Explore Naxos Villages by Mini Bus
Description
Uncover the highlights of Naxos on this small group tour, featuring a visit to the ancient Temple of Demeter and charming local villages. Begin with a guided exploration of this significant temple, delving into its rich history before wandering through picturesque villages like Kaloxylos, where you'll sample extra virgin olive oil, and Apiranthos, known for its marble streets and authentic architecture. Last but not least, explore the picturesque village of Chalki and taste the local liqueur "kitron", all within a relaxed group of up to 16 participants. This 6-hour tour provides a unique glimpse into Naxos's culture and traditions. - Small group tour, max 16 participants for an intimate experience - Visit the ancient Temple of Demeter and its museum - Explore charming villages and taste local delicacies - Guided tour in English, approximately 6 hours long
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your first stop will be the Temple of Demeter, the most significant sight in Naxos. Hear about the history of the monument and the myth regarding the goddess it is devoted to. Enjoy free time to visit the on-site museum and take pictures. Your tour guide is not licensed, thus not allowed to guide you inside the monument. You will get all the information regaridng the site before you enter.
Continue to Kaloxylos, a serene village with 50 residents. Visit a historical building that houses the island’s first electric company and its first-ever olive press. Sample some extra virgin olive oil and explore the quaint alleys of the village..
Next, drive through the village of Filoti and past the legendary Mount Zas before reaching Apiranthos, also known as “the marble village.” Discover narrow, marble-paved streets with archways, magnificent Venetian towers, and two-story stone houses with unique architectural characteristics. Enjoy free time to have lunch here, and taste some of the local dishes, such as “rosto,” “kalogeros,” and the Naxian salad with fresh “xinomizithra” cheese.
Then, head to Chalki, said to be one of the most beautiful villages in the Cyclades. Stroll along cobbled pathways, admire colorful neoclassical buildings, and relax at taverns shaded by vine leaves and bougainvillea. Visit art galleries and charming gift shops, and taste the local liqueur “kitron” at the oldest distillery in Naxos.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
You will receive exact pickup details (time , exact location) one day prior the tour. Please check your emails. If you book the option "with pickup/ drop-off transfer" but you don't provide your hotel name, please meet us at our final meeting place "Naxos Bus Transfer" office.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(39)
This was an awesome 4 hour tour of the Naxos history and really gives you an appreciation of the island way from just then beautiful beaches. Thanos our tour guide was outstanding, so knowledgeable and passionate about his island and its people and culture. So articulate and warm and friendly. Star is our driver was also lovely and drove us around the hilltops very safely. I would highly recommend tours with Naxos Bus Transfers
A wonderful day, full of discoveries, our guide was very friendly and a very good driver. Thank you for this wonderful adventure.
We had the best time on this tour of Naxos! I so appreciated that our tour guide Kyriaki (Sandy) and driver Stefanos are both from Naxos. The tour offers an excellent variety of experiences of the island. I loved seeing the Temple of Demeter because it was far less crowded than the Parthenon and Apollo's gate, making it so much more accessible. The olive oil tasting was another highlight, set in a charming village. Lunch was a bit chaotic, both recommended restaurants were extremely busy and service slow. The timing worked out but we didn't have much time to explore the village itself. It was fun to sample the Kitron as our final stop. Throughout the day, Sandy kept us on schedule and enthusiastically shared local knowledge. Stefanos was an excellent driver - calm and skilled through the narrowest streets and we very much appreciated the hotel pick-up/drop-off. It was a full day, but a wonderful way to experience Naxos, see the gorgeous villages, and get a taste (literally) of the island. Highly recommend.
What a great day of touring! Our guide, Aggeliki, and our driver, Makis, were fantastic. They picked us up right at our AirBnB and off we went. We visited several villages, the ancient Temple of Demeter, the old Ergostasio Olive oil processing Mill (actually 3 rooms - with all the original machines), did some love tasting, has a nice lunch in one of the villages, had a kitron tasting at the Vallindras distillery, and then visited an expert pottery maker’s workshop as a bonus. Aggeliki was so great, telling lots of stories, and making really personal connections with us. Makis got us to every stop safely (with air conditioning in his roomy van) and comfortably, without any worries by us. Highly recommended!
Interesting trip to the villages in Naxos. Air conditioned bus. Very knowledgeable tour guide. I would recommend this trip.
I went on this tour with my 8yo son and he loved every minute of it! Our tour guide Sandy was warm and went above and beyond to make my son feel comfortable. Highly recommend this tour to anyone.
We recently joined the Explore Naxos Villages by Mini Bus tour and it was one of the highlights of our time on the island. From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized and stress-free. The driver and tour guide was truly exceptional. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about Naxos. Her explanations brought the history and culture of the villages to life in an engaging way without ever feeling overwhelming. What impressed us most was the excellent balance between providing rich historical and cultural background information and giving us plenty of time to explore the villages at our own pace. We never felt rushed, yet we left each stop with a much deeper understanding of the local traditions, produce, and way of life. The mini bus was comfortable, and the small group size made the experience feel personal and relaxed. We saw beautiful mountain villages, charming squares, and stunning viewpoints that we would never have discovered on our own. If you’re looking for a well-organized, informative, and enjoyable way to discover the authentic side of Naxos, this tour is an absolute must. We left feeling enriched and grateful for such a wonderful experience. Highly recommended!
Thanos was an excellent guide. He is from the area so he had so much knowledge to share with us. We got to experience so much of the culture of Naxos on this tour. I highly recommend this tour. I enjoyed the small group as well rather than the large bus tour.
This minibus tour was quite genuinely one of the best tours of my life. Our guide, Thanos was so informative, engaging, kind, and he had a great sense of humor. Our driver, Panagiotis, was incredible in maneuvering around the small roads of the villages. I thoroughly enjoyed stories of Greek mythology, and tasting the specialty foods of Naxos. I appreciated how we didn’t spend too long at each stop, just enough to walk around and explore a bit. All in all, I highly recommend.
Our guide Thanos and driver Panos were perfection. We were relieved someone else was driving but Fanos was a great driver maneuvering the small roads. Thanos was so knowledgeable and it was a bonus that he is Naxian. A great way to see the villages, don’t hesitate!
