Best 55 Walking tours and activities on Crete Island

Take a day trip from Rethymno to set out on an outdoor adventure into Samaria Gorge National Park. Hike at your own pace with a guide over rocks and stones, through a forest of thousand-year-old trees, along a river, and by fresh-water springs. Keep an eye out for mountain goats roaming in the wild.
Begin your full-day excursion to Samaria Gorge with pickup and a drive to Omalos, in the heart of the White Mountains, where you can enjoy breakfast before you start the hike. Challenge yourself with 18 kilometers of walking over rocky terrain.
Be accompanied by a mountain escort who speaks English, German, and French. Get briefed about your hike and get your tickets for the entrance and ferry boat from your escort. These fees have to be paid to the guide upon arrival.

After breakfast, enter the Samaria Gorge. Walk at your own pace as your guide will be at the end of the group to help out if you need them. At the end of the trek, visit the village of Agia Roumeli, where you’ll find a number of taverns, bars, and shops.
Enjoy some free time to take a swim or have some lunch. A meeting point will be arranged so you can collect your ferry tickets from your guide. Late in the afternoon, board a boat to go from Agia Roumeli to Sfakia, where the bus will be waiting to transfer you back to the pickup point.

Join a guided tour of Knossos, a complex of more than 1500 interlocking rooms, once an astonishing palace built for a mighty king of the Bronze Age. Knossos is considered Europe’s oldest city.
As you wander through the labyrinthine ruins, get the chance to see the original throne of ‘’Minos”, the mystifying sanctuaries, the luxurious domestic quarters of the royal family, Crete’s treasures pantries, and the water-management systems.
The first palace of Knossos was erected soon after 2000 BC. In 1700 BC, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed the Palace. A new palace was built immediately, the most monumental of all, and for over 300 years it represented the pre-eminent center of power in Bronze Age Crete.
The new palace was an imposing complex with important architectural innovations, splendid frescoes adorning the walls, hundreds of rooms distributed in four storeys, impressive storage areas, specialized workshops, and spacious courts hosting ceremonies and feasts.
Learn how during the last decades of the 14th century BC, a series of earthquakes led to the final destruction of the palace. 

Explore the famous Samaria Gorge on a trip along the northern coastline of Crete and through the White Mountains up to the Omalos Plateau. Samaria Gorge became a National Park in 1962 and today, it is the last natural refuge for the Cretan goat species known as Kri-Kri.

Depart early in the morning and board a coach which will pick you up from your hotel. After a comfortable drive, arrive at the plateau of Omalos for a small break before heading to the entrance of the gorge. The start of the hiking trail through the gorge is at a height of 1200m. On the route, pass by rich vegetation and through the tall rock walls known as the “Iron Gates”. Fill up your water bottle at one of the springs in the gorge.

At the end of the 17km walk, reach the Libyan Sea. There, at the beach of Ayia Roumeli, enjoy a refreshing swim or sit at one of the taverns until a ferry takes the group to Chora Sfakion where the bus will be waiting for you to return you back to your hotel. 

Discover Chania’s Old Town on a private or shared group guided tour with a local. Learn about local history, and taste delicious Cretan street food as you explore.
Meet your guide in Chania’s bustling market, then set off into the historic Old Town. Unravel the history of Chania as you stroll around the streets and admire the impressively well-preserved architecture.

Stroll along the cobbled narrow paths of the city, and learn about Chania’s Venetian past, renaissance heritage, and Ottoman influences. Pass by famous landmarks and soak up the charming atmosphere as you mingle with the locals.

As you explore, discover the flavors of Cretan cuisine, stop at colorful food shops and taverns, selling wine, olive-oil, cheese, herbs, spices, and more, and enjoy street food samples along the way.  

Get an introduction to the best food that Heraklion has to offer by treating your palate to traditional Cretan dishes and exceptional local wines! Go on an unforgettable tasty journey through Heraklion’s local neighbourhoods.

After meeting your local guide, start off with a traditional Greek coffee also known as ellinikós kafés. Learn why Greeks love coffee and see it brewed the traditional way in sand and be taught “cup reading”, a centuries-old tradition that reads your future.

Enjoy Heraklion’s well-known bougatsa in a family-owned business that has mastered its bougatsa technique since 1922. Consisting of semolina custard, cheese, or minced meat filling between layers of phyllo, bougatsa is a must-taste pastry that you shouldn’t miss while being in the city.

Continue to a local market where you’ll meet the local vendors and learn about their products. Sample some of the basic elements of Cretan cuisine such as olives, rusks, and cheese. Become a cheese-tasting expert by receiving local hints and learn how to spot the best local cheeses. Taste the island’s famous olive oil and find out why organic Cretan olive oil is one of the best oils in the world.

Sit down for a local organic meat dish or if you want to show yourself how brave you are, sample a dish that is loved by most Cretans: fried snails.

Move on to your last stop and taste some local Cretan wines in a family-run shop. Keep in mind that winemaking in Crete has a long history that dates back to the Bronze Age. Before you go, don’t forget to ask your local guide for more tips on what else to see, do and eat during your stay.

Discover Chania like a local on our immersive tour! Begin your adventure in the scenic medieval town and old port as twilight approaches. Wander through the hidden cobblestone streets of the Venetian Old Port, uncovering tales of iconic locals, rebellions, and historical structures that make Chania’s history captivatingly real.

We’ll introduce you to vibrant local bars and unique shops that champion Cretan crafts, ensuring you experience the city’s lively spirit. As the sun sets, soak in the mesmerizing view at an ideal vantage point, perfect for unforgettable photos.

Wrap up the night in a charming garden, indulging in a wine and food feast. Savour award-winning Cretan wines alongside a three-course organic dinner, all while learning about Cretan wine varieties and cuisine, renowned for its health benefits.

For dessert lovers, enjoy artisanal ice cream made from fresh local ingredients. Conclude your night with “raki” shots at a local venue, mingling with Chania’s friendly locals. Before you leave, let us share insider tips to maximize your Crete experience!

Take your taste buds on a journey on this guided walking tour of Rethymno’s Old Town. Eat like a local as you step into a local café for breakfast. Learn how to taste honey, olive oil and raki like a Cretan. Uncover the secrets to making paper-thin phyllo. Have a feast under a lemon tree. 
Start you tour at a Greek style kafeneio café in the heart of the city. Indulge in an authentic Cretan breakfast of a traditional Greek coffee or fresh juice and a handmade sfakianopita cheese pie coated with a layer of handmade jam.
During breakfast, discuss the local traditions and customs, and how all these are connected to Cretan gastronomy. Learn how to distinguishing between high and low quality honey, olive oil, and raki with a tasting experience.
Make your way to a 17th-century Venetian mansion house of Yorgos Hatziparaschos who has been making phyllo dough by hand for over 63 years. Be memorized by how the simple ingredients of flour, water, and salt are masterfully worked into the thin dough used in Greek desserts like baklava.

Continue to a restaurant hidden in an Ottoman-style inner garden. Feast on Cretan meal under the lemon trees. Savor traditional dishes, cooked with fresh local ingredients and served in a stylish, modern way.
Reflect on how the past connects with modern Cretan life with your host. End your tour at your meeting point.

Since its first settlement in the Neolithic period, Chania has been a prized location for many empires, including the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Venetians, Ottomans, and Germans. Its strategic position has led to a rich and tumultuous history, making Chania a city with an enthralling story.

Join us on a laid-back walking tour of Chania to explore what makes this cultural capital so extraordinary. We’ll visit some of the Old Town’s best sights, famous spots, historic haunts, and hidden gems, including the lesser-known Ottoman and Jewish quarters. Get ready to experience Chania with all your senses!

We begin our tour at the Dimotiki Agora (Municipal Market), the boundary between the old and new town. Established in 1913, the year of Crete’s unification with Greece, the Agora hosts over 70 family-owned businesses selling local groceries and products. Sample local delicacies, discovering why Crete is home to one of the healthiest diets in the world.

After satisfying your taste buds, we’ll stroll through the old town district, navigating hidden back streets and narrow laneways, visiting Venetian and Ottoman monuments, and discovering secret gardens. Hear stories, myths, and legends about kings, sailors, merchants, heroes, lovers, and artists, and learn how Chania has been a crossroads between the West and East for centuries.

Next, witness local craftsmen producing their handmade products. Hear their stories and maybe even test your skills!

We’ll then meander through the old Jewish and Ottoman neighborhoods, learning how multiculturalism has shaped the lives of the locals over the centuries.

After walking along the historic harbor’s promenade, you’ll relax at a local favorite spot, enjoying a delightful table of Cretan mezedes (local tapas).

Our tour concludes here, the perfect place to continue your exploration of the city, or we can escort you back to the starting point. Before we part ways, don’t forget to ask us for more tips on making the most of your trip to amazing Chania.

Local Impact — How You Help the Community

Meet local shopowners and family-owned businesses selling Cretan-only products.
Visit one of the last remaining workshops for traditional handmade Cretan knives and hear stories from the knife maker.
Sample locally sourced food from Crete’s villages, farmers, and stock-breeders.