ELA Quad Safari
ELA Quad Safari runs guided quad tours from Achlada, in the hills above Agia Pelagia west of Heraklion. The route takes riders to viewpoints and stretches of country that no coach or hire car reaches, passing two traditional villages, with experienced guides leading the group to the spots where wildlife is most often seen.
What this quad safari involves
The tour is a guided convoy on tracks rather than roads. Three things define it.
First is the terrain. Quads get to ground that is closed to other vehicles, the dirt tracks above the coast, the ridges between the villages, and viewpoints that exist only at the end of an unsurfaced road. That access is the whole reason to take a quad rather than a bus.
Second are the villages. The route passes two traditional settlements in the hills behind the coast, which is a different Crete from the resort strip 20 minutes below.
Third is the guiding. The guides choose the vantage points for the combination of view and the chance of seeing wildlife, rather than running the shortest loop.
Places this tour visits
The route works the hills behind the coast west of Heraklion.
- Agia Pelagia, the base is at Achlada above Agia Pelagia, the bay on the coast west of the city.
Why we recommend this experience
We recommend ELA Quad Safari for its patch of the island. Most quad and buggy operators in Crete work the tracks inland from Hersonissos and Malia, which get busy in summer. The hills above Agia Pelagia are the quieter side, west of Heraklion rather than east, and the ridges there give you the coast on one side and the interior on the other with far fewer vehicles on the same tracks.
Our listing records a strong rating across a substantial number of ratings, which for a small independent operator is a meaningful signal. The listing is also verified on this site, meaning the business has claimed and confirmed it directly rather than it being scraped from a feed.
The villages are the part we would go for. Two traditional settlements in the hills, reached on a quad rather than a coach, is the kind of stop that turns an adrenaline activity into a day you remember for the place rather than the vehicle.
Two things to check before you book.
Confirm what you need to ride. Quad operators in Greece generally require a valid driving licence, and the rules on who can carry a passenger vary by operator, ask when you book.
Confirm departure times and duration directly with the operator, since these change with the season.
CreteLocals insider tips
Call ahead, wear clothes you can dust, and pick the morning.
- Contact the operator directly to confirm departures, duration and licence requirements, which vary by season.
- Wear closed shoes and clothes you do not mind covering in dust, because these are dirt tracks rather than roads.
- Bring sunglasses and a face covering, which make an open quad far more comfortable on a dry track.
- Take a morning departure in summer, since the hills above Agia Pelagia are exposed by midday.
- Ask the guide where the wildlife stops are, as those vantage points are chosen deliberately rather than at random.
- Bring a strap for your phone or camera, given the viewpoints are the reason to come and the ground is rough.
What to know before you go
The base is at Achlada, above Agia Pelagia and west of Heraklion. The operator is a verified listing on this site.
Contact ELA Quad Safari directly for departure times, prices and licence requirements: infoelaquadsafari@yahoo.com, +30 694 944 3991.
Frequently asked questions
Where does ELA Quad Safari operate?
The base is at Achlada, above Agia Pelagia, in the hills west of Heraklion.
What does the route cover?
The tour visits viewpoints unreachable by other vehicles and two traditional villages in the hills behind the coast.
Do you need a driving licence?
Confirm this with the operator when booking. Quad operators in Greece generally require a valid licence, and passenger rules vary.
Is this suitable for first-time riders?
Ask the operator directly, since experienced guides lead the group and briefing arrangements are set by the operator.
How is this different from the Hersonissos quad tours?
ELA works the hills west of Heraklion rather than east, which is the quieter side of the island for off-road tracks.
How do you book?
Contact the operator directly by phone or email for departures, prices and availability.
Location
ELA Quad Safari is located at Αχλάδα - Αγία Πελαγία, 715 00 Achlada, Greece. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
