Start with pickup from your hotel and first pass the Selinari monastery with its impressive gorge, and reach the small town of Neapolis. Visit the Vassilakis Estate, one of the oldest and most successful olive oil producers in Crete. Enjoy a detailed tour of their production facility and learn how olive oil is made. Continue to the provincial capital of Agios Nikolaos where you can admire the shimmering blue waters of the bay of Mirabello. Walk along the harbor and over the bridge to the freshwater Lake Voulismeni. Visit a local market and browse for specialty local products such as honey, olive oil, and spices. After a Greek coffee in one of the cozy cafes, continue to Kritsa, one of the most picturesque villages on the island. Admire the views of the whitewashed houses of the village located below a steep rocky slope. Take a break for some lunch at your own expense, followed by a stroll through the village. Finally, travel to Amazonas Park and discover a sanctuary for the conservation of endangered species. Take a guided tour of the sanctuary and see a variety of colorful parrots and curious monkeys. See rare parrot species which will eventually be released back into their natural habitat, and enjoy the fantastic views of the foothills of the Dikti Mountains.

After pickup from your hotel, the first stop on your tour is Kritsa, a historical village rich in legends. Here you'll discover picturesque gorges and several ancient archaeological and religious sites. From Kritsa, drive higher into the mountains through the pine forest and past Katharo Plateau (altitude 1250m). This plateau is famous for the Cretan dwarf hippopotamus fossils found in the area and features a magnificent landscape surrounded that is home to many legends dating back to the Ottoman era. Next you'll visit the impressive Lassithi Plateau (altitude 1150m). More than 10,000 traditional windmills operated in the area until just a few decades ago. In the 1950s and 1960s, the plateau was actually one of the first wind farms in Europe. If you're lucky, you'll also have a chance to see some native wildlife. From here you'll continue on to the Diktaean Cave, that is, the birthplace of Zeus, which is located at the village of Psychro (altitude 840m). Finally, explore the village of Krasi and take photos of the famous Cretan author Nikos Kazantzakis’ beloved plane tree. This particular plane tree’s circumference is approximately 24 metres and it is estimated that it is 2400 years old.

Ever felt you wanted to get away from crowds and blaze your own trail? This is your chance to enjoy the many sights, tastes and aromas of Crete on your own terms. Take advantage of this personalized tour service and get ready for private tour that will take you from one sight to the next, from breathtaking views to traditional villages to the secret villages of Crete – each one chosen by you. Are you into wine culture, archaeological sites, traditional Greek cooking lessons, unique beaches, or Mediterranean gastronomy? This tour will take you from the heights of the rocky Lassithi plateau to the traditional villages tucked away off the beaten path. Start at the village of Krasi and visit the huge 2,400-years-old Writer’s Plane Tree, named so because it was beloved by Nikos Kazantzakis, one of the most famous Greek writers of the 20th century. In the same village, see how the Cretans used to wash their clothes in the traditional manner. Next up is Panagia Kera, a 13th century Byzantine monastery where you can find a depiction of the Catholic St. Francis, who is famous in Crete among the gorgeous iconography. Afterwards, the tour will ascend to the unique Lassithi Plateau, a rocky and austere place, long treasured for the beauty of its scenery. There you can visit the Diktaion Andron, an ancient cave believed to be the mythological birthplace of Zeus. Have lunch in a traditional taverna outside Krasi, at your own expense.

Visit one of the most beautiful gorges on the east side of Crete, the Kritsa Gorge, with professional adventure guides. Enjoy the special nature while on this short but challenging hike. See striking canyons and cliffs, unique plant species, and spectacular views. After a walking about 8 kilometers, enjoy small local snacks and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing on a beautiful beach, where you can take a refreshing swim. Enjoy a perfect day that offers a combination of exercise and relaxation.

We start our trip with a visit to an olive oil park where you can experience first-hand the standardization of extra virgin olive oil, table olives and olive paste. Here you will be able to taste the authentic Greek product, which is famous worldwide for its great taste and its nutritional value, as well as, other authentic Cretan products like “raki” and honey. Later, we visit one of the oldest villages on Crete, which even today retains elements of Venetian architecture, the village of Kritsa. Here, you will have about an hour and a half of free time to stroll around its narrow streets. There you will find a lot of little souvenir shops, picturesque paths, Greek coffee shops, many old chapels, museums and try not to miss the traditional weavings manufactured with looms exclusively made by hand. Then, we head towards Myrtos Beach, 13km west of Ierapetra, at the output of a wide valley filled with greenhouses and citrus groves. You will have plenty of free time to enjoy swimming and sunbathing at the nice beach of Myrtos, with the coarse gray sand that doesn’t stick to your body. The beach is very spacious, isolated with crystal clear water. Moreover, Myrtos has a lot of taverns where you can enjoy traditional Greek food. After 2 and half hours in Myrtos, the day will end and we will make our way back to your hotels. 10:15 Olive oil tour & tasting 11:15 Arrival at Kritsa – Free time 12:45 Departure from Kritsa 13:45 Arrival in Myrtos – Free time 16:15 Departure from Myrtos 18:00 Arrival in Heraklion Stay in olive park: app. 30 minutes Stay in Kritsa: app. 1 ½ hour Stay in Myrtos beach: app. 2 ½ hours Route: 166 km Duration: app. 8 hours Pick up Ammoudara: 08:00 Heraklion: 08:05 Karteros: 08:20 Kokkini Hani: 08:25 Gournes: 08:25 Gouves: 08:30 Analipsi: 08:40 Anissaras: 08:50 Hersonisos: 09:00 Stalis: 09:10 Malia: 09:25 Sissi: 09:40

The excursion starts after collecting the participators at Malia. You're passing the north-east coast and St. George’s Gorge. After a short ride you'll visit an olive oil park where you can experience first-hand the standardization of extra virgin olive oil, table olives and olive paste. Here you will be able to taste the authentic Greek products, which are famous worldwide for its great taste and its nutritional value, as well as, other authentic Cretan products like “raki” and honey. You'll stay there for about 30 min. Later visit to one of the oldest villages on Crete, which retains even today elements of the Venetian architecture, the village of Kritsa. Here, you will have about 1 hour free time to stroll around its narrow streets. Then, head towards to Myrtos Beach, 13km west of Ierapetra the most south situated city in Europe, at the output of a wide valley filled with greenhouses and citrus groves. You will have free time to enjoy swimming and sunbathing to the nice beaches of Myrtos, with the coarse gray sand that doesn’t stick on the body. After 2 1/2 hours in Myrtos you'll go back to the hotels.

Meet with your guide at the terminal of Cretan Spiti Travel at Eleftherias Square in front of Astoria Capsis Hotel at 10:00. The Tour starts by driving along the Northern coast of the island were we will visit the 12th century Byzantine church of Panagia Kera located 1km from the village of Kritsa. The church contains the finest-preserved Byzantine-era frescoes in Crete, and for that reason , has become one of the most culturally and historically significant churches on the island. After we will visit Agios Nikolaos town, the capital town of Lassithi. Here, the bottomless salt lake Voulismeni dominates the area. A narrow channel of water connects the lake with the sea, while an imposing backdrop of red rock and trees adds to the natural beauty of the scenery. A small pine tree park lies above the lake, and a stone path leads to its southern section to a cute small harbour for fishing boats. The city boasts interesting Archaeological, Folklore, and Natural History museums, Byzantine churches, a well-organised marina, bustling pedestrian streets (ideal for leisurely walks), and traditional squares with buzzing cafés and restaurants. Optional lunch at “Basilikos Restaurant”. We continue our tour driving through the beautiful coastal road and village of Elounda, which lies 11 km north of Agios Nikolaos Town. Elounda retains its authentic character and offers a unique landscape with many coves and pristine beaches. One of them is the sea-front village of Plaka where we will board the boat to take us on the now deserted island of Spinalonga. Our guide will guide us through the ruins of what used to be a leper-colony from 1903 to 1957 where lepers could have a better life, medical help and economic support. Late in the afternoon at 18:30, we return to Heraklion at the terminal in front of Astoria Capsis Hotel.

There still exists a purity of experiences in this world, and you can find it here in East Crete. Have the inside track from our top local insider unearthing gateways to an unseen world by the comfort of luxury chauffeured vehicle at your disposal. Venture from village to village to see the island through the eyes of a local. Get off the beaten track & follow archaic trails across the Minoan mountains embraced by ancient forests. From a perfect mountainside peak take in the bird’s eye panoramas of the Libyan & Aegean Seas. Then lose yourself in the deep veins of magnificent gorges that host wild beauty with a soft heart. Somewhere between heaven & earth, discover a secret paradise of our forefathers nestled within an oasis of towering-aged trees & perennially flowing waters. Revel in genuine tastes of Cretan cuisine with local cooking techniques on a wood oven or open fire. Looking for stories that define people & culture, we want to give you access to Crete’s best-kept secrets.

Experience a private day tour in the Heraklion area and visit the third-largest Minoan Palace in Crete, stop at the Island of Spinalonga, and explore Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. Learn more about the history and culture of the Heraklion area on this private tour. Start the tour with pickup from your designated pickup point, and first go to the Archaeological site of Malia, dating back to the Middle Bronze Age. See this majestic site, the third-largest Minoan Palace in all of Crete, built close to a beautiful beach. Move on to Kritsa Village, one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in the area, built atmospherically on a rocky hill called Kastellos, and surrounded by olive groves. Explore the local village with narrow winding lanes, renowned for the skill of its weavers, and see their craftsmanship Visit the Church of Panagia Kera, one of the most important monuments in Crete because of its well-preserved wall paintings representing various periods of Byzantine Art. See the original church, dedicated to the Dormition of Theotokos, built in the middle of the thirteenth century. Make a stop in Agios Nikolaos, one of the first cities in Crete where tourist development began. Admire the picturesque harbor and see two of the sweet water lakes of Crete. Pass by the fishing village of Elounda on the northern coast, and enjoy the traditional and idyllic scenery. Reach the marina of Plaka and from there travel to the Island of Spinalonga, famous as it was a former Venetian Fortress and Leper Colony. Learn more about the site's history and its significance as it left an unfading mark on Crete's history.

Departing from Ierapetra – the southernmost city of Europe – we cross different small mountain villages, along the pine- and olive orchards, towards the artisanal village Kritsa that deserves a visit. Through the coastal road with its fantastic view on the formal leprosy island Spinalonga, the road climbs towards the most extreme point of the peninsula Elounda with its windmill park. The view from here over the bay of Mirabello is breath-taking. In one of the restaurants of Plaka, you can enjoy Greek specialties or a refined fish platter. In the afternoon, you will visit an authentic olive oil farm. We close off the day with a beautiful walk through the modern, young and lively small city of Agios Nikolaos with its inland lake and its wonderful shopping facilities. A daytrip with a 4x4 jeep without difficult off-road drives, as a pampering program for all senses!!!