Day Trips from Heraklion to Crete

Pull on your walking shoes for a full-day Samaria Gorge hike in Crete. Traveling by air-conditioned coach, head into Crete’s White Mountains to the entrance to the spectacular gorge, one of Europe’s longest. Ogle the awe-inspiring views as you hike down into, and along, the gorge floor past streams, wild goats, deserted settlements and steep cliffs. Walk at your own pace and finish your Samaria Gorge hike at the beachside village of Aghios Roumeli. Ride a boat from here back to your coach for your return journey.

Discover ancient Minoan history, Cretan farming culture, and magnificent island views on this full-day off-roading adventure from Heraklion. Travel in a rugged Land Rover along historic mountain trails, stopping along the way to visit the mythological Diction Cave, shepherds’ villages, the scenic Lassithi Plateau, and an eco park where traditional ways of life are still practiced. Replenish your energy with an included lunch and taste of ‘raki’ liqueur at a local tavern.

With its sheer walls and tight passageways, the Samaria Gorge is one of Crete’s most striking natural wonders. With this tour, all the logistics are taken care of so all you need do is complete the challenging 10-mile (18-kilometer) hike. Set off from Chania in early morning and arrive at the trailhead ahead of the crowds. After the guided hike, board a boat back to Chora Sfakion, then a bus back to Chania.

Embark on an easy 5-mile (8-km) guided hike through the Imbros Gorge on this full-day trekking tour of Crete. Marvel at Crete’s unique topography as you explore the rocky ravine in the shadows of the White Mountains and pass the mountain villages of Vrisses, Askifou and Imbros. After refueling with a typical Cretan lunch (own expense), pay a visit to the 14th-century Venetian castle of Frangokastello, then cool off with a swim in the Libyan Sea.

Get a sense of adventure while in Crete by exploring the Aposelemis Gorge near Heraklion with a local guide. Wander down into the gorge, which is five miles (or 8 kilometers) deep and enjoy the natural splendor of the place, viewing birds of prey and other wildlife. At the end stop into a local tavern for a hearty lunch (included in price)

Join an escorted tour, enjoying a morning bus trip towards the west Crete, followed by a stop to Omalos plateau. Begin your walk with the group into Samaria gorge and enjoy its unique morphology on your way to the longest gorge hike in Europe. Reach Agia Roumeli south coast, where your sailing trip will bring you to Sfakia.

Driving along the North East coast through the gorge of St George we reach the picturesque town of Elounda. Here we board a boat and Spinalonga Cruise starts. We reach the small sandy bay of Kolokitha, where the boat will be anchored. Here you have plenty of time for swimming at the crystal clear water. We proceed to the small island of Spinalonga. Spinalonga has had a very chequered history and today, although uninhabited, still echoes with ghostly reminders of the past. The Venetians constructed a very impressive fortress with 40 cannons which has been guarding the bay since the 15th century. At the beginning of 19th century human pain and sorrow was scattered around this islet. It became a leper colony, the last active leper colony in Europe, and it remained so until 1957. We then return to Agios Nikolaos where you have time to look at the shop windows and visit the bottomless lake, where the “Lotus Eaters” the well-known film was shot.

This tour will give us a possibility to visit the most interesting historical monuments of Heraklion, noisy Saturday flea market with many aromatic herbs, different goods and souvenirs. We will have a lot of time for shopping there. Afterwords we are going to visit the biggest Aquarium in Greece - Cretaquarium.

Climb inside a 4-seater, all-terrain vehicle, and drive in a convoy through the Cretan countryside on this full-day 4x4 safari. Trundle along sandy roads, passing by sleepy villages and stopping frequently to take in the sights and learn more about Crete. Visit Gonies village and revel in the mountain views, then devour a Greek lunch in Kastelli. Cap your tour with an off-road tide to Gournes Beach.

We operate in Crete since 1991 and co operate with the biggest tour operators. Thousands of people see authentic Crete island in a cabriolet 4x4.

Explore the south of Crete in a Jeep. With your guide next to you, learn about the history of the island as you pass through rustic villages and rugged coastline. See 2000-year-old Roman aqueducts and verdant olive groves.

Discover one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece on a fantastic cruise to the most western part of Crete. Stop at the island of Gramvoussa, where you can see hundreds of birds and plant species. Go to the lagoon at Balos and swim. Discover an extraordinary geological phenomenon Sail to the "Pirates' Island" of Gramvoussa Swim in the lagoon at Balos Disembark on the island of Gramvousa, with its Venetian castle. Also known as "Pirates' Island," Gramvousa used to be a hiding place for rebels. The broader area of Gramvousa forms one of the most significant hydro-biotopes of the eastern Mediterranean. Here, you can encounter over 100 bird and 400 plant species.Enjoy plenty of free time to swim at a gorgeous beach. Admire the wonderful colors and take a few photos of the famous shipwreck. Continue your cruise to the lagoon of Balos and discover one of the loveliest sites in Greece. Get a breathtaking view of the lagoon, before the return journey to the meeting point.

For the island of Crete, Knossos has the same significance as the Acropolis for Athens. The most famous and the most impressive palace of the Minoan era, the biggest and the greatest of the decision-making centers of the Minoan Crete. We are about to hear great myths, relating to the Palace of Knossos, such as the myth of the Labyrinth and the story of Daedalus and Icarus. We are going to walk on Sir Arthur Evans’ steps. We may feel a bit of the excitement and pride he felt when he discovered this exceptional symbol of the Minoan architecture, which even nowadays transfixes everybody with its grandeur. Leaving the marvelous Palace of Knossos, we continue our tour towards the center of the island. We visit the lovely Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa. It was named after a miraculous icon of Virgin Mary. Psychro is mostly known as Dictean Cave. It is considered as the place where Zeus, the father of the Olympians Gods, was born.

The minibus picks you up outside your hotel and takes you to the port in Heraklion, where the boat leaves at 10 o'clock. During the trip to the Island Dia the captain will explain some of the history and secrets about the protected Island Dia. Reaching the Saint George bay it is time to walk to the little church or just enjoy the silence by snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing. Then it is time for lunch and to try the delight Cretan food that is prepared by the skipper. After lunch we sail of again to a second hided bay to relax and enjoy. Around 17 the boat slowly sails back to the port of Heraklion where you can see the city from a new point of view. In the port the minibus is waiting to bring you back to your hotel.

Great chance to visit the highlights of the Minoan civilisation in this full day tour and learn more about Cretan traditions, enjoy panoramic views of the scenic route in the mountains and visit a fantastic natural sight in the end. • See the main attractions of the island and learn a lot of interesting information about the customs of the local population. • Find out how mysterious myths about the Minotaur and the real story are intricately intertwined while visiting famous KNOSSOS PALACE. • Get the experience of traveling on the beautiful mountain routes to the delightful LASSITHI PLATEAU and marvel at the miraculous icon in one of the most revered monasteries from the locals “KERA CARDIOTISA - Our Lady of Heart”. • Descend to the bottom of the ritual DIKTAION CAVE where according to the legend the Zeus was born and enjoy the beauty of the underground lake. At the end of the tour, you will have time to dine in the traditional Cretan tavern or visit a pottery workshop.

Go off the beaten track and explore the rural Lassithi Plateau on this adventurous jeep safari. Spend the day away from Crete’s busy resort towns in the north and head inland, visiting rustic mountain villages and driving through grand alpine vistas. Explore a Greek Orthodox monastery, see how olive oil is made in a local factory, and try some traditional Cretan cuisine, made with local ingredients, at a Lassithi taverna.

We are a company with a privately-owned mini bus. We are authorized by the GREEK TOURISTIC ORGANISATION to be able to legally offer daily transfers as well as organized excursions. We love our work and this shows in the service we provide and in our fully equipped bus which has a refrigerator, TV monitor, individual lighting, air conditioning, Wi-FI internet, multimedia sound system, and Bluetooth. We love to help our visitors discover the nature, history and traditions of Crete, and will be delighted to share with you the beauties, the history, and the flavors and aromas of our land. The benefits on our bus, are for us, our philosophy of politeness and service. It would give us great joy to escort you on our excursions; we have excursions for all visitors, and accommodate wheelchair and mobility scooter users, their friends and family. We accommodate 2 wheelchairs or 1 mobility scooter users; inform us at time of booking .

Agios Nikolaos, Plaka, Spinalonga, Elounda. An amazing trip with many destinations that you should not miss!

Hi there! I'm Alex, a native Cretan guy. I'm a bicycle enthusiast who totally loves Heraklion City. We will explore the city with my ecobikes (pedal free) and will lead you away from the crowds to lesser-known corners of the city. We’ll share some of our favorite places to eat, dance, and hang out. It will be a great way to start your visit or even explore the best monuments around! -If you looking for something unique -You are in the right place!!!

Uncover the mysteries of the ancient Minoan civilization on this private, half-day tour of Heraklion highlights. Explore the magnificent Knossos Palace, home to King Minos and legends of the Minotaur, and visit a world-class archaeological museum featuring artifacts dating back to 5000 BC. See the contrast of ancient and modern Crete with some free time in the port town of Heraklion, and enjoy personalized attention from your guide along the way. Entrance fees to Knossos Palace and Archaeological Museum at your expense.

Certified divers looking for a new adventure won’t want to miss the opportunity to dive by night in Crete. Alongside a maximum of seven other travelers—a group size which guarantees personalized attention—take to the waters off Agia Pelagia or Mononaftis Beach for an intimate evening observing marine life after dark and navigating by flashlight.

Discover the culinary delights of Crete on a day tour from Heraklion that includes wine tasting, olive oil tasting, and learning about the island's terroir. Visit a boutique winery and family-owned olive oil producer to sample wine and oil with your group. You'll have lunch at a mezze restaurant and gain insight into a piece of Crete's culture from a guide.

Follow the lead of this excursion on the way to Ierapetra by bus, accompanied by the morning sun. Soon after embarking in the boat, enjoy the trip in the Libyan sea on your way to Chrissi island where you will taste the natural beauty of a unique and protected by “Natura 2000” golden beach.

Enjoy a day tour to the uninhabited island of Chrissi. Admire this small island with its natural cedar forest and beautiful sandy beaches. Drive to the south of Crete and reach the picturesque old town of Lerapetra. Climb aboard the boat at the port of Lerapetra and travel through the crystal clear waters of the Libyan Sea. With luck you will see dolphins, and finally reach Chrissi – also called the Golden Island. Admire untouched nature – a paradise of unparalleled flora and fauna. Stroll through a natural cedar forest, enjoy the incredible tranquility and discover corals and shells, dunes and salt marshes.