Discover Crete Island’s genuine charm through tours where you will have a chance to meet the Crete locals. Experience authentic traditions, cuisines, and stories that capture the island’s rich culture.
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.
Explore Crete by Land Rover on a full-day adventure along the Minoan Path, and experience a blend of ancient myths, spectacular landscapes, and a barbecue lunch on the Lassithi Plateau.
Following a pick-up from your hotel, drive through spectacular mountains en route to the Aposelemis Basin Reservoir, and see an ancient aqueduct of the Roman Empire. Continue to the village of Kastamonitsa in the foothills of the Afendi Mountains. Stop for a Cretan-style breakfast and raki tasting.
Next, brace yourself for the dirt tracks of the Minoan Path. Drive through a stunning mountain landscape to see wildlife and the unbelievable scenery. Learn the myths and legends of Crete on the way to a shepherd’s mitato (mountain shelter).
Feed the animals as you watch the shepherds produce cheese according to traditional methods. Taste some of the fresh, rich cheese.
Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Lassithi Plateau and north coast. Continue to Dikteon Cave to marvel at the birthplace of Zeus. Work up an appetite before your lunch at a local taverna. Try a selection of traditional dishes (vegetarian option available) and a glass or two of wine.
Then, go to Lassinthos Eco Park to admire traditional handicrafts. Back on the Lassithi Plateau, experience a wilderness and farming land where time has stood still. See donkeys put to work to help farm the land. Then, go to Seli to take photos of the unique scenery.
Drive to the village of Krassi, famous for its 2,000-year-old tree and natural spring water source. Continue down the mountain roads, passing ancient olive groves before you reach the spectacular coastline and deep blue sea.
This cooking class takes you from Chania up into the White Mountains for 6 hours on a working family farm, where you pick from the garden, cook a Cretan meal and eat it with the family’s own wine. The class runs in a small group with hotel pick-up, a local driver-guide and an air-conditioned minivan, and it starts at €110. GS tours holds a 4.93 rating across 681 reviews, the highest score of any experience on this page.
The day moves through the farm in sequence: garden, mountain, kitchen, table. Four stages fill the 6 hours.
First, you walk the vegetable garden and learn which herbs go into which dish, handling the produce before it becomes an ingredient. Second, a mountain walk takes you to a shepherd’s enclave, where the olive harvest is explained on the ground rather than in a classroom. Third, you cook, appetisers first, with ntakos and tzatziki, then the main dishes. Fourth, you sit down to the meal you made, paired with regional wines, and finish on traditional preserved-fruit desserts.
Cheese and wine tasting comes before the cooking rather than after. Reviewers who came expecting a kitchen session report honey tasting as well, which is not listed but recurs often enough to expect.
The class runs in the mountain villages inland from Chania, with pick-up along the coast.
The €110 covers everything from the door of your hotel to the end of the meal, which is unusually complete for a Crete day trip.
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We recommend this class above every other food experience we have looked at in western Crete, and the numbers are the reason to start with. A 4.93 average across 681 reviews is exceptional for any tour, and the guiding scores a flat 5.0 out of 5, we have not seen a perfect dimension score anywhere else in this set.
Read the reviews and the same thing comes back: this is a family home, not a venue. Guests write about being welcomed into the house, about the conversation as much as the food, about the mountains around the farm and the sheep on it. Several call it the best thing they did in Crete rather than the best meal, which is a different and more telling compliment. Guides are named individually and praised by name, a pattern we take seriously.
The practical point we would add from our own side: the White Mountains are the reason Cretan cooking looks the way it does. Doing this in the mountains rather than in a Chania kitchen puts the greens, the cheese and the olive oil in the landscape that produced them, and that is worth the drive.
Two things to know before you book.
The one criticism GetYourGuide’s own review summary reports is that some travellers wanted more hands-on cooking time. The day covers a garden walk, a mountain walk, a tasting and a meal, so the cooking itself is a portion of the six hours rather than the whole of it. Come for the day, not for a masterclass.
The second is scheduling. This is a half-day that starts in the afternoon, as one reviewer notes plainly, so it takes out your evening rather than your morning. The tour is also flagged as likely to sell out, and at 681 reviews and a 4.93 average that is believable.
Book well ahead, come with an appetite, and carry a layer for the altitude.
Pick-up and drop-off are included from Chania-area accommodation, and the class runs for 6 hours in the afternoon and evening. Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses and a jacket.
Everything you cook with is provided, including the apron and the utensils, so nothing needs carrying up the mountain. Gratuities are the only cost not covered, and they are optional.
The class runs 6 hours in total, including the drive up into the White Mountains and back.
The class is an afternoon and evening half-day, so it finishes with dinner rather than lunch.
You cook Cretan appetisers and a main meal, with ntakos and tzatziki among the dishes and preserved-fruit desserts to finish.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included, in an air-conditioned minivan with a local driver-guide.
Cooking is one stage of four. The day also covers a garden walk, a mountain walk to a shepherd’s enclave and a wine and cheese tasting, and GetYourGuide’s review summary notes that some guests wanted more hands-on kitchen time.
Wine is included, both in the tasting before the class and paired with the meal you cook.
Check dates and prices for the Chania cooking class in the White Mountains.
Take a trip to the Cretan Mountains as you ride a horse along the paths and hilltops of the mountains. Admire the panoramic view of Giouhtas mountain and Agios Silas village.
Start your day by meeting your guide at the farm. Take a basic training session 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.
Stretch your legs with a short break made during the trip with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape of the mountains. Refresh yourself with a glass of orange juice and take amazing pictures of the beautiful scenery. Feel the fresh Mediterranean breeze at the top of the mountain.
Beginners & advanced riders are welcome!
This day trip crosses the White Mountains from Rethymno to Chora Sfakion, then takes a boat along the south coast to Glyka Nera, Sweet Water Beach, and the car-free village of Loutro. Glyka Nera gets its name from freshwater springs that rise through the shingle at the waterline, and Loutro is reachable only by boat or on foot. Markidis Travel runs it over 11 hours from €30, with a 4.72 rating across 202 reviews.
The day is a mountain drive followed by two boat stops on a coast with no road. Four stages make it up.
First is the coach from the Rethymno area south over the mountains to Chora Sfakion, a drive reviewers single out for the narrow roads and the driving that handles them. Second is a 15-minute boat to Glyka Nera, where cold fresh water rises through the pebbles at the sea’s edge and mixes with the salt. Third is Loutro, a whitewashed village with no cars and no road in, where the water is clear straight off the front. Fourth is the boat back to Sfakia and the coach to Rethymno.
The boats run to a fixed timetable and the coach does not wait for latecomers at any meeting point.
The route crosses from the north coast to the Libyan Sea in the Sfakia region.
The €30 covers the coach and the guide; the boat is paid separately and it is not optional.
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The real price is €45 per person once the boat is counted, which is what one reviewer pointed out and what you should budget.
We recommend this trip because Loutro and Glyka Nera cannot be reached any other way without a lot of effort. There is no road to either. You either walk the coastal path from Chora Sfakion in the heat, or you take a boat, and this trip is the boat with the mountain drive attached.
The reviews name the team constantly, which is the clearest signal of a well-run small operator. Emmanuela, Kostas and a driver named Tossca all appear by name across French, British, Canadian and Italian reviews, described as kind, accommodating and explaining things properly in more than one language. A German reviewer took their hat off to the bus drivers specifically, for the narrow mountain roads.
The places themselves need little selling. A French reviewer called Loutro heaven on earth; an Italian pair called both stops absolute must-sees.
Three caveats, all consistent across the record.
The schedule leans towards Loutro. GetYourGuide’s own review summary says travellers would prefer less time in crowded Loutro and more at Glyka Nera, and two separate reviewers said the same. If Sweet Water Beach is your reason for coming, know that it gets the shorter stop.
Sfakia itself gets skipped. Two French reviewers wanted free time in Chora Sfakion, calling the port typical and charming, and one noted they never really saw it. The village is a transit point on this itinerary.
The €15 boat catches people out. It is stated in the listing but it is not in the headline price, and one French reviewer called the trip a bit expensive at €45 per person all in. Bring cash.
Carry the boat fare in cash, be early at every meeting point, and swim at the springs rather than photographing them.
Guests staying at Nea Magnisia and RG Village are collected from the Allwyn Shop in Stavromenos. There is no pick-up from the Panormo area or from four named hotels, check the list before booking.
Bring beachwear and cash. The day runs 11 hours, and the trip is flagged as likely to sell out.
The day runs 11 hours in total, including the mountain drive from Rethymno and two boat stops.
The €15 boat ticket is not included and is paid separately, which brings the real cost to around €45 per person.
Freshwater springs rise through the pebbles at the waterline, so cold fresh water sits over the salt water at the shore.
Loutro has no road access. The village is reached only by boat or on foot along the coastal path.
Loutro gets the longer stop. Reviewers consistently ask for more time at Glyka Nera, and GetYourGuide’s review summary reports the same.
Sfakia is a transit point rather than a stop. Several reviewers wished for free time in the port and did not get it.
Check dates and prices for the Glyka Nera, Loutro and Sfakia day trip.
Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Apokoronas with our tour, featuring convenient pickup points in the Chania area. Traverse the picturesque landscapes and immerse yourself in the charm of authentic villages. Your adventure begins as you depart from Chania, setting the stage for a day filled with exploration and discovery across the diverse highlights of Crete. Pause to savor the rich flavors of a Greek coffee, unraveling the secrets behind crafting the perfect cup. A visit to a local cheese factory awaits, where you’ll indulge in the delectable tastes of graviera, mizithra, and an array of cheese varieties. Make a delightful stop at a traditional bakery to sample local culinary treasures. The tour culminates in an idyllic village, where you’ll relish a leisurely lunch at a traditional “kafeneio” or Greek café. Engage in conversations with locals, gaining insights into the rhythm of countryside life. This immersive experience offers a genuine taste of Cretan culture and hospitality. As the day concludes, return to your designated pickup point, cherishing the memories of a day spent exploring the hidden gems of Apokoronas.
Our ATV quad safari tour allows you to explore Crete’s picturesque mountainscapes, rich olive groves, and unspoiled countryside, providing a thrilling and immersive way to connect with the island’s authentic nature.
As you ride through the rugged terrain on your all-terrain vehicle, you’ll encounter breathtaking panoramic views of the Cretan landscapes. The tour takes you off the beaten path, offering glimpses of traditional villages, remote settlements, and untouched natural wonders tucked away amidst the mountains.
The adventure isn’t just about the ride; it’s also an opportunity to embrace the local culture and traditions. Along the way, you might pause to interact with friendly locals, experience genuine hospitality, and taste traditional Cretan delicacies at rustic tavernas or quaint roadside cafes.
Our ATV quad safari tour is designed to provide an immersive and authentic experience, allowing participants to appreciate the rugged beauty of Crete’s mountains while getting a taste of the island’s rich cultural heritage. It’s an ideal adventure for those seeking a blend of adrenaline, exploration, and a deeper connection with the natural and traditional essence of Crete.
Depart Hersonissos on a Quad Bike safari into the mountains of Crete and discover a more authentic side of the island as you get back to nature on small, traffic-free roads.
Drive to the traditional villages of Koutouloufari, Piscopiano and old Hersonissos before heading to the Lasithi plateau. Continue along the riverbed en route to the village of Potamies, and pass small gardens of fruit trees and olive groves along the way.
Enjoy the scent of different herbs and listen to the sound of millions of tiny tsitsikia (insects).
Visit some small churches and see sheep and goats grazing as you continue to the traditional village of Karouzanos. Stop at a café before driving towards Askous village.
Get an amazing view of Lyttos and Kasteli before traveling downhill to the village. Enjoy an authentic tsikoudia (raki) and some tasty snacks. Then, continue downhill to the Aposelemis dam and underwater village of Sfentili en route to the Panagias monastery.
Join a tour with all of Crete’s most iconic products. All the areas that you will visit are famous for their vineyards, the olive groves, and their wine production since the Minoan era. Even today they are considered the largest areas in Greece for cultivating grapes and high-quality olive oil.
Stop at a local olive mill and take a tour of the olive grove and after the olive mill where you can taste fresh olive oil. The second stop is a family-owned winery that uses organic methods for cultivating. You will get a tour around the vineyards and the winery and taste 5 wines.
The next stop is a unique distillery with an ancient wine press. Raki is the most famous Cretan spirit. Take a tour of the distillery and then enjoy a traditional lunch at a local tavern. Before finishing off the tour with a visit to a pottery studio located in a traditional village that is famous for its pottery.
*The pottery lab is not available on Sundays
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