From Rethymno: Day trip to MATALA – AG.GALINI – SPILI
This day trip runs south from Rethymno across the island’s interior to the Libyan Sea, taking in the fishing village of Agia Galini, the cave-cut bay at Matala, a four-acre medicinal herb garden and the village of Spili with its lion-head fountains. The stops are timed generously: 1.5 hours at Agia Galini and 3 hours at Matala. PLATANOS TOURS run it over 7 hours from €30.40, with a 4.58 rating across 24 reviews.
What this day trip actually does
The coach crosses to the south coast and works back north through the hills. Four stops fill the 7 hours.
First is Agia Galini, a fishing village built up a hillside above a small harbour, with 1.5 hours to take a coffee and walk the alleys. Second is Matala, where the cliff at the north end of the bay is honeycombed with caves cut as Roman tombs and occupied by the hippie commune of the 1970s, you get 3 hours for the caves and the beach. Third, on the return, is the botanic garden, four acres of medicinal and aromatic herbs that are at their best from April to September. Fourth is a short stop at Spili, known for the row of Venetian lion-head fountains that still run in the village square.
Three hours at Matala is the longest stop any Matala trip we list gives you.
Places this tour visits
The route crosses the island from the north coast to the Libyan Sea and back.
- Matala, the main stop is Matala beach, where the cave-cut cliff sits directly at the end of the sand.
- Agia Galini, the first stop is Agia Galini, the fishing village stacked above its harbour.
- Spili, the last stop is Spili, the mountain village with the lion-head fountains.
- Rethymno, pick-up covers the coast around Rethymno, from Panormo through to Georgioupoli.
What’s included and what isn’t
The €30.40 covers the coach and the guide, and every stop on the route.
Included:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Panormo, Skaleta, Adele, Platanias, Missiria, Rethymno town, Atsipopoulo, Sfakaki, Stavromenos, Kavros and Georgioupoli
- Air-conditioned coach
- Professional guide in English and German
- 1.5 hours of free time in Agia Galini
- 3 hours of free time in Matala
- Visits to the botanic garden and Spili village
Not included:
- Food and drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
- Transfers from the Georgioupoli area, Petres, Kavros and Gerani
Why we recommend this experience
We recommend this one on the time it gives you. Most Matala trips from the north coast leave you three or four hours for the whole day and much of that on a coach. This one puts 3 hours at Matala and 1.5 at Agia Galini inside a 7-hour day, which means you can actually swim, climb to the caves and eat rather than photographing the cliff and leaving.
The four stops are also well chosen as a set. A working fishing village, a famous beach with genuine archaeology, a herb garden and a Venetian fountain square is a fair cross-section of southern Crete, and at €30.40 it is the cheapest multi-stop day we list.
Reviewers praise the running of it consistently. A British guest called the guide informative and the driver fantastic and very safe; a German group named their guide Barbara for providing information throughout the day including on the bus. Value for money scores 4.7 out of 5, the strongest of its three dimension scores.
Two things reviewers flag.
The botanic garden stop is short. A German reviewer who otherwise rated the day five stars said the time there was too brief and suggested two hours. It is a return-leg stop rather than a destination.
Matala does not suit everyone. A Romanian reviewer rating the trip four stars found the water uncomfortably cold at Matala even on a 33-degree day, because the bay is shaded and deep against the cliff. If a warm swim is the point of your day, Agia Galini’s beach is the gentler option.
CreteLocals insider tips
Climb to the caves early, budget cash for the €4 entry, and take a jumper for the fountains.
- Climb to the Matala caves in your first hour, while the cliff is still in shade and the crowd is thin.
- Carry cash for the cave entry, which is charged separately at the site and not covered by the ticket.
- Swim at the south end of Matala bay, away from the cliff where reviewers report the water running cold.
- Fill your bottle at the Spili fountains, which have run continuously for centuries and are the reason the village is on the route.
- Visit the herb garden between April and September, when the aromatic planting is at its best.
- Check your spam folder for the pick-up email, which arrives separately from the operator.
What to know before you go
Pick-up covers eleven named points between Panormo and Georgioupoli; the Georgioupoli area, Petres, Kavros and Gerani are excluded as transfer points. Personalised pick-up information arrives in a separate email, check your spam folder.
Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, swimwear, a towel and sunscreen. Smoking is not permitted in the vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Matala and Agia Galini day trip?
The day runs 7 hours, with 1.5 hours in Agia Galini and 3 hours at Matala.
How long do you get at Matala?
Three hours, the longest Matala stop of any trip we list, enough for the caves, a swim and lunch.
Why is Matala famous?
The cliff at Matala is cut with Roman rock tombs that the hippie commune lived in during the 1970s, which is how the bay got its name in travel writing.
What is Spili known for?
Spili has a row of Venetian lion-head fountains still running in the village square, and the stop is a short break on the return leg.
Is food included?
No food or drink is included. Agia Galini and Matala both have tavernas, and the stops are long enough to eat.
Where does pickup cover?
Eleven points from Panormo through Rethymno town to Georgioupoli, though the Georgioupoli area, Petres, Kavros and Gerani are excluded.
Check dates and prices for the Matala, Agia Galini and Spili day trip.
Location
From Rethymno is located at Matala Beach. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
