Vai Palm Beach, Toplou Monastery and Sitia Day Tour
This day tour covers eastern Crete from Ierapetra and Makrigialos, ending at Vai, the largest natural palm forest in Europe, growing directly behind a sand beach. On the way it stops at the mountain village of Lithines, the harbour town of Sitia, and the fortified monastery of Toplou. South Crete Tours runs it over 8 hours from €52.20, with a 4.43 rating across 19 reviews.
What this day tour actually does
The route works north and east from the Ierapetra coast, with four stops. Each has a distinct character.
First is Lithines, a traditional village where the stop is a walk through the streets and a Greek coffee. Second is Sitia, a working harbour town on the north-east coast, with a promenade to walk and a view over the fishing boats. Third is Toplou monastery, a fortified 15th-century foundation standing alone on an empty plateau, where you can see the buildings and taste the wine they produce. Fourth is Vai, the palm beach, with time to swim, eat and photograph.
Vai holds the largest natural stand of Cretan date palms in Europe, and the trees grow right down to the sand rather than being planted behind it.
Places this tour visits
The route covers the eastern end of the island in the Lasithi regional unit.
- Vai, the final stop is Vai beach, where the palm forest reaches the shore.
What’s included and what isn’t
The €52.20 covers the coach, the guide and the pick-up.
Included:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Air-conditioned coach transfer
- Experienced tour guide
Not included:
- Toplou monastery entrance, €4 per person
- Lunch at Vai, available on request and charged separately
Why we recommend this experience
We recommend this route because it is the only sensible way to see the eastern end of Crete in a day. Vai sits at the far north-east corner, Toplou is on an empty plateau with nothing around it, and Sitia is an hour from either, doing all three from a south-coast base means a long drive with several turnings you would not find on your own.
Vai itself justifies the day. It is the largest natural palm forest in Europe, and unlike Preveli, where the palms line a river inland, at Vai they stand directly behind the sand. There is nowhere else in the Mediterranean that looks like it.
Toplou is the underrated stop. A fortified monastery alone on a bare plateau, with a 15th-century core and its own wine, is a genuinely unusual building, and most people who visit eastern Crete drive past the turning.
Three things to be clear about.
The review base is 19 ratings. That is thin for a full-day coach tour, and a 4.43 across 19 tells you considerably less than the same score across a thousand would.
The stops are short and the driving is long. Eight hours covering four places at the far end of the island means most of the day is on the coach, with Lithines and Sitia getting coffee-stop treatment rather than exploration.
Two costs sit outside the price. The €4 monastery entrance and lunch at Vai are both extra, and lunch at Vai has to be requested rather than assumed.
CreteLocals insider tips
Carry the monastery fee, swim at the far end of Vai, and dress for a monastery as well as a beach.
- Bring €4 per person in cash for Toplou, which is not included and is collected at the gate.
- Dress modestly for the monastery, since Toplou is an active religious site and shoulders and knees should be covered.
- Walk to the far end of Vai beach, where the crowd thins and the palms come closest to the water.
- Taste the Toplou wine, which the monastery produces itself and which is the one thing there you cannot buy elsewhere.
- Request lunch at Vai when you book, because it is available on request rather than automatically.
- Bring a camera rather than relying on a phone, given the palm forest and the monastery plateau are the two best photographs in eastern Crete.
What to know before you go
Pick-up and drop-off are included from the Ierapetra and Makrigialos area, and the day runs 8 hours.
Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, swimwear, a towel, a camera, sunscreen and water. Swimming at Vai is optional. Pets other than assistance dogs, smoking in the vehicle, and alcohol on board are not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Vai palm beach day tour?
The tour runs 8 hours, covering Lithines, Sitia, Toplou monastery and Vai.
Is the Toplou monastery entrance included?
No, entry costs €4 per person and is paid at the monastery.
Why is Vai famous?
Vai holds the largest natural palm forest in Europe, with Cretan date palms growing right down to the sand.
Is lunch included?
Lunch at Vai is available on request and charged separately, so arrange it when you book if you want it.
Where does the tour depart from?
Pick-up covers the Ierapetra and Makrigialos area on the south-east coast.
Can you swim at Vai?
Swimming is optional and the beach is organised, so bring swimwear and a towel if you intend to.
Check dates and prices for the Vai palm beach, Toplou and Sitia day tour.
Location
Vai Palm Beach, Toplou Monastery and Sitia Day Tour is located at Vai Beach, Crete. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
