Best 8 Olive oil production tours and activities on Crete Island

Travel through stunning natural landscapes up into the mountains of the Kissamos region on this 7-hour tour from Chania.

Stop at a traditional family winery, established in 1993, and learn about the varieties of wine they produce and their ideas for modern farming processes and wine production.

Taste award-winning local Vidiano, Muscat of Spina and some international varieties such as Grenache rouge, Syrah and Mourvèdre that each have a unique taste due the local terroir.

Next you’ll visit a traditional village and see the oldest olive tree in the world, with an estimated age of 3,000 years.

This is a day filled with tasting different wine expressions of noble grapes and a variety of delicious foods.

Head to another winery in the Kissamos region to taste a special local blend of white wines with Vilana, Vidiano and Assyrtiko varieties.

Walk through the idyllic landscape of the vineyards and visit the family’s olive oil factory. Learn about extra virgin olive oil production. The wine tasting here will be accompanied by a tasting of extra virgin olive oils and local pure products, creating combinations your palate will never forget.

You’ll also learn the Cretan way of saying goodbye drinking the award-winning Tsikoudia.

Start your day of adventure at your first stop of the trip, a local oil mill. Here you will have the opportunity to see how Crete’s famous olive oil is produced on this fascinating and informative outing.

Follow on your journey through Crete and make a quick stop at the watersprings of Argyroupolis. These watersprings are responsible for the rich vegetation that surrounds the village, a truly magical and refreshing experience. Your last stop of the tour, lasting roughly 2,5 hours, will give you enough time to enjoy a swim and eat Cretan delicacies at the many taverns that are located around the lake.

This tour gives you the opportunity to explore the real Crete in a small group.

We visit an olive oil factory to learn how olive oil is made now with modern machines and how used to be made in the olden days and of course we taste different kind of olive oil and honey.

Next stop is at the old village of Krasi where we go for a walk around the village to see the oldest plane tree in Crete which is estimated around 2000 years old then we are off to Lasithii plateau where we learn about the old wind mills that were used in the past to pump the water up for irrigation and the old wind mills that were used for grinding to make flour.

Now it’s time to go and {meet Zeus } at his cave , well actually we can’t promise that because last time we visited his birthplace he wasn’t there ( had a day off ) …….. so no promises.
Then we drive around Lasithii Plateau through old villages where time seems to have stopped then we visit a family restaurant to enjoy some Cretan traditional food ….and some local house wine….( or local beer…) well let’s be local just for a day or two….. maybe you like it ( maybe you don’t but give it a go …..)
After enjoying our lunch and wine ( or local beer) it’s time to hit the road to go back to your hotel where we picked you .

Embark on an enchanting journey through the heart of Crete, where the vibrant tapestry of its culture and culinary legacy unfolds before you. Kickstart your adventure at an olive mill, where the air is redolent with the essence of olives, and immerse yourself in the time-honored craft of olive oil extraction.

Discover the customs and rituals that define Cretan cuisine, as you delve into the roots of the island’s gastronomic heritage.

Next, venture to a charming micro-winery and raki distillery nestled amidst sun-drenched vineyards, where the magical art of winemaking and distillation unveils the secrets behind Crete’s renowned indigenous grape varieties and beloved spirit. Engage your senses in a delightful wine tasting featuring four distinct wines, followed by spirited raki tastings, offering an authentic glimpse into the soul of the island.

Savor a sumptuous feast of Cretan delicacies, each dish a harmonious blend of local flavors. As the gentle breeze carries the sounds of laughter and the clinking of glasses, the meal evolves into a jubilant celebration of tradition, forging a profound connection between Crete’s culinary richness and the authentic charm of Cretan terroir.

Your day will start with a pickup from your hotel where you will travel to the Archanes region. In a small and friendly group you have the opportunity to visit one of the last olive oil family domains and learn the secrets of Cretan extra virgin oil. You’ll also visit a dynamic boutique winery, take a guided tour amongst its facilities and discover more about the magic world of wine production, terroir, and local grape varietals.

Partake in a sensational visit to a family estate and a traditional olive mill. The owners will lead you to their production area and introduce you to the fantastic world of extra virgin olive oil. This will be followed by some olive oil sample tasting. You will also have a chance to taste other local products.

Next up, meet a promising and dynamic winemaker who will guide you through his winery and domain. Get exclusive access to the facilities and get a glimpse into the production process. Then, after a wine presentation, you will experience a wine tasting featuring 5 different varieties made on the island. After your winery tour, visit a traditional restaurant and taste true Cretan mezze cooking for lunch. Enjoy prepared plates consisting of warm and cold traditional mezzes featuring salads, grilled cheese, olive fritters, different meats and vegetable plates. Whilst here, continue your wine tasting and sample a sweet desert wine to aid digestion.

This olive oil tour is all about olive oil and fruit tasting! Our private olive oil tour in Chania starts with a stroll around our lush olive oil and farming valleys. We reach an elevated spot, in order to understand the scale of vegetation, production, and agriculture cultivation of Chania.

After a stop at a place of impeccable view where we will take unforgettable photo souvenirs, we hop onto a private olive grove. This session allows us to better understand the olive oil varieties in Crete, the Grades of Olive Oil produced in Chania and the significance of the farming methods in modern horticulture. Fresh Organic Olive Oil will be given to us for free, from the specific Olive Grove to take back home for Olive Tasting.

A local experienced and professional farmer will disclose to us the secrets of Olive Trees, and the methods of Farming, Irrigation and Grafting in order to produce a better olive crop, of the highest quality.

After this tour, we continue onwards in order to visit an old Olive Oil Mill, where we start to understand how olives were processed some centuries ago, by our Cretan ancestors. A full walkthrough of the Olive oil factory is being done, as we progress to make a stop for light lunch or coffee at a place full of lush vegetation and rivers passing by us. This is a perfect opportunity to also talk about the region of Apokoronas and the villages of Apokoronas where this tour takes place. We stand amused by the authentic and untouched environment, talking about the farmer’s life in Crete and the Flora and Fauna of Crete.

Then, we pay a visit to an ancient olive tree, more than 3000 years old, that is far away from the visitor’s eyes, in order to understand and admire nature at its finest, purest form. We stand in awe at the olive tree circumference and take some fantastic photographs.

At the end of the tour, we visit a modern olive oil factory in the region of Chania where our tour guide carefully explains the modern method of olive oil production, refinement and processing. We close this private nature tour in Chania with some olive oil tasting inside the factory, next to the processed olive oil equipment and machinery.

Experience an evening of live entertainment, taste traditional Cretan food, and take part in local produce workshops on this lively excursion.
Begin your outing by visiting a farm in Sissi Village. Head to an 18th-century olive oil mill and learn about the award-winning mill’s family history. Then head to a honey workshop and see the local honey-making process and learn about bees’ activities.

Taste the famous alcoholic beverage called Raki. Learn more about how it is produced and discover the ritual deeply rooted in Cretan Culture.

Delight in learning about homemade Olive Oil soap and hearing about its health benefits for the skin. Have the chance to purchase high-quality local produce directly from the seller after tasting or learning about them.

Later on, begin your gastronomical adventure with a wine tasting. Sip on outstanding wines from local Cretan grape varieties and taste distinct flavors. Learn all about the wine’s production, which dates back to the ancient Minoan Civilization.

Tuck into a delicious homemade Cretan meal cooked in a wood-fired oven. Enjoy seasonal greens, fava beans, and salad from the owner’s garden accompanied by a wide variety of appetizers and french fries.

Finally, appreciate live entertainment and spend a joyful night like a Cretan, dance to Greek rhythms, hear a wonderful orchestra, and see traditional dancing.

Head back to the bus for your journey back to your accommodation.

Stops included: Fortress, Olive Tour & Tasting, Folklore Museum, Traditional Village Coffee Shop, Monastery, Local Winery with Wine Tasting & Traditional Lunch.

Discover the authentic side of Crete on this private all-inclusive Village Tour, starting from Chania and lasting around 7 – 8 hours. Far from the crowds, you’ll explore traditional villages, history, and hospitality at a relaxed pace. The tour begins at Aptera Fortress with stunning views over Souda Bay and the White Mountains, then continues to a family-run olive oil mill for a tasting of Crete’s ‘liquid gold’. At the Folklore Museum of Gavalochori, artifacts reveal stories of village life, before a pause for coffee at a traditional kafeneio. We then visit a peaceful Monastery and end at a local winery for wine tasting and a traditional Cretan lunch.

This is more than sightseeing – it’s a day of flavours, stories, and connection with the real Crete. Whether you are a family, group of friends, couple, solo traveler, or visiting on a cruise, this experience is designed for you. Our private van is fully adapted for mobility needs, ensuring everyone feels welcome. A true journey into the heart and soul of Crete.