Best 5 Second World War activities on Crete Island

Immerse yourself in the fascinating history and enchanting charm of Heraklion with our Ecobike Tour. Discover the city’s ancient treasures and vibrant culture as you pedal through its historic streets. Our knowledgeable local guide will lead you on an unforgettable journey, sharing intriguing stories and insights along the way. During this tour, you’ll explore iconic landmarks. Marvel at the impressive Venetian Walls that once protected the city, and soak in the lively atmosphere of the Venetian Harbor. As you navigate the charming streets, you’ll witness the fusion of past and present, experiencing the authentic essence of Heraklion. Our electric bikes make the journey effortless, allowing you to cover more ground and discover hidden gems effortlessly. Feel the wind in your hair as you ride through the bustling city, capturing memorable photos and creating unforgettable moments. The tour concludes at our central starting point, leaving you perfectly positioned to continue exploring Heraklion’s vibrant neighborhoods, indulge in local culinary delights, or venture out to nearby attractions. Our friendly guide will be happy to provide recommendations and ensure you have a seamless experience. Join us on this Ecobike Tour and uncover the captivating history and beauty of Heraklion. Book now for an eco-friendly adventure that combines exploration, education, and excitement in one unforgettable experience.

Explore the World War II history of Crete and learn about its wider impact in southeast Europe and Greece. Explore the story of the Greek-Italian War of 1940 and the circumstances that lead to Hitler’s Operation Mercury. Hear how the Battle of Crete and the resistance to the invasion helped revive the morale of the Allied troops around the world. Visit key location sites such as the pretty village of Maleme, where the German paratroopers first landed. Discover remnants of the war at Tavronitis and Galatas, and visit the war cemeteries of the German and Allied troops. Be amazed as your guide brings history to life and tells you about secret shelters and other monuments from the war. Hear untold stories that take you behind the scenes and explore the role the partisans played as they helped the British, Australian and New Zealand armies change the course of history.

In this 4-day tour, our historian who specializes in contemporary history makes you feel like a soldier: Abandoned and unknown bunkers of the allies and of the Axis forces are accessible on tour, as well as rare photographs and documents of the battle of Crete. Our first day is all about the sector of Chania and Maleme, where the crucial battlefront was. A visit to 3 abandoned lookouts and one German bunker in a secret location makes us feel the dimensions and the scale of the battlefields. We continue to see the British Commonwealth War cemetery, the German War cemetery and the “prison valley”. Our historian explains the significance of the battlefields and the strategic points in the outcome of the battle for Crete. Our daily excursion ends in an abandoned German facility, where we learn more about the War and the resistance of Cretans, carefully supported by rare war photographs. Our second day is devoted to Retimo, or as we call it today “Rethymnon”. Our certified historian shows you the crucial points of the battlefields near the town of Rethymnon, and we visit Australian and New Zealand War Memorials in Crete to pay our respects to the fallen soldiers. Our Tour continues inland, and to the Southern parts of the island, as we try to follow the troops on their evacuation of the South Coast in late May 1941 on their way to Alexandria. Time free is given to stroll through picturesque and mesmerizing parts of Crete, as we get informed about the crucial incidents that led to the evacuation of the troops during the Battle of Crete. Our third day our historian guide makes us understand the difficulties and the strategic mistakes that led to the retreat and the evacuation to Egypt. We visit a rare private war museum in Chania and the curator explains the war finds as well as the significance of various guns, ammunition and military equipment during World War 2 and the battle of Crete. Finally, we reach the evacuation port in South Crete, and we pay our respects to the Battle of Crete memorial. Time is given for a relaxing lunch or a stroll to the lovely villages of the wild beauty of South Crete. Our last day of this private tour in Chania, Crete is what makes this tour the best tour for the battle of Crete, and the most knowledgeable. Our historian leads us to the villages and places that were destroyed by the Germans after the battle of Crete. We stand in awe, as we visit numerous villages of Chania and pay our respects to the innocent people that were killed for reappraisals after the end of the battles. We understand the severe resistance of the Cretans and of the partisans, and the heavy casualties that the Axis forces faced because of one of the first resistance attempts they faced during the war. We conclude the tour full of memories, and unknown facts as we finish our journey to the city, where our specialised history private tour in Chania began.

In this tour about the Battle of Crete during World War 2, a certified historian specializing in contemporary history leads you through the evacuation route that ANZAC Troops took on late MAY 1941, after their retreat: We follow the troops until we get to their main evacuation port in Sfakia, in one of the most beautiful and southern parts of Crete. Alongside the region of Preveli, which was the second evacuation route the Allies took during the Battle of Crete, thousands of ANZACs were safely evacuated towards Alexandria. Our private history tour in Chania starts from the mainland and we travel inwards, through many picturesque villages of mainland Crete. A stop at an abandoned shelter in an undisclosed location makes us understand how Cretans lived during the battle of Crete, and the daily life upon German occupation of the island, especially during heavy bombardments. After a short drive, we make a stop in a lovely traditional “kafeneion” (cafeteria) where we can enjoy traditional Cretan delicacies and desserts, as well as blend in with the locals in an unprecedented manner. We continue inwards and as the scenery changes into a much more mountainous terrain, we understand and comprehend the difficulties of the evacuation during the Second World War. In a short while, we arrive at a one-of-a-kind private war museum, with rare historical finds from the era of the Battle of Crete. The curator carefully explains to us the significance of each of the finds and lets us see and feel the war treasures, especially the weapons and the equipment, both of the axis forces and of the allied forces. Our trip continues in order to find an abandoned BOFORS 40 MM Anti Aircraft gun that was being left by the British soldiers on their evacuation. Our specialized historian explains its history and its operation, as we prepare to descend towards the beaches and ports of South Crete. A stop at a breathtaking spot is done, to understand the treacherous mountains, the wildlife and the desolation of this part of Crete, which all together helped the Allied troops to their safe escape. Finally, we reach the port of Sfakia, which was the main evacuation port and we pay our respects to the British – Australian – New Zealand war memorial that the local community established as a homage to the ANZACS. Time free is given to explore the traditional village of Sfakia, experience the Cretan dishes from the many Cretan restaurants, or swim in the crystal clear waters of South Crete.

In this specialised tour for the Battle of Crete, we uncover the routes and passages that the Allied Troops of the British Commonwealth soldiers took in order to evacuate the island during the Battle of Crete in Rethymno. We follow the troops on the exact routes they took while evacuating the island at the end of May 1941. A certified historian (BA-MSc) unfolds the mysteries of the battle of Crete, using rare documents and his expertise. In addition to our specialised tour for the Battle of Crete in Chania and the hidden war sites to be discovered, this tour extends your knowledge about World War II history. It is perfect for history lovers and those who like an off-the-beaten-path experience. To understand the dimensions of Crete, we drive inland and Southeast, to explore the vicinity of Rethymno, which also played a vital role during the Battle of Crete, both in the battlefield sector (Gruppe Mitte- Mars ) and during the evacuation of the troops towards Alexandria. A stop at a Postminoan cemetery makes us understand our island’s rich history. After a short while, we make a stop at Kourtaliotiko Gorge, a gorge of impeccable beauty, being used for the evacuation of the troops during the battle. This private guided tour in Rethymno lets you take incredible photos of Cretan Valleys, Villages and Countryside, as we learn about the history of the Gorge, and the history of its name – “Kourtala”. We continue onwards and pass by the old monastery of Preveli, where we understand and comprehend its value of it during the Battle of Crete in Rethymno. After a while, we reach our main goal the Monastery of Preveli and the Palm Grove of Preveli which was used as an evacuating spot for the Allies during the Second World War. We make our way towards the artefacts of the monastery, and we understand its strategic spot, as well as learn about unknown myths and traditions of the Battle of Crete. Our history tour in Chania and Rethymno continues to the evacuation place in the palm grove of Preveli, as we admire the natural landscape. We continue having a lunch break in a tavern that treats us with traditional Cretan specialities and delicacies, before reaching the Australian War Memorial in the city of Rethymno, and the HILL A crucial to the Battle of Crete on Rethymno side. We close our tour with a relaxing stroll on the Venetian alleys of Rethymno old Port before finishing this private journey and returning to our hotels.