Best 33 Ecotourism tours and activities on Crete Island

Discover one of the most beautiful beaches in the world on this day trip from Rethymno to Elafonissi. Experience a heaven on earth, with soft white and pink sand, exotic crystal-clear water, and cedar trees that extend down to the coastline. Visit traditional villages like Elos and Kaloudiana.
Get picked up from your hotel area in the morning, then stop for a short break in the traditional village of Elos. Time permitting, enjoy time to have breakfast or a coffee (cost not included). Afterward, depart for Elafonissi.
On the way, see small traditional villages combined with typical Mediterranean scenery. Admire the rugged landscape around the Topolia Gorge. At Elafonissi, get 4 hours of free time to soak in the sun and enjoy the spectrum of shades of blue that this beach has to offer.
At the end of your tour, stop at the village Kaloudiana, where you can explore the village and have refreshments or food (not included). Later, get driven back to your accommodation in Rethymno.

Start your day by meeting your guide at the farm, where you will have a cup of coffee before taking a basic riding lesson to make sure you feel safe and comfortable while riding a horse. Then, hop on your horse to begin your ride out into the mountains.

After riding for about an hour, you’ll arrive at the top of the Finikia mountains, where you’ll stop for a break. Help yourself to a soft drink, or fruit, and take a moment to admire the amazing views and snap a picture or two. In the distance, you can spot the nearby mountain of Archanes, the place where the Greek God Zeus is said to be sleeping.

Then get back on your horses and make your way back to the starting point. After riding for about another hour, you’ll arrive at the stables and then sit down in our lovely garden for a delicious traditional Cretan lunch/dinner, including homemade wine with an amazing horse view!

After lunch, have a seat out in the garden of the farm, help yourself to some more wine, or enjoy a few more minutes with our horses. At about 12:30 PM, you will head back to your hotel or apartment.

This is the ideal diving course for those who want to try scuba diving but do not have a diving certificate. Enjoy a pre-dive lesson and always be accompanied by a certified instructor.
Begin your day with the basic theory on diving and the skills necessary to do so. You will then move on to real-life diving under the supervision of a certified instructor.
During the dive, you will have the opportunity to explore the bottom of the sea in Agia Pelagia, learn the basic commands, and get the chance to observe up-close the fish and sea creatures living near the seabed.

Hop onboard a speedboat that is built for a swift and steady navigation and set off from Limeniskos over sparkling waters to the island of Gramvousa. Feel the wind in your hair get closer to the island’s distinctive cliffs which rise dramatically from the water.

Admire views a Venetian fortress perched atop the island’s highest point. From a distance, appreciate the strategic position of the fortress and imagine its historical significance. Once on land, you can explore Gramvousa Island during an hour-long stop.

Go for a 20-minute hike to the fortress, take a stroll on the beach, or look for the local flora and fauna that form the unique ecosystem of the island. Get back on the boat for the transfer to the mesmerizing waters of the Balos Lagoon.

Plunge into shallow, calm waters that have a striking turquoise hue. Be greeted by the refreshing coolness of the sea. Have the option to relax on the beach or wade in the surreal-looking waters.

Bring along your snorkeling gear to spot damselfish, wrasse, and maybe even a curious octopus hiding in the crevices. If you’re lucky, you might spot loggerhead turtles gliding gracefully through the water.

Return to your meeting point in Limeniskos with unforgettable memories of your adventure to Gramvousa Island and the Balos Lagoon.

Our crew will meet at the Old Venetian port and welcome you on board, where you will be given a briefing about safety and boat handling. We set our sails and we are off to our destination,the beautiful Dia island.

Dia is an uninhabited island, 7 nautical miles north of Heraklion and is protected by the Natura 2000 project because of its biodiversity. Our trip there lasts almost one hour, during which you can enjoy the beauty of the sea, the silence and calmness and get informed on eco sailing and marine life around Crete or participate in the sailing activities with our skilled skipper!

We set anchor on either Agios Georgios or Panagia bay (depending on the weather conditions), which are located on the south part of the island. Both coves are known for their green, crystal waters surrounded by the protected wildlife, like the medium sized “Falco Eleonorae” the lizard Podarcis erchardii schiebeli, the wild goat Capra Aegagrus Cretica, an important rabbit population which belongs to the endemic subspecies Oryctolagus cuniculus cnossicus and the monkseal Monachus monachus.

Ask our team on everything you want to know about the history and the myths of this island!

For about one hour and a half, you will enjoy these beautiful water with swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing or socialising with your fellow adventurers! Cool refreshments and seasonal fruit will accompany the fun!

And if you are already feeling hungry after a full morning our skipper and host has prepared for you a warm lunch on spot, made exclusively from fresh and local ingredients!

After your lunch and perhaps after a quick dive, we will set our sails again to return back to Heraklion Venetian port. Have your cameras ready in case we spot some of our lovely mammal friends, the dolphins.

The Unexplored Chania: An Alternative Bike Tour:

In this 3-hour afternoon bicycle tour you will be able to discover Chania’s essential landmarks which are located outside the limits of the old city. These sights are missed by most visitors but they play an important role in the history of the city. We will still enjoy the sunset together in the atmospheric area of Tabakaria.

Historic buildings Beyond Chania’s Walls:

Discover landmarks including the city clock, the Italian barracks, the garden of Chania and the impressive court building. With our unique bicycle tour, you will be able to admire all the emblematic buildings of the city that are outside the walls and have played an important role in the history of the city of Chania.

Discover Halepa, the aristocratic district of Chania and the atmospheric Tabakaria:

Halepa is the aristocratic district of Chania, it houses important attractions such as the church of Agia Magdaleni, the house of Eleftherios Venizelos and other historical buildings of the city. In Halepa are also the atmospheric Tabakaria (Tanneries) and in this area we will enjoy a unique sunset.

Explore the less visited neighborhoods of the city of Chania:

We’ve thoughtfully planned our bike tours to take you through less touristic areas experience parks and squares frequented by locals. Please be comfortable cycling in city traffic for the best experience.

Our crew will meet you at the Old Venetian port and welcome you on board, where you will be given a briefing about safety and boat handling. We set our sails and we are off to our destination, Dia island.

Dia is an uninhabited island, 7 nautical miles north of Heraklion and is protected by the Natura 2000 project because of its biodiversity. Our trip there lasts almost one hour, during which you can enjoy the beauty of the sea, the silence and calmness and get informed on eco sailing and marine life around Crete or participate in the sailing activities with our skilled skipper!

First stop is Agrilia Bay, one of the remote beaches of the island where we can avoid the crowds. As we approach you can smell the wild oregano from aboard! You have the chance to enjoy your first swim, snorkel or relax with a cool refreshment and fresh fruit for about an hour.

We continue to Panagia cove, a bay with green, crystal waters. The island is a very important refuge for native plants and animals with very small dispersion in the southern Aegean and one of the most important areas were falcons nest. This is also the place where we might spot a Kri Kri! Ask us on anything you want to know about this beautiful spot in the sea!

Last stop is Agios Georgios, one of the most popular crystal clear beaches on the island. A small history fact, is that this well-protected cove was one of the major Minoan ports, according to Jacques-Yves Cousteau who discovered some of its remains in 1976.

As the waters call to you for another dive our skipper and host will be preparing a delicious lunch for you made exclusively from fresh and local ingredients. We still have plenty of time for another refreshing dive!

After this delicious lunch, we set sails again to return back to Heraklion Venetian port. Turn your eyes to the sea as we may spot some of our lovely mammal friends, the dolphins.

Embark on a thrilling river trekking through the biggest gorge in Rethymnon, right in the center of the island of Crete.

Follow the river’s shore through special paths away from crowds with our experience guide and get the chance to explore the hidden forest of the gorge, splash into natural pools, and witness the huge waterfall that falls into the canyon.

Once we arrive above the gorge we will provide you with neoprene suits, helmets, walking sticks and after a short briefing about the route that we follow, we immediately start the adventure!

The first part includes an amazing view of the great waterfall! The flow never stops and the amount of water coming down from the mountains is simply amazing!

A small and safe jump will cool you up as the place is perfect for some instagramik pictures

We continue down the river by splashing into natural pools and having fun next to the river’s shore. Passing by the amazing route down the gorge, you will see some plane trees around us, which create the perfect scenery – A place away from crowds – you will love.

After walking for about 2 more hours into the gorge, we finally reach an old olive grove, which is our exit point from the gorge. There we will go at a hidden paradise on earth called “Banana Garden” to have a refreshment and talk about our experience!

Overall, the Kourtaliotiko Gorge trek is a moderate hike that is suitable for most fitness levels. It offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most stunning natural wonders of Crete and is sure to leave you with lasting memories.