Explore LGTBQI Friendly activities in Crete Island. From exciting tours to vibrant nightlife, experience an inclusive vacation that values diversity. Book now!
Crete Private Guide run this private walking tour of Chania old town, covering about 3 kilometres in 4 hours from the Agora covered market. The route takes in the Venetian fortifications, the Arsenals, both cathedrals, the old synagogue, the Turkish mosque, the Chania gardens and the Egyptian lighthouse, with food tastings along the way and a wine tasting of four local varieties at the end. Marketed as The 4 Winds, it runs in Greek, English and French with private transport included.
The tour starts at 09:00 and walks a loop of the old town, stopping to eat and drink as it goes. Five parts make it up.
First is the Agora, the covered market, which the tour visits rather than passes. Second is the old town circuit: the Venetian fortifications, the Arsenals where the galleys were built, the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox cathedrals, the old Jewish synagogue, the Turkish mosque, the Chania gardens and the Egyptian lighthouse. Third are the tasting stops, made in conversation with locals rather than at set counters, loukoumades, pasteli, tsikoudia, frappé, graviera and mizithra cheeses, olives and paximadi among them. Fourth, the guide takes you to chosen spots for photographs and video. Fifth is a wine tasting at a selected venue, with four local wines from area wineries made from Cretan grape varieties.
The whole route covers roughly 3 kilometres on foot.
Everything is inside the old town of Chania.
The tour is priced per group rather than per head, and covers everything on the route.
Included:
Group pricing runs from €360 for one person to €930 for eight, which works out from about €115 per person on the larger group sizes. The tour covers the Chania and Rethymno regions; pick-ups more than 25 kilometres from Chania city centre carry an additional €20 to €100 depending on distance and group size.
We recommend this tour for the range it covers in four hours. The Agora, the Venetian arsenals, two cathedrals, a synagogue, a mosque and the lighthouse is the full religious and civic layering of Chania, Venetian, Ottoman, Jewish and Greek, and most old-town tours pick two of those and leave the rest. Doing it at walking pace with tastings threaded through is a better way to absorb it than a lecture at each stop.
The food is specific rather than generic. Loukoumades, pasteli, tsikoudia, graviera and mizithra, olives and paximadi are what Cretans actually eat and drink, and tasting them in conversation with the people selling them is the part visitors remember.
Being private throughout is the third reason. You set the pace, the guide answers your questions rather than the group’s, and transport from your accommodation is built into the price.
Two things to weigh.
The published rating rests on a very small number of reviews, so treat it as encouraging rather than settled and speak to the operator before booking.
It is a walking tour in an exposed old town, starting at 09:00 and running four hours. Comfortable shoes are a requirement rather than a suggestion, and summer heat builds quickly on the route.
Wear real shoes, come hungry, and check the pick-up distance before you book.
The tour starts at 09:00 at the Agora covered market and runs 4 hours over about 3 kilometres. Private transport from and to your location is included within the Chania and Rethymno regions.
This is a walking tour, so wear comfortable shoes. Pick-ups more than 25 kilometres from Chania city centre carry an additional charge.
Contact Crete Private Guide directly: creteprivateguide.com, info@creteprivateguide.com, +30 690 650 5872.
The tour runs 4 hours and covers about 3 kilometres on foot.
The tour starts at 09:00 at the Agora, the covered market in Chania old town, which it visits as its first stop.
Tastings include loukoumades, pasteli, tsikoudia, frappé, graviera and mizithra cheeses, olives and paximadi, sampled in conversation with local sellers.
Four different local wines are included, all from wineries in the area using Cretan grape varieties.
Yes, it is private and priced per group, from €360 for one person to €930 for eight.
The tour is offered in Greek, English and French.
Before heading to Spinalonga the first visit is an olive oil park where you can experience first-hand the standardization of extra virgin olive oil, table olives, and olive paste.
You will be able to taste the authentic Greek product, which is famous worldwide for its great taste and nutritional value, as well as other authentic Cretan products like “raki” and honey.
After your first stop, you reach the capital town of Lasithi, Agios Nikolaos. You can discover the pretty city on your own, stroll through the shops, or relax in one of the countless cafes next to the picturesque bottomless lake of Voulismeni.
You continue your journey to Plaka, a small fishing village directly opposite Spinalonga. Here you will have plenty of free time to enjoy lunch or a refreshing swim. Moreover, from there you can take a 15-minute boat ride that takes you to the well-known island of Spinalonga.
The history and the culture of the island of Spinalonga became one with human tragedy over time. It has been an important place throughout history for the ancient Greeks, as a natural protection for the city of Olous, for the Saracens as a hiding place for their pirates, for the Venetians as a fortress, for the Turks as a settlement and for a long time the island served as a leper colony.
After your self-guided tour at Spinalonga, approximately 90 minutes, you’ll return to Plaka. There you have plenty of time to enjoy a coffee or your lunch, before going back to the hotels. An amazing trip with many destinations that you definitely should not miss!
Additional important information about the pickup and drop-off handling:
Pickup areas and times are as follows:
Ammoudara Beach road at 8 a.m.
Heraklion center 8:05 a.m.
Karteros 8:20 a.m.
Kokkini Chani, Gournes 8:25 a.m.
Kato Gouves 8:30 a.m.
Analipsi 8:40 a.m.
Anissaras 8:50 – 8:55 a.m.
Hersonissos, Piskopiano, Koutouloufari 9 – 9:05 a.m
Stalida, Stalis 9-9:10 a.m.
Malia 9:25 a.m.
Sissi 9:40 a.m.
Depart from Heraklion and travel west by bus to the captivating city of Chania. Learn about its rich Minoan history and explore landmarks from various civilizations, including the Byzantine, Ottoman, and Venetian periods.
Take in the picturesque view of the lighthouse at the port, and meander through the charming narrow streets of the old town. Savor some leisure time for lunch at the delightful harbor. Browse for gifts and souvenirs at the renowned market.
Next, journey to Lake Kournas and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the lush green hills. Watch for rare birds and aquatic life, such as eels and turtles. Enjoy a refreshing swim or take a stroll through the protected wetlands.
Return towards Heraklion, stopping in the city of Rethymno along the route. Wander through the alleys of the old town, admire the domes and minarets of the Ottoman-era mosques, and marvel at the 16th-century Venetian fortress.
Timings:
7:15 AM to 9:15 AM: Pick-up service from Malia to Agia Pelagia.
The pick-up time depends on your hotel’s location.
10:00 AM: Stop in Skaleta for breakfast and restroom break.
10:15 AM: Leave Skaleta.
11:30 AM: Arrive in Chania.
1:30 PM: Depart from Chania.
2:15 PM: Arrive Lake Kournas for swimming and lunch.
3:45 PM: Leave Lake Kournas.
4:15 PM: Arrive in Rethymno.
5:30 PM: Depart from Rethymno.
7:00 PM: Arrive in Heraklion.
Time Spent at Each Stop:
Chania: 2 hours.
Lake Kournas: 1 h and 30 min.
Rethymno: 1 h and 15 min.
Pick-up locations and times are as follows:
Malia: 7:15 AM
Stalida and Stalis: 7:25 AM
Hersonissos 7:35 AM
Anissaras: 7:45 AM
Analipsi: 7:55 AM
Kato Gouves: 8:05 AM
Kokkini Chani and Gournes: 8:15 AM
Karteros: 08:20 AM
Heraklion center: 08:30 AM
Ammoudara Beach Road: 8:45 AM
Agia Pelagia: 9:05 – 9:15 AM
Chania:
Discover Chania, from ancient Minoan times to Venetian, Ottoman, and Byzantine influences.
Visit the historic harbor and capture the iconic lighthouse.
Explore the market and shop for local souvenirs.
Enjoy a stroll along the waterfront and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.
Lake Kournas:
Escape to the Lake Kournas, the only freshwater lake in Crete.
Enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and greenery.
Take a boat ride on the crystal-clear waters of the lake.
Swim in the refreshing waters.
Explore the diverse flora and fauna of the wetlands, home to rare bird species.
Rethymno:
Step back in time as you explore the old town of Rethymno.
Admire the elegant Venetian architecture and stroll along the atmospheric alleys.
Visit the Fortezza, a 16th-century Venetian fortress overlooking the town.
Discover the blend of Ottoman and Venetian influences in the mosques, churches, and minarets scattered throughout the town.
Relax at one of the charming cafes or tavernas and savor authentic Cretan cuisine.
This tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, providing an unforgettable experience of Crete’s most captivating destinations.
This day trip reaches Preveli the good way, by boat. The coach runs from Chania across the island with a stop at the Kourtaliotiko gorge, then you board at Damnoni for a short cruise along the Libyan Sea to Preveli, where the Megalos Potamos river meets the sea under a forest of palms. Allcretetours run it over 10 hours from €43, with a 4.38 rating across 16 reviews.
The route crosses to the south coast, sees the gorge, then takes to the water. Four stages fill the 10 hours.
First is the pick-up and the drive through the Cretan countryside towards the south coast. Second is the Kourtaliotiko gorge, where towering cliffs and the wind that funnels through them make the photo stop, about an hour is allowed. Third is Damnoni, where the boat waits for a short cruise across the Libyan Sea, and Preveli appears from the water as a river mouth wrapped in palms and mountains. Fourth is Preveli itself: swimming in the emerald water, walking the riverbank under the palms, or following the river inland to the springs and small waterfalls in the gorge.
Arriving by boat is the difference. The overland route ends in roughly 300 steps down a cliff and the same back up; the boat puts you on the sand.
The route runs from the north-west coast to the Libyan Sea.
The €43 covers the coach and the guide; the two site fees are paid on the day.
Included:
Not included:
Budget €18 per person in cash on top of the ticket.
We recommend this version of Preveli specifically because of the boat. Every other way in involves the cliff staircase, roughly 300 steps down and a 20 to 30 minute climb back in full sun, which is the single most common complaint about Preveli trips. Coming in from Damnoni across the Libyan Sea removes all of it and gives you the approach shot as the palm forest opens up ahead of the boat.
The reviews describe a well-run day. A Dutch guest noted the guide made clear at the start where food and toilets were and built in a bakery stop, small things that decide how a ten-hour day feels. A Swiss reviewer called it perfectly organised from start to finish, and a German guest rated it the highlight of their holiday, singling out the pick-up and the guide.
Preveli itself needs little argument: Theophrastus palms grow wild in only a handful of places in Europe, and here they line a freshwater river running into the sea.
Three things to weigh, since this scores 4.38 and the criticisms are consistent.
The gorge stop divides people. An Australian reviewer loved Preveli but not the gorge, where the wind was strong enough that they abandoned the walk to the water, and they objected to paying €5 per person to enter. A Polish reviewer rating it three stars said there was too little specific information about the gorge for the hour allowed.
The extra costs are not in the headline price. €13 for the boat and €5 for the gorge add 40% to a €43 ticket, and both are cash on the day.
The gorge is genuinely windy. Kourtaliotiko is named for the clattering sound the wind makes through it, so treat the walk down as optional rather than assumed.
Carry €18 in cash, read up on the gorge first, and follow the river inland at Preveli.
Your voucher with the pick-up time and point arrives by email one day before, and can also be viewed at 123voucher.eu/voucher with your booking reference.
Bring sunglasses, beachwear, comfortable shoes and cash. Pets, alcohol and large bags are not permitted on the coach.
The day runs 10 hours from pick-up to drop-off, including the drive, the gorge stop and the boat to Preveli.
Yes, a short cruise from Damnoni across the Libyan Sea, which avoids the roughly 300-step cliff path used by the overland route.
The €13 boat ticket and the €5 Kourtaliotiko gorge entry are both paid separately, in cash on the day.
Preveli has a wild palm forest lining the Megalos Potamos river where it meets the sea, one of very few such groves in Europe.
Opinions divide. Reviewers praise the cliffs but report strong wind and thin commentary, and the €5 entry is charged separately.
Pick-up covers the Chania area, making this the western departure point for Preveli.
Check dates and prices for the Preveli palm beach tour with Kourtaliotiko gorge.
After a short drive through the Messara plain you reach Matala. Known for the colony of hippies in the Sixties, where they lived in large holes formed on the mountain. The rocks are holes with a Roman burial. In Matala you will have time for a refreshing dip in the water, eat something or just enjoy a drink on the beach. This is the place where Zeus, having taken the form a bull, swam ashore with Europa on his back before dragging her off to Gortys. Both, the Minoans and the Romans used the place as their harbor. Nevertheless, for most people, Matala means only one thing: hippies. Back in the late 1960s – 1970s, this little town was a colony of the “flower children”, who lived in the caves that used to be former Roman tombs
© All rights reserved. Crete Locals
