Crete · FULL-DAY
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 full-day tours that are worth the drive, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before booking.
Guided Samaria Gorge trek from Chania to Agia Roumeli, with a ferry to Sougia. Challenging 17 km hike, big scenery, smooth logistics.
“The adventure through the gorge and our awesome guide”
Guided Samaria Gorge trek from Rethymno with Omalos breakfast, Agia Roumeli swim, and ferry back to Sfakia, all for $37.
“Good. Pia was awesome, she kept a lookout for us. We were slow because I don’t like people following closely behind me so I kept letting them pass. We were stiff for days!”
Full-day Land Rover safari from Heraklion: Cretan mountains, Zeus cave area, villages, cheesemaking and a big lunch with wine.
“George was an amazing guide and driver. He showed us the other Crete, far from the tourist spots along the coast. The coastal spots are justly proud of their beauty and history. The interior of Crete is a vision to behold. The topography is stunning. We got to meet a shepherd who makes goat cheese the traditional way; and we got to meet his goats. We saw a tree in Krasi frequented by writers like Niko Kazantzskis. And we got a history lesson on the struggles of the local inhabitants to simply live their lives. George was a wealth of knowledge on the various local views and customs when queried…”
Crete 4WD small-group tour with Potamies farm tastings, Lasithi windmills, and an optional Cave of Zeus visit.
“Wonder tour of authentic Crete. Nico our guide was personable and charming. Enjoyed all the stops on the tour,”
8-hour Crete 4x4 safari with Lake Kournas, White Mountains off-road, hidden beach swim, olive oil tasting and lunch for $92.
“It’s really hard not to give these guys 5* as I can tell they make a huge effort and were super friendly. The perks were: the olive oil factory, the off roading and seeing the mountain goats, hidden beach, the drivers (we had a few but we really liked Nekatarious) Things to improve: I asked for vegan food prior to the booking, and was told this could be accommodated. There was nothing vegan so I ate nothing at the restaurant and wasn’t sure where my driver was to ask - so ended up without food for the day. (I had also missed breakfast as we left early for pick up…”
Full-day Crete 4WD jeep safari from Heraklion with rural villages, windmills, cheese and herb stops, pottery, and a cooking lesson plus lunch.
“What an unforgettable experience! Giannis, the guide, said he would give us the best day of our trip and he did not disappoint. Fun-packed, interactive, unique adventure that I recommend to anyone who wants to explore off the beaten path. We had a great time, from milking a goat, to pottery, to exploring the temple of Zeus, and of course the raki! Our guide Giannis was extremely knowledgeable, funny, dynamic and made the whole experience that much better!”
One day to Santorini from Rethymno by fast boat and guided bus. Get Oia and Fira views, plus flexible free time for photos.
“Is not a catamaran is a Ferry and that part is confusing, it took us around 15 mins to find where to register because there is no signs at all! But everything else was amazing, the ferry looks brand new one with food & drinks available to purchase, the seats were comfortable and the toilets were clean. The bus driver and the tour guide were nice, the tour guide gave us nice tips to where to capture photos and eat lunch, even tho the lunch was kind of pricey it was delicious and worth it. We spend around 1.20 hrs in Oia and 3 hours in Fira, but the time…”
Small-group Cretan wines, olive oil, raki and food tour with vineyard and mill visits, plus pottery in Thrapsano.
“We loved our trip! Would highly recommend. The guide makes you feel at ease, even when you can’t use cutlery the right way and everyone has a good laugh at your expense. (Highly embarrassing but we can blame the raki and wine) all that aside, the experience and knowledge you gain is second to none. And the people you meet and the memories you gain will stay with you for a lifetime.”
Full-day tour from Chania to Knossos and Heraklion with a guided palace visit, museum stop, and free city time plus coastal views.
“Really comfortable coach, very friendly guides and lots of activities!”
Full-day Santorini by catamaran and air-conditioned bus from Heraklion or Agios Nikolaos, with Oia views and free time in Fira.
“No one has told us that our tour guide will be in Santorini. it was really stressful as we didn't know what to do and have waited around for a long time.”
A full-day bus trip from Rethymno to Knossos and Heraklion, with optional guided tours of both major Minoan sites and museum.
“We had a lovely time visiting Heraklion for a few hours and then Knossos Palace, our tour guide George was brilliant, we have now been on two trips with him and wow he is so good at his job, very knowledgable, very polite and informative and so so friendly. Overall really pleasant experience!!”
Full-day Samaria Gorge hike from Chania/Kalyves with guide, transfers, and time to swim in Agia Roumeli plus ferry return.
“Fabulous trip, booked via GYG and delivered locally with Io Tours. Our guide Pari was exceptional, really knew her stuff and organised us all with ease. Reasonable challenging hike - pole(s) a very good idea, can be bought at the cafe stop 5 mins before the gorge entrance. Stunning scenery - early October and very hot (though initially a light layer needed at high altitude start). So glad we did this - highlight of the holiday!”
From Chania, tour Knossos Palace and Heraklion Museum with a guide, plus Rethymno free time, headsets, pickup, and drop-off.
“Great day! Our guide was lovely and Heraklion and Rethymno are beautiful places to explore, Rethymno especially. Our only issue was I don’t think it’s worth paying an extra €20 to get into Knossos Palace for less than an hour - there was more to see there than what we had time for.”
Full-day bus trip from Georgioupolis to Elafonisi for pink-sand beaches, sea swims, village views, and long beach time included.
Private sailing from Heraklion to Dia Island with two swim stops, snorkeling gear, fishing, unlimited drinks, and optional onboard meal.
“Best sailing trip ever! Nikos and Vasilis made our day a wonderful experience !”
Every kind of day out on the island, and the best of each.
