From Heraklion: Day Trip to Matala Hippie Beach and Caves

This day trip runs 90 km south from the Heraklion coast to Matala, the bay on the Libyan Sea where a cliff of Roman rock tombs became a hippie commune in the late 1960s. The coach arrives at 11:00 and leaves at 15:00, so you get four hours to swim, climb to the caves and eat before the return. PLATANOS TOURS run it over 8 hours from €38.72, with a 4.41 rating across 210 reviews.

What this day trip actually does

The day is one long transfer built around a single four-hour stop. Three stages make it up.

First is the pick-up run along the north coast, starting at Malia at 08:30 and working west through Hersonissos, Gouves and Heraklion to Ammoudara by 09:55. Second is the drive south across the island to Matala, arriving at 11:00. Third is four hours of free time, then departure at 15:00 and arrival back in Heraklion at 16:15.

Matala earns its reputation twice over. The cliff at the north end of the bay is honeycombed with caves cut as Roman tombs and later lived in by the flower children of the late 1960s and 1970s. The bay itself was a working harbour for the Minoans and the Romans, and in myth it is where Zeus came ashore as a bull carrying Europa.

Places this tour visits

The route crosses the island from the north coast to the Libyan Sea.

• Matala, the whole stop is at Matala beach, with the cave-cut cliff rising directly from the sand.
• Heraklion, pick-up covers the coast around Heraklion, from Malia in the east to Ammoudara in the west.

What’s included and what isn’t

The €38.72 covers the coach and the transfer. Everything at Matala is your own.

Included:

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Analipsi, Gouves, Gournes, Heraklion, Ammoudara, Agia Pelagia, Lygaria and Fodele
• Coach tickets
• Guide services in English, Polish, French and Italian on Mondays
• Guide services in English, Polish, French and Russian on Thursdays
• Four hours of free time at Matala

Not included:

• Matala caves entry, €2, optional
• Food and drinks
• Personal expenses

Why we recommend this experience

We recommend this for one specific reader: someone staying on the Heraklion coast without a car who wants to see Matala. At €38.72 it removes a 180 km round trip on mountain roads and the parking problem at the other end, and the pick-up net is wide, twelve named points from Malia to Fodele.

Reviewers who booked it on those terms are satisfied. A visitor from Réunion put it exactly right: a day trip done in an organised setting from central Heraklion without having to rent a vehicle. A British guest praised the organisation and the amount of time at Matala, and several reviewers single out the hostess.

Matala itself is worth the road. The caves are real archaeology you can walk into, the village is small and colourful, and Red Beach is a walk over the headland for anyone who wants a quieter swim.

Three things to weigh honestly, because this rates 4.41 and the complaints repeat.

Four hours divides opinion. Two separate reviewers rated the day four stars specifically on time: a French guest said the experience was far too short and it was impossible to do everything, and a British visitor said four hours at the beach is not long enough and you need at least five. If you want the caves, Red Beach and a proper swim, four hours is tight.

The coach is the weak link. A French reviewer reported the bus had no working air conditioning and the journey was hot; a Dutch reviewer called the bus outdated. Transportation scores 4.4 out of 5.

This is transport, not a guided tour. GetYourGuide’s own summary of verified reviews says travellers would like clearer information that the day is mainly transport with limited guiding. Guide quality also scores 4.4. Book it as a coach to Matala and you will not be disappointed.

If you would rather have longer at the beach, our Matala hippie beach page covers the alternative departures.

CreteLocals insider tips

Wear water shoes, carry small change for the caves, and climb early.

1. Pack water shoes, because reviewers describe Matala as a rocky beach where the water deepens quickly and sea urchins sit among the rocks.
2. Carry €2 in coins for the caves, which are charged at the entrance and are not part of the ticket.
3. Climb to the caves in your first hour, while the cliff is still shaded and the crowd has not arrived.
4. Wear proper shoes if you want Red Beach, which a French reviewer rated worth the effort but which needs a walk over the headland.
5. Plan your four hours before you arrive, since two reviewers found the stop too short to do the caves, Red Beach and the swim.
6. Sit away from the sun side of the coach, given reviewers report the air conditioning struggling on the southbound leg.

What to know before you go

Pick-up times run from 08:30 at Malia to 09:55 at Ammoudara, and the route covers 90 km each way. Arrival at Matala is 11:00 and departure 15:00, with drop-off in Heraklion at 16:15.

Bring a sun hat, swimwear and a towel. Infants are seated with their parents rather than given their own seat.

Frequently asked questions

How long do you get at Matala?

You get four hours of free time, arriving at 11:00 and departing at 15:00.

Why is Matala famous?

The cliff at Matala is cut with Roman rock tombs that a hippie commune lived in during the late 1960s and 1970s, which is how the bay entered travel writing.

How much do the Matala caves cost?

Entry is €2, paid at the site and not included in the tour price.

Is a guide included?

A multilingual guide accompanies the coach, English, Polish, French and Italian on Mondays, Russian instead of Italian on Thursdays, but reviewers describe the day as mainly transport.

Do you need water shoes at Matala?

Yes, reviewers recommend them, the beach is rocky, the water deepens quickly and sea urchins sit near the rocks.

Where does pickup cover?

Twelve points from Malia through Heraklion to Fodele, with times running from 08:30 to 09:55.

Check dates and prices for the Matala hippie beach and caves day trip.