Best 16 Religious & spiritual activities on Crete Island

Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in the Rethymno area, and then explore the traditional lifestyle and historical legacy of Crete. Learn the Neolithic history of the Melidoni Cave and discover the pottery traditions of the village of Margarites. Discover the oldest monastery in Crete at the 16th-century Arkadi Monastery, and then go to the village of Apostoli to visit an old olive oil factory. Enjoy lunch in a traditional tavern and listen to the beautiful sound of live folk music before making your way to St. Antonios Gorge. Stop at the Fragma Potamon dam before making your way back to Rethymno.

This tour is for those who would like to get to know Cretan culture and traditions while enjoying a four-hour off-road excursion. You will visit a modern olive mill, so that you can see how olive oil is produced, and you can also enjoy the opportunity to sample some of the oils. After this, you will explore some myths and stories hidden After that you will climb 600 metres above sea-level on an off-road route. You will travel through the Lefka Ori woods and you will be stunned by the panoramic views from the trail. Later, you will meet a shepherd who will show you how Cretan cheeses are made and you can try some of the cheeses he makes himself.   Finally, the evening will come to a close with a traditional evening meal. There will be lots of food and traditional dishes for everyone to enjoy, and the evening will leave you with fond memories of your day spent exploring Crete. 

Journey into the wild and untamed side of Crete by Land Rover. Visit quiet, spiritual Agiofarago with its wild beauty, then experience the contrast of noisy Matala with its hippie style. After being picked up from your hotel, drive south through the plain of Messara, to Agiofarago: the gorge of the Saints. Enjoy a drink in the traditional village of Siva, then stop at the 14th century Odigitria Monastery. From there the rugged dirt tracks will lead you to Agiofarago. Stretch your legs along a 30 minute path crossing the gorge, scattered with oleander and olive trees. Discover a beautiful beach stretching to the Libyan Sea, where you can swim and snorkel. Continue to Matala, a small but crowded village, with a long sandy beach and crystal clear deep waters. Explore carved Roman tombs, have a swim at the beach, and eat lunch in a traditional local tavern.

Enjoy some time away from the beaches and explore a different side of Crete on a guided excursion. See the freshwater springs in the small town of Krasi, visit the Kera and Vidiani monasteries, step into the mythical Psychro Cave, and take part in a traditional ceramics workshop. Get picked up from your accommodation in the morning and take a short drive to the traditional village of Krasi. Gaze at the beautiful freshwater springs and the oldest tree on Crete as you take in the countryside scenery. Up next, stop at two local monasteries. See the Monastery of Kera dedicated to the Virgin Mary, near the town of Kera. Move on to Vidiani Monastery, a small male monastery at the foot of Louloudaki Mountain. Uncover the secrets of the mythical birthplace of Zeus, Psychro Cave, decorated with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Lastly, see how traditional pieces of ceramics are made, before heading over to a typical Cretan tavern with local products and dishes to enjoy lunch at your own expense.

Discover Lasithi Plateau and its important landmarks on a guided day trip from Heraklion, with hotel transfers included. Visit Krasi village, the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, and the Psychro Cave. Participate in a ceramics workshop and end your day exploring the traditional village of Knossos Palace. After a hotel pickup, head to the traditional mountain village of Krasi known for its quaint central square with stone fountains and an enormous plane tree thought to be 2,400 years old. See intimate tavernas and cafes scattered among the streets, small stone churches, and freshwater springs. Next, explore the Eastern Orthodox Keras Monastery, dedicated to Virgin Mary. Then, visit the Vidiani Monastery located at the foothills of Louloudaki Mountain. Learn how it was built in the 19th century by the monk Methodius Peraki, probably on the ruins of an older monastery. Continue to Psychro Cave, the mythical birth place of Zeus. Admire the ancient Minoan sacred cave and its stalactites and stalagmites. Next up, see how traditional ceramics are made from a local. Afterward, stop at a traditional tavern for lunch. Choose from a variety of local dishes made from local products of the Lassithi plateau, homemade wine, and products from the surrounding mountains. Leaving the beautiful region of Lasithi behind, end the tour at the Historical Site of Knossos, Europe’s oldest city. Join a 1-hour guided tour and take photos of this Bronze Age archaeological site. Then, hop back on the bus to return to your hotel.

Discover the breathtaking beauty of the Lasithi Plateau on a day trip from Heraklion. Admire the remaining windmills and the drainage system that dates back to the Venetian Empire. Pass through traditional villages such as Psychro. Visit the Dikteon Cave, where Zeus is said to have been born. Continue to the village of Tzermiado and enjoy lunch in an authentic tavern before going to the Keras Kardiotissas Monastery, known for its remarkable murals. Next, visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos and learn the legend of the settlement at sites such as the Throne Room and Royal Chambers.

Immerse yourself in the history of Crete and visit one of the most famous archeological sites. The Minoan Palace of Knossos, first built in 2000 B.C., was the residence of the legendary King Minos. The building, with an estimated 1,300-1,400 rooms, was excavated around 1900 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed. Afterwards, embark on a short journey into more recent history and discover the old town of Heraklion with the well-known Morosini Fountain in Lions Square, the Loggia and St. Mark’s Basilica. Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere, hike through the narrow streets, visit the market, browse the local shops, or visit the Venetian port with its fortress. Explore small parks, street cafés, and many historical buildings and fountains from Venetian and Turkish times. After visiting the excavation site see a very special performance. Once more experience Minoan culture with 3D video and traditional dancers wearing original costumes. Eat small appetizers prepared according to traditional Minoan recipes to bring history back to life.

The province of Apokoronas stretches from the foothills of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) to the northern coast of the island. Dynamic water routes form a region rich in vegetation of various kinds. Apokoronas has preserved the traditional character of its villages that constitute a living core of modern rural life. The whole history of its countryside, along with the history of Christian worship, is reflected in its churches that will be the focus of your tour. You will encounter exceptional examples of art and architecture situated in unique natural beauty. Your first stop will be a small Byzantine church in the middle of nowhere, almost caped by trees and plants around. It is located in a landscape of exceptional beauty, surrounded by vineyards and a rare Cretan oak. This type of the church is a typical example of pure Byzantine architecture and testifies to the radiation of the tradition of Constantinople even into the distant corners of the empire. You will also find traces of early worship in another church in a nearby village. Although the standing building dates back to the 15th century, the recent excavations inside indicate that worship began in the 8th century. See the excavation inside the church and discuss its relations with the great monasteries of Greece and the monastic tradition that was formed in the area. A symbol of the Cretan effort in their struggle against the Venetians is a glorious church at the foothills of the White Mountains. Its founder is the Emperor of Nicaea, John Vatatzis, who hastened to prevent the conqueror of the island. The exceptional frescoes within date back to the 13th century and represents a high quality example of painting. The tour will be completed in the exceptional beauty of a hidden church in one of the most charming villages of Apokoronas. Built in the 13th century, the church is a modern pilgrimage demonstrating that faith in this place is an ongoing feeling. Then, enjoy traditional local cuisine at a local kafeneion (tapas taverna) located in the unique square of a typical Cretan village, where you will find an expression of daily local life as the last satisfaction for your senses on this tour.

Experience an ancient land with the vivid presence of Christianity through founding monasteries, churches, and chapels of great religious importance. Journey to Central Crete and take the path of Apostle Paul to the land of generosity. Discover an untouched paradise on earth, where fertile soils treasure lavish vineyards, and the oldest olive groves that seem to stretch toward the horizon. Listen to the expert knowledge of our local guides as you visit religious monuments with built in stunning landscapes, some of which were fortified and others situated on the sites of archaic temples illuminating the long devotion to Christianity in Crete. Feel like you are meandering through time by visiting the Minoan wonders of the Messara Plain. Embrace the magnificent views of Phaistos Palace. In the afternoon, visit the village of Matala. Bask in the waters of the Libyan Sea and unwind at the delicious fish tavernas on the waterfront.

Experience being driven off-road in a Land Rover through traditional mountain villages and historic landmarks on this Lasithi Plateau safari with lunch. Visit the Cave of Psychro, see the Roman aqueduct, and more. Admire the view from Afentis to the north, south, and west side of the island. The day starts in Hersonissos (Chersonisos). After the necessary briefing from the driver, head south towards the Lasithi Plateau. The road soon leads to the Aposelemis Dam. There you can see the abandoned village of Sfendili, which, depending on the water level, is visible or not. Continue driving on the provincial road among the olive groves to the picturesque village of Amariano. Here you can have a drink and see the remains of the Roman aqueduct. Then, the off-road driving begins. The landscape becomes wilder and the altitude increasing quickly. If you’re lucky, spot the vultures that fly in the area. The road ends at the fertile Lasithi Plateau where there were once more than 1000 windmills, which pumped groundwater to irrigate the fields. Next, stop at the impressive Cave of Psychro (Dikteon Cave) at an altitude of 1025 m. There, according to mythology, Zeus was born. The cave is considered an archeological site and can be visited for a surcharge. To reach the cave, follow a beautiful and short uphill path. If you do not want to walk, there are donkeys that take visitors to the cave for a fee. Right after your visit to the cave, get the opportunity to taste traditional Cretan cuisine in a local restaurant. After your meal, start your return. Travel through the col, where the windmills that the locals used to grind their flour are still standing. A few kilometers later, visit Keras Monastery (Monastery Panagia Kera Kardiotissa), one of the most important religious monuments in Crete. Due to its central location between Heraklion and the Lasithi Plateau, the monastery was used as a shelter for Cretan freedom fighters. Within a few months, between October 1866 and June 1867, Panagia Kera was burned twice by Omer Pasha’s army. On the way back, make a final stop in the village of Mohos for a drink of raki (alcoholic drink). The view from the road to the Cretan Sea, Mallia, and Hersonissos as the sun sets is a perfect way to end the day.