Crete is an Eldorado for adventurers! The versatility of Greece’s largest island leaves hardly any limits to the explorer’s heart. This can be done individually on your own with a rental car or on a guided day tour. In this article, we will introduce you to the most popular Crete tours for your holiday.
For a variety of Crete sights, all you need is a solid rental car to get from A to B. This is how you can discover Crete in a way that suits you and your own rhythm. For all those who do not want to or cannot drive themselves in Crete by car, here are our suggestions for great day excursions on Crete:
#1 Crete Jeep Safari
- Provider: Discovery Safaris / Cretanholidays / Safari Club Crete
- Location: Region of Rethymno or Agios Nikolaos, Malia
- Languages: English, German, French
Both providers for tours by off-road vehicle show you Crete far off the beaten track. Perfect if you want to combine interesting facts about Crete with a good dose of adrenaline. The Off-road tours in Crete are among the best excursions on the island.
It goes over gravel roads into the mountains of Crete, past traditional villages where time seems to stand still. One of the most popular excursions, for example, leads to the palm beach Preveli. In most Crete Jeep Safaris a lunch is included. The organizer, as well as the drivers and guides are highly praised by vacationers. Click on the links for details such as tour availability and prices:
➲ To the off-road tour near Heraklion*
➲ To the jeep safari on the south coast*
#2 Trip to Balos
- Provider: Platanos Tours / Cretan Daily Cruises
- Location: from Chania, Rethymno and Kissamos
- Languages: English
A Tour to Balos Lagoon is definitely one of the most popular Crete excursions. Accordingly, there is a high rush of tourists here in the summer months. Many tour operators offer bus trips to the lagoon followed by a boat tour to the island of Gramvousa.
→ More tips and information about this Crete excursion can be found in our separate article about Balos
On site you have the opportunity to relax comfortably in one of the numerous sun loungers and refresh yourself in the turquoise blue water. If you like it a little more adventurous, you can climb the rock in front of it with the eponymous Tigani viewpoint and enjoy a spectacular view of the lagoon and the Balos Beach.
➲ To the online ferry ticket from Kissamos*
➲ To the organized tour from Chania*
➲ To the organized tour from Rethymno*
#3 Excursion to Elafonisi
- Provider: Platanos Tours
- Location: Region of Chania and Rethymno
- Languages: English
In addition to Balos, the bay of Elafonisi in the far southwest of Crete is one of the highlights of the island. This inevitably gives you a Caribbean feeling on Crete. Here, too, large crowds are to be expected in the high season, an early visit at Elafonisi is worth it.
→ More tips and information about this Crete excursion can be found in our separate article about Elafonisi
The wide lagoon landscape inspires as soon as you arrive, the sea shimmers in the most beautiful shades of blue. The beach of Elafonisi also has a special feature: it is colored pale pink in some places. This is due to tiny deposits of pink corals and shells. One Excursion to Elafonisi will remain in your memory for a long time!
➲ To the guided tour from Chania*
➲ To the guided tour from Rethymno*
➲ To the guided tour from Heraklion*
#4 Palace of Knossos
- Provider: Foniadakis Travel, Vangelis Alefantinos (Guide)
- Location: from Heraklion
- Languages: English
The Palace of Knossos is the most important site of the Minoan high culture. As a Crete vacationer interested in history, you should not miss a visit. From our own experience, we recommend a guided tour with Vangelis Alefantinos. Otherwise, it is difficult to understand the complexity of the Minoan culture.
→ More tips and information about this Crete excursion can be found in our separate article about Knossos
Especially in the high season, waiting times can occur at the ticket office. On the one-hour guided tour of Knossos, you will be accompanied by a professional guide and you will not have to queue for a long time at the entrance. In this context, it is also worth taking a trip to the archaeological museum of Heraklion. You can book Knossos Tours right here:
➲ Skip-the-line online ticket*
➲ To the guided tour in German*
#5 Quad bike tour in Crete
- Provider: Discovery Safaris
- Location: from Rethymno
- Languages: English
An adventurous way to discover the landscapes of the island of Crete is on a guided quad bike tour. On remote roads you can experience the wild beauty of Crete far away from the tourist hustle and bustle.
The half-day Quad tour in Crete is operated by the provider Discovery Safaris from Rethymnon, which also offers jeep safaris. Usually a small snack and a stay in a mountain village are included in this Crete excursion. Due to the scenic location, the tours start in Rethymno, Heraklion or Agia Pelagia.
➲ To the quad excursion from Rethymno*
➲ To the quad bike excursion from Heraklion*
#6 Samaria Gorge Hike
A trip to Samaria Gorge is an option. The experiences of holidaymakers in Crete with these trips vary greatly. In most cases, the long journey or the time-consuming pick-up of the individual participants from the hotels is perceived as very negative.
→ tips for an individual hike can be found in the separate article about the Samaria Gorge
A hike through the gorge is worthwhile for holidaymakers who have their hotels in the regions of Chania and Rethymno. From Heraklion alone, it is about a three-hour drive to the famous gorge. If that doesn’t bother you, you can choose from a variety of providers for a guided Samaria Walking Tour choose.
➲ To the guided hike from Chania*
➲ To the guided hike from Rehtymno*
➲ To the guided hike from Heraklion*
West Crete 10 Day Tours – Your Guide to a Stress-Free Holiday!
In our Crete Travel Guide 10 eventful day tours full of highlights await you: beautiful beaches, exciting sights, charming villages and authentic taverns. Included: routes, maps for navigation and many personal tips: ➜ To the Crete travel guide
Alternatives to the Samaria Gorge
Especially the Samaria Gorge is unfortunately partly overcrowded in the summer months. Ideally, you undertake the Samaria Trek in low season. Then the crowds of visitors are lower and the weather is no longer so extremely hot in May or September.
Alternatively, there are other beautiful Crete gorges that you can hike through without crowds. For example, the Aradena, Kourtaliotiko Lissos, Richtis or Sarakino Gorge. Even in the high season, there is less going on here than in the Samaria Gorge.
#7 Excursion to Chania
The city of Chania is one of the most beautiful cities in Greece, if not Europe. In addition to Retyhmno and Heraklion, the capital of Crete, Chania is an ideal starting point for exploring the island. A walking tour of Chania including the Venetian harbor can be described as one of the most beautiful Crete tours ever.
→ More tips and information about this Crete excursion can be found in our separate article about Chania
There is a great photo opportunity on every corner. Chania offers a mix of medieval alleys, ancient ruins, local culture and a lot of tradition. The city should definitely be visited in the Crete Holidays there are also interesting street food tours and culinary city tours. From Chania start many interesting Crete tours to the surrounding area.
➲ To the excursions around Chania*
#8 Spinalonga, Dia and Chrysi Island
Excursions to the islands around Crete are usually only worthwhile if you stay in a hotel in the closer region of these islands. Traveling on Crete by car or bus can be very long under certain circumstances.
So it takes at least 4-5 hours from east to west. From north to south, the shortest route is 45 minutes. Most excursions and day tours can be booked directly at the port of the respective Crete Resorts (ideally one day in advance).
Spinalonga Island Boat Trip
A visit to Spinalonga is particularly worthwhile for holidaymakers of the region of Agios Nikoloas, away also for all holidaymakers of the region of Heraklion and Hersonissos. There are also some Spinalonga tour operators in Agios Nikolaos. Alternatively, you can drive independently to Plaka and take the short crossing from there.
➲ To the excursions to Spinalonga*
- Departure point: Plaka (above Elounda)
→ More information for a trip to the leper island of Crete can be found in our article: Spinalonga Island
Sailing trip to Dia Island
One Excursion to Dia Island is ideal for all holidaymakers in the Heraklion region. Operators such as Sailingtrips.gr even offer special tours at sunset followed by dinner.
- Departure point: Heraklion
Tour to the Paximadia Islands
The excursions start from Agia Galini. Ideal for all visitors on site or in the region Matala. Holidaymakers from Rethymno need a little more than an hour’s journey.
- Departure point: Agia Galini
💡 Insider tips for Crete: Get our Crete travel guide now and benefit from our experience on site: More info
Chrysi Island Boat Tour
A visit to the Caribbean-looking island in the Libyan Sea is worthwhile for all those who want to spend their holidays in Crete in the region of Ierapetra and Agios Nikolaos. Tour operators are located directly at the city’s harbor Ierapetra.
➲ To the excursions to Golden Dawn*
- Departure point: Ierapetra
Do you have any other recommendations for a day trip or have you already done one of the Crete tours listed above? Then share your experiences with us and other Crete vacationers in the comments.
Crete Island Map: This card includes all Crete Highlights, 298 Places to Visit & Insider Tips, 94 beaches & bays, as well as personal recommendations for 117 restaurants & cafes. Ideal for holiday planning and local navigation. Can be used for smartphone, tablet and PC/Mac. Click here and start using it right away: To the Crete Map
Here you can get more information for your holiday planning, as well as interesting travel tips for your Crete holiday:
- Island of Crete -Guidebook
- Best hotels in Crete
- Our highlights in Crete
- Crete Excursions & Tours
- Crete Beaches
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