7-Day Private Guided Tour of Crete from Heraklion

Arriving at the airport your car will be there to collect.

You can visit the Minoan Palace at Knossos where you can book a professional licensed guide for a tour, if you wish. It is the most important center of Minoan civilization; it’s the place where the myth of labyrinth with the Minotaur and the myth of Daedalus and Icarus are connected. The palace which dates back to 2000 BC was the prosperous Minoan Capital and the residence of the legendary King Minos. The ruins were excavated and partly restored by Sir Arthur Evans in the late 19th century and brought to light an enormous complex of over a 1000 interlocking rooms which is probably the source of the well-known legend of the labyrinth.

With the same ticket you will visit the archeological museum which is one of the oldest and most important museums in Europe. You will spend your afternoon around the Old Town and old market. The most notable monument along the harbor is the Venetian Fort of Koules.

You can take your breakfast early in the morning and start driving toward Ag.Nikolaos.

You will spend your night at Ag.Nikolaos and you will stop on the way at the Minoan site of Malia and one of the many sandy beaches. During a visit to the archeological site it’s possible to discover the rest of buildings, magazines and quarters where the Minoan civilization prospered thousands of years ago.

Then you will visit the Lassithi Plain with the cave of Zeus. The cave stands 1025m above the sea level. This magnificent refuge is one of the few places in all Europe. One of the most characteristic features is the 26 stone flour mills located at the main entrance. Stalagmite and stalactite rich domicile deep in the bowels of the mountain is where legend tells us the god Zeus was born.

At the end of the day you will visit the Lake Voulismeni which is located right in the heart of the city. Around the lake, there are several bars and restaurants making the place pretty animated at night.

The following day will be spent on a trip to the delightful town of Sitia and the Palm Beach of Vai, which is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Crete as it is the largest natural palm forest in Europe with 6000 palm trees.

Then you will visit Minoan Site at Kato Zakros. This is the 4th Minoan palace of Crete, which is the only one that was not looted. Built around 1600 BC it had 180 apartments and covered an area of 8,000 square meters.

Alternatively, if you wish to stay at Ierapetra you can stop on the way to see the wonderful views of Mirabello Bay and the ancient ruins of Gournia followed by a day of sightseeing on the south coast, to the east of Ierapetra.

A nice drive along the south coast road through the old villages clinging to the sides of the mountains, and with spectacular views over the Libyan Sea. You will stop at the sites of Gortys, Phaistos and Agia Triada before finally getting to the small seaside village of Plakias, where you will spend two nights.

You will drive with your car to Rethymno City. There we will pick you up at 06:00 in the morning for a nice drive through the White Mountains and through some Cretan villages. The Samaria Gorge is the most popular walk of Island and a great example of beauty of Cretan nature. It was created by a small river flowing off the White Mountains (Lefka Ori). The gorge is 13 km long, starting at an altitude of 1,250m at the northern entrance, and ending at the shores of the South Cretan Sea in Agia Roumeli. It is the nicest and the most impressive mountain region of Crete. After a 2-hour drive we arrive at the entrance on the plateau Omalos of the White Mountains. The entrance of the longest gorge in Europe (11 miles) lies at 4000 ft. You have the option to enjoy your breakfast on top of the mountain close to nature and the fresh air before you start your activity. Alternatively you can spent the day exploring the village Plakias and visiting the magnificent monastery at Moni Preveli.

A drive to Chania stopping to see the huge fort on the beach at Frangokastello and a short diversion for coffee in Chora Sfakion before crossing the mountains to see Aptera and Souda Bay on the way to Chania. In the evening, you will stroll around the picturesque alleys of the Old Town and walk to the old port's Lighthouse.

You can spend your last full day seeing the many sights of Kissamos and Gramvousa balos, or for the really adventurous a day out to visit the crystal clear beaches. Spend a day on a cruise visiting Balos & Gramvousa, an island that serves as a regional bird habitat. While there, take time to explore the local castle, then head over to Balos Lagoon. Swim and relax at the lagoon with your group and in the afternoon return to Kissamos port where your bus picks you up.