West Crete Tour from Heraklion: Rethymno-Chania-Kurnas
Description
• The city of Chania is one of the cultural centers of Greece, located at the foot of the majestic White Mountains. The former capital of the island and the second largest city of Crete, it attracts tourists from all over the world with its unique combination of Venetian, Ottoman, Byzantine and Greek cultures. • The old town is more like an open-air museum: the splendor of medieval architecture, the beauty of Venetian-style churches, Ottoman mosques and ancient fountains. • Picturesque Rethymno impresses every tourist with its beautiful old harbor. You can enjoy delicious local cuisine right on the waterfront, buy the best local products and explore the narrow streets of the old town. • The final and enjoyable part of the trip will be swimming in Lake Kourna. • This is the island's natural freshwater lake, its waters are replenished by two springs. The lake looks like a bowl, surrounded on all sides by mountains. If you're lucky, you might see waterfowl turtles.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Chania has the most beautiful old town in Crete and is located at the foot of the majestic White Mountains. The former capital of the island and the second largest city of Crete, it attracts tourists from all over the world for its unique blend of Venetian, Ottoman, Byzantine and Greek cultures. You will be wandering through the maze of the ancient streets, that will fascinate you by the beauty of the colorful houses and feel as if you are travelling through time, with a variety of unforgettable sights. The old town is more like an open-air museum: splendor of the medieval architecture, beauty of churches in the Venetian style, Ottoman mosques and antique fountains.
Picturesque Rethymno impresses every tourist with its beautiful old harbor and famous lighthouse. You can enjoy the delicious dishes of the local cuisine right on the waterfront, buy the best products of local producers and explore narrow streets and its hidden gems in the old town.
The final and enjoyable part of the trip will be swimming at Lake Kournas. The lake is like a bowl, surrounded by mountains from all sides. This is the natural freshwater lake of the island, its waters are replenished by two springs. With some luck you may see turtles swimming around.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
• After booking we will contact you to arrange the pick-up. • We pick up from the tourist bus stops, a maximum 800m walk from your hotel. • For remotely located hotels and Airbnb's, please, contact us to clarify the closest pick-up point or any extra transfer arrangements. • Please, note, if you do not provide your pick-up details up to 24 hours before the tour, we do not guarantee the pick-up.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- If an infant does not sit on lap in the bus, It is necessary to pay a child ticket.
- Pick-up from the specific bus stops next to the hotels. From Area 1: all the villages between Fodele, Agia Pelagia, Xeropotamos(West Heraklion), Area 2: Heraklion Center and East, Carteros, Kokkini Hani, Gouves, Gournes, Hersonissos, Stalida, Malia, Sissi.
- After booking we will contact you to arrange the pick-up. Please, note, if you do not provide your pick-up details up to 24 hours before the tour, we do not guarantee the pick-up. For pick-up from different location, please, contact us.
- Tuesday: English, German, French
- Wednesday: English, German, French
- Thursday: English, German, French
- Friday: English, German, French
- Saturday: English, German, French
- Sunday: Russian
Reviews(117)
4 hours in an unairconditioned bus was a real ordeal.
Both towns were great to visit. Wish the time at the lake was a lot shorter and more time Was given to enjoy Rethymano.
Thank you for your review!!
Good knowledge from the guide but having to speak in two languages made it a bit lengthy. Pick up and drop offs were a bit chaotic. But overall a good trip with time to see everything.
Thank you for your review!!
A lot of bus time like others said. Nice to see other cities however other than waterfront and fortress just more restaurants and shops. The one hour at the lake was a waste of time. Helena provides good info about the area. In order to ensure people don’t get lost returning back to the bus coordinates or a street name or something should be provided, and our van driver did not identify himself for pick up so he was just sitting there and we were just standing there and not realizing if there was a sign in the windshield it was covered by the wipers. It might be helpful if he got out and asked those waiting there or have some kind of a shirt identifying himself.
The tour was advertised as an English Tour, the guide translated in other languages. I forgot what she said because of the distraction of other languages. They only took us to their favored restaurant for lunch and didn't mention others and discouraging us from eating in Chania altogether. The tour was only to go and drop us off in shopping districts. They should advertise as a shopping tour. We didn't see many good sites for photographs. In fact, a trip I took the least photos. The bus was large and not properly air conditioned. The seat in front of me was broken and it was almost on my lap.
The tour is just beautiful. There is much to discover and see in both cities. From the small, dreamy harbour, to busy shopping streets and small exhibitions in historic buildings. If you want to experience something of everything, time is short on the spot. But they are worth seeing. The only remaining freshwater lake on the island is also a highlight if you appreciate landscapes. Again, time is scarce, especially for swimming in the lake. But at least with your feet in you should try it out. The panorama of what is available is simply beautiful. My tour guide had a lot of informative information about the history, architecture, myths, the island and everyday life on the island. Since you ride the route in stages and experience something new in between, the journey will not be long. On the right the sea, on the left the White Mountains...there is something to see. The bus was modern and even for tall people was a greater distance between the seats. That makes the ride very enjoyable.
Thank you very much for your review!!
Spectacular, chania is a must, rethymno too. When we went to the lake it was raining, but we stayed for a drink at the restaurant and everything was fine
Thank you very much for your review!!
This is not a tour for those who want to deeply know each place, but works as a sample. Gives a nice taste and leaves you wanting more. which I guess is the intention. The time on each place feels short compared to the time in the bus, but I can't see an alternative considering the size of the island. I do appreciate the freedom to do whatever we want instead of running around without options. My only complaint is the multilingual approach. I do appreciate that they try to acommodate multiple languages and what is said is very interesting, but the amount of time it takes to go through all three languages feels awkward.
Way too big a group, used a double decker bus. Took forever entering and exiting. No clear instructions for each stop. Would not recommend.
Exceedingly long day. 14 hrs!!!! 5 hours at the sites, 9 hours on bus! Too many stops collecting and dropping off fellow travellers. Lake not worth visiting!
As you can understand, the distances in Crete are great since it's a large island, and the tour you chose is one of the farthest, especially if your accommodation is several kilometers away from the places you'll visit. Next time, you can choose a tour closer to your accommodation.
