Greece · CRETE TOURS
Crete is long, and every good day out is a drive. The 15 below sort the boat trips to Balos, the gorge walks, Knossos and the olive country by what they cost, how far they go and how early the minibus leaves.
Review of the Kissamos cruise to Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa, with castle views, swimming stops, practical tips, food, crowds, and value.
“Very nice boat, staff and the beaches were beautiful. The lady selling the photos was very rude and very pushy which put a slight downer on it but did not detract from the overall experience.”
Explore Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, and Spinalonga on a well-organized Crete day trip with boat rides, free time, history, and swimming.
“What a fantastic day out. Alexandra the tour guide gave us lots of information about the areas and greek mythology on the way as well. Our travel company wanted over €100 each! Swim stop was fantastic too although I didn’t join in, it was nice to relax on the boat. Plenty of time in each area to get food & drink.”
Review of Crete’s Samaria Gorge trek from Chania, with a rocky 17-kilometer hike, ferry ride, costs, tips, and honest advice.
“Sara was an excellent host and very thoroughly explained everything we needed to know prior to arriving at the gorge. The bus does stop at a cafe before entering the gorge so you will have an opportunity to get a sando or snack bars. Sara’s instructions were very clear and easy to follow & she was extremely knowledgeable. She gave us recommended times to hit each major checkpoint to ensure everyone kept pace within a manageable timeframe. The hike is almost entirely downhill and there are some extremely steep and slippery slopes. It is manageable if you are prepared.m: you absolutely need hiking boots w ankle support or sneakers with…”
Cruise from Agios Nikolaos to Spinalonga, swim in Kolokitha Bay, hear its leprosy-colony story, and explore a Venetian fortress for $29.
“An enjoyable day to Spinnalonga. Guides on and off the ship were good and explained things well”
Sail from Heraklion to protected Dia Island for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, a Greek meal, drinks, and sunset views.
“Here’s a smoother, more natural version of your text: This was the last day of our trip through Crete, and we ended it in the best way possible. The cruise was incredible, the weather was perfect, and the crew and food were fantastic. It was everything I wanted and more. We were having so much fun that we didn’t even have enough time to try all the activities - which is actually a good thing!”
Review of Knossos Palace in Crete, with ticket advice, timing tips, audio guide details, transport help, and honest value for your visit.
“Great experience for history lovers. The palace is bigger than what I was expecting so was pleasantly surprised. As an advice: go early to avoid crowds before 12 and bring a hat”
Review of CRETAquarium near Heraklion, with sea life highlights, timing tips, transport advice, accessibility, and honest value notes.
“Overall it was a very good experience but the marine life selection isn’t that big.”
Visit Elafonisi’s pink-sand beach from Chania, with hotel pickup, Topolia Gorge, village stops, four beach hours, and lunch at your expense.
“The tour was really great. Our driver and guide were amazing.”
See Rethymno, Chania, and Lake Kournas on a guided Crete day trip with hotel pickup, multilingual guides, and excellent value at $45.
“This was a brilliant trip with a chance to see some of the East of Crete (we normally stay in the West). The three stops were all brilliant and it was lovely to have time to explore and get a little taster of these beautiful parts of the island. The coach journey was very well organised and was like a tour of the whole of the north coast of Crete! Some spectacular views along the way. Our guide, Eleanor was very informative and friendly. A brilliant day! I would definitely recommend this trip!”
Review of Crete’s Samaria Gorge trek from Rethymno, with transport, guide, ferry, costs, difficulty, route tips, and honest advice.
“Yorgos was a great guide, really supportive. The hike itself is tough in the heat, but well worth it for the views and experience of being outside. Worth noting that it's not 16km, it's actually about 21km. I took hiking boots but my husband wore running shoes. I was very thankful for my boots, and he did manage in trainers, but good grip is a must as the majority of the first 9km is descending and it was slippery. In terms of fitness level - we're moderately fit. We don't particularly walk much, and I was definitely starting to flag in the last 3km or so, and my calves were…”
Review of Knossos Palace e-ticket and phone audio guide in Crete, with practical tips on queues, route, value, heat, and optional Heraklion extras.
“Easy to use app, interesting stories for the site. I totally recommend it!!”
Ride Crete’s mountain trails by quad from Rethymno, with canyon views, village stops, coffee, snacks, and hotel transfers.
“Great scenic routes, with a good mixture of off roading, asphalt driving (at high speeds), shallow river driving. Would definitely say this has been the best activity in the island so far.”
Ride Crete’s back roads from Agia Pelagia to Achlada and Fodele, with a ghost village, olive mill tasting, mountain views, and friendly guides.
“So amazing!!! Incredible views! Tour guide has a wealth of knowledge! Well worth the money”
Race along Crete’s coast by jet boat, spin at speed, then swim and snorkel for 30 minutes at Saint George’s Bay.
“The best I did on my holidays in Crete, we loved it, thank you to all the staff!”
Review of the Knossos Palace guided tour in Crete, with skip-the-line entry, expert storytelling, timing tips, costs, and practical advice.
“Very kind, funny, and knowledgeable tour guide. Tour was great and had plenty of shady spots to hear about the history”
Pick a coastline, a ruin or a kitchen.
