The coach picked us up at the hotel and took us to the port where we boarded the boat to the island of Spinalonga. The guide (Gregory) was very informative, giving us information via a little Vox headset. Then after walking around Spinalonga we boarded the boat again and we were taken to a small beach area, where we had free time to swim in the lovely clear waters or sunbathe. The barbecue lunch on the boat was very good, a lot better than we thought it was going to be. Then back to the coach and a stop off in Agios Nikolaos where we had some free time to browse.
I haven’t read the book ‘The Island’ but it’s a must now I have visited the place.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carol
Oct 12, 2019
Day trip - We stayed at Akti olous hotel and took the 4 hour trip to Spinalogka where you go on a guided tour with headphones to listen to the guide who was very informative a brilliant trip we then went back on the boat for a bar b q lunch that was served by the crew you can also swim off the boat if you like
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stevebott3
Feb 14, 2020
Spin-a-longa There! - Well worth a visit if only for the trip across the water and the magnificent views back to the mountains and coast. You see things from a different angle. Ayios Nikolaos is a must see town to. The Lake is top priority and a meal or drink in one of the restaurants bordering it is also recommended. On Spinalonga save your money and don't bother with a tour guide. Everything is written down on boards near each notable place on the island and all the tour guides do really is speak to you in a language you can understand. Rip off. Same with the cafe. Don't bother. Either take your own snack or wait the half hour or so until you return. Take plenty of cover as you will be exposed to the sun for the whole of the trip out to the island which could be well over an hour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angelo
Nov 14, 2019
Great day trip! - Nice boat trip, beautiful scenery, delicious lunch, enjoyable swim and hiking opportunity. Our guide Zula was friendly and knowledgable!
Review provided by Viator
Tiffany
Nov 4, 2019
Spinalonga is definitely worth seeing, but I would do it independently instead of through the big tour. - We took this took the last week of October of 2019. The tour bus was full and the boat was a large boat with held multiple tour buses. You could book the boat independently by going to the dock in Agios Nikolaus and buying the ticket (without lunch) for 16 Euros. Our tour was conducted in the following order:
• Bus pick-up took us to Agios Nikolaus. We put our things on a large boat and then had about an hour of free to walk around this cute harbor town.
• We boarded the boat at 11:45 then cued up for lunch on the boat. They served us roasted chicken, a Greek salad with a pear and juice or wine. My husband asked for the pork but was told he didn’t have the right colored card for pork. We assumed different tour operators gave out different colored cards or something.
• We rode in the boat for about 30 minutes and stopped in the bay of Kolkofita where the boat anchored and we have 30 minutes to swim in the water. There were a few children’s life vest available so I definitely recommend bringing your own vest or floaties for young children as the water is very deep and it was cold in October. It’s crystal clear water and beautiful!
• From there we rode in the boat another 20 minutes or so to Spinalongo. We paid to enter the island (* Euros for adults, kids are free). There were guides for different languages so you followed your guide and she told you some of the history of the island. We had about 45 minutes to walk around after that, but we could have definitely spent more time there. We left Spinalonga at 4pm.
• From Spinalongo we went back to Agios Nikolaus by boat and then boarded the bus back to the meeting point.
Review provided by Viator
