Road-trip to Lasithi, Zeus Cave, Vidiani, Krasi & Olive Mill Farm
Description
Discover the magic of the Lassithi Plateau, the legendary birthplace of Zeus. Surrounded by mountains and traditional villages, this fertile plain offers stunning scenery and an authentic taste of rural Crete. Visit Vidiani Monastery, a peaceful Orthodox monastery at the foot of Louloudaki Mountain. Continue to the legendary Psychro Cave (Cave of Zeus) and admire its impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Next, explore Lasinthos Eco Park, featuring traditional workshops such as pottery and candle making, along with a small animal farm. Then stop at the picturesque village of Krasi, famous for its natural springs and the oldest plane tree in Crete. End your journey at an Olive Mill Farm, where you'll discover local products and enjoy optional Cretan cuisine with beautiful mountain and Aegean Sea views.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Morning Pick-up We begin collecting participants from their pick-up points in the morning. Depending on the location of your hotel or apartment, the total drive time will vary. Drive from last pick-up: approx. 50 minutes
1st Stop: Vidiani Monastery – 25 minutes Our first stop is the Vidiani Monastery, a small Eastern Orthodox monastery nestled at the base of Mount Louloudaki and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its peaceful courtyard, beautiful frescoes, and mountain surroundings create an atmosphere of quiet spiritual charm—perfect for a gentle start to the day. Bus Drive: 15 minutes
2nd Stop: Psychro Cave (Cave of Zeus) – 1 hour 40 minutes Next, we visit the legendary Cave of Zeus, believed to be the birthplace of the king of the gods. As you descend into the illuminated cavern, you’ll encounter dramatic chambers adorned with impressive stalactites and stalagmites formed over thousands of years. The atmosphere is mystical and awe-inspiring, offering a glimpse into one of Crete’s most iconic ancient sites. Entrance fee: 15€ (not included) Bus Drive: 10 minutes
3rd stop: Lasinthos Eco Park- 45 minutes Next, visit Lasinthos Eco Park, a charming eco-park featuring traditional artisan workshops, including pottery and candle making, along with a small animal farm. Bus Drive: 20 minutes
4th Stop: Village of Krasi – 25 minutes Our journey continues to the charming traditional village of Krasi, known for its natural freshwater springs and the oldest—and largest—plane tree in Crete. Enjoy a short, refreshing stop surrounded by lush greenery and authentic Cretan village life. Bus Drive: 25 minutes
5th Stop: Olive Mill Farm – 1 hour 40 minutes We visit a beautiful Olive Mill Farm overlooking the mountains and the Aegean Sea. Guests enjoy a guided tour through the production of local olive oil, honey, and handmade olive-based products. Afterwards, you may enjoy a delicious lunch made with local ingredients (at your own expense), in a serene setting full of natural aromas and panoramic views.
Return to Resorts At the end of the tour, we board the buses and return to the hotels where participants were picked up in the morning. Return time varies depending on traffic and individual drop-off locations.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up travellers from specific points in the areas of Sisi, Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Agkisaras, Gouves, Gournes, Kokkini Hani, Karteros, Amoudara, Agia Pelagia and from two centrally located points in Heraklion town. As soon as you make the booking we will contact you in order to let you know the exact place and time of the Pick-up which is closer to your place of hotel, please check your email.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(79)
The bus was on time, clear explanation. Nice information. Interesting places seen. Plenty of time, of course I would have had a little more time in certain places and a little less in others. Restaurant was good value for money
My 1st trio with this company but definitely not my last everything worked like clockwork, mini bus, coach both on time, courier entertaining and it was a great day out. They have the tiiming at the stops just right, enough time to see what you want, but no hanging around. We packed a lot of things into that day
We expected more of it We only went to see small things We thought we would really do the cities
Really delighted with this solo experience. First of all, it should be noted that there is one coach/bus per language spoken. The guide, Kristina, is really listening... I was able to add a visit at the last moment. On the other hand, in this year 2025 (we are already in October), you will not see the cave where Zeus was born ... it is in work ... better to know before booking otherwise be disappointed 😞 The visits are rewarding, apart from stops at sponsored shops for olive oil for example. The Lassithi plateau is simply magnificent, the Vidiani monastery is typical and the thousand-year-old plane tree of Krasi is impressive. If you are in the northeast of Crete, this is a recommended road trip
We had a very good guide who gave us a lot of information. The trip was well organized. It all worked out. Too bad you can't visit the cave at the moment, as it will be closed until next year due to work.
From our hotel in Malia, we were the last to board the bus this time. The bus was air conditioned, but since it goes to the Lasithi plateau it is also pleasant outdoors. Our guide shared information with us almost continuously during the trip, in German and English. We also learned a little Greek. That the Zeus cave is currently closed we only learned on the tour, I would have liked this information in advance. Otherwise it was a nice trip with a really very sympathetic tour guide. And a first-class bus driver!
This was a lovely trip , the village, the monastery , the eco farm , the views, the Olive farm. It was all amazing and for £30 you can't go wrong. Our softly spoken guide was a real cutie. A must go.
Nice excursion to do with family. The visit to the cave is a bit sporty but worth it. The landscapes are beautiful. The birthplace of Kasantsakis is charming and we end with a visit to an olive oil press.
I felt a bit ripped off as in the description it said Cretan lunch was included in the ticket cost but it wasn’t and they wanted €15 for a basic buffet that was nearly empty by the time we got there. It was a nice trip except for the over 90 minutes of pick up and again at drop off. We saw some great things, the monastery was very interesting and learnt a lot about orthodox religion, the walk to the cave Zeus was born in was challenging and so was the climb down the stairs and back up to the cave itself, the village was lovely to see and the olive oil processing was very informative.
From front to back everything was perfectly planned and was a lot of fun. The guide was especially friendly :)
