Hersonissos and Analipsi Buggy Safari with Cave and Lunch
This buggy safari covers about 70 kilometres of countryside inland from the Hersonissos and Malia coast, in a two-seater buggy you drive yourself behind a guide. The route takes in Milatos cave, an olive oil factory and museum at Kourounes, lunch in the fishing village of Sissi and a swim stop at a sandy beach. Maliatravel runs it over 5 hours from €83.70 with hotel pick-up, and it holds a 4.69 rating across 28 reviews.
What this buggy safari actually does
The route loops inland through villages and gorges before returning to the coast. Six stops fill the 5 hours.
First comes the safety briefing and driving instructions, no previous buggy experience is needed. Second, the convoy heads off-road through country roads, mountain trails and hidden gorges, passing an archaeological site connected to the Minoan civilisation and the villages of Sissi, Epano Sissi and Milatos. Third is Milatos cave, a natural cavern with multiple entrances and a place in Cretan history, visited with a guided explanation. Fourth is the Vasilakis olive oil factory and museum at Kourounes, with a guided tour and a tasting. Fifth is lunch at a family-run taverna in Sissi. Sixth is a swim at an organised sandy beach before the drive back.
Professional photographs of your day are included.
Places this tour visits
The route runs inland from the resort coast into the Lasithi hills.
- Milatos Cave, the main historical stop is Milatos cave, which has several entrances and a small chapel inside.
- Milatos, the route passes through Milatos village on the way to the cave.
- Sissi, lunch is at a family taverna in Sissi, the fishing village on the coast east of Malia.
- Hersonissos, pick-up covers Hersonissos and the resorts around it.
- Malia, the same route serves Malia, where the safari base sits.
What’s included and what isn’t
The €83.70 covers the vehicle, the guiding, lunch and the photographs.
Included:
- Two-seater buggy
- Professional guide, with a full safety briefing and driving instructions
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Hersonissos, Gouves, Analipsi, Malia, Stalis and nearby areas
- Fuel and vehicle insurance
- Milatos cave visit with guided explanation
- Olive oil factory tour and tasting at Vasilakis
- Folklore museum visit, optional
- Swim or snorkel stop at a beach near Malia
- Professional photographs of your day
- Traditional Cretan lunch
Not included:
- Towels and swimwear
- Personal expenses and gratuities
A driving licence is required.
Why we recommend this experience
We recommend this one for the balance. Plenty of buggy tours in Crete are just a dusty loop and a photograph; this puts a genuine cave, a working olive factory, a village lunch and a swim inside the same five hours, which makes it a day rather than an activity. Milatos cave in particular is worth the stop on its own, it is a real chamber system with a chapel inside and a place in the island’s history, not a photo opportunity.
Guiding is the strongest dimension at 4.9 out of 5, and reviewers name their guide, Jesse appears twice, once specifically for speaking French. A German reviewer described seeing a lot of the hinterland on unpaved routes with a friendly guide; a Swiss guest called the route nice and the organisation good.
The buggy itself is a two-seater, which one Slovenian reviewer liked precisely because they did not have to drive.
Three things to weigh, because 28 reviews is a modest base and the criticisms are specific.
Reviewers want more off-road time. A British family said they really liked the buggies but would have appreciated more time actually driving off-road, with six stops in five hours, the driving is punctuated rather than continuous.
The olive factory does not suit young children. The same reviewer noted it was not very exciting for them, which is fair for a factory tour in the middle of an adventure day.
Transport scores 4.4 out of 5, the weakest dimension, which on a tour where the vehicle is the point is worth noting.
If you want more driving and fewer stops, the Hersonissos buggy adventure runs 50 kilometres in 3 hours with no lunch stop.
CreteLocals insider tips
Bring your licence, wear closed shoes, and expect to get dusty.
- Bring your driving licence, without which you cannot take the wheel.
- Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you do not mind dusting, since 70 kilometres of dirt track leaves a mark.
- Pack a towel and swimwear, which are not included despite the beach stop.
- Bring a face covering for dust, which the operator lists among what to bring.
- Take the passenger seat if you would rather look than drive, as the buggies are two-seaters and only one of you needs the licence.
- Book ahead in summer, since the tour is flagged as likely to sell out.
What to know before you go
Departures run daily in the morning, with hotel pick-up from Hersonissos, Gouves, Analipsi, Malia, Stalis and nearby resorts. The route covers about 70 kilometres over 5 hours.
Bring your driving licence, a hat, swimwear, sunscreen, water, comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes and a face covering. High heels, alcohol and glass objects are not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the buggy safari?
The safari runs 5 hours, covering about 70 kilometres with six stops along the way.
Do you need buggy experience?
No previous experience is required. A full safety briefing and driving instructions come before the route starts.
Is lunch included?
A traditional Cretan lunch is included, at a family-run taverna in the fishing village of Sissi.
What is Milatos cave?
Milatos cave is a natural cavern with multiple entrances and a small chapel inside, visited with a guided explanation of its history.
Is hotel pickup included?
Pick-up and drop-off are included from Hersonissos, Gouves, Analipsi, Malia, Stalis and nearby areas.
Can two people share a buggy?
The buggies are two-seaters, so only the driver needs a licence and the passenger can simply enjoy the ride.
Check dates and prices for the Hersonissos buggy safari with cave and lunch.
Location
Hersonissos and Analipsi Buggy Safari with Cave and Lunch is located at Vassilakis Estate. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
