Start at the traditional village of Mochos with its narrow alleys and colourful gardens, then continue to Krasi and visit the 2,400-year-old Writers' Plane Tree. Afterwards, the tour will ascend to the Diktaion Andron, an ancient cave believed to be the birthplace of Zeus. Take in the incredible view of the Lasithi Plateau. After that amazing experience the tour will take you to the vibrant city of Agios Nikolaos through a long-forgotten route where you get to see wildgoats from up close. There you can visit, surrounded by many legends, Voulismeni lake. Next, visit the villages of Elouda and Plaka with the beautiful beach where you can take a swim or/and visit the world-famous Spinaloga which is a short boat-ride away.
Tour Options
Up to 10 passengers
Pickup included
Itinerary
30 min
Walk the cobblestoned streets and enjoy a refreshing beverage under the 2400-year-old plane tree, also known as the Writers' Tree.
15 min
Admire the stunning view from the mills and get some amazing photos.
Admission not included60 min
Walk up to this ancient Minoan sacred cave, which is believed to be the birthplace of Zeus. Enjoy the stunning view on your way there.
120 min
Visit the vibrant city of Agios Nikolaos
60 min
Visit Plaka, a picturesque tiny fishing village where you can have lunch, swim or simply enjoy the lush green surroundings.
Admission not included60 min
Visit the islet of Spinalonga, a place associated with pain and love, desperation and fear. Spinalonga functioned as a leper colony until 1957 and grew in popularity after the publication of "The Island" by Victoria Hislop.
Highlights
Honey/Raki tasting
Bottled water
Private transportation
V.I.P. Class air-conditioned vehicle
What's included
Included
Honey/Raki tasting
Bottled water
Private transportation
V.I.P. Class air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
Boat, Spinalonga
Spinalonga
Cave of Zeus
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up guests from their hotel at an arranged time.
Traveller Ratings
4.9
50 reviews
5
48
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
1
Important Information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Frequently asked questions
How long does Private Full-Day East Crete Tour from Heraklion take?
Private Full-Day East Crete Tour from Heraklion lasts about 8–10 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Private Full-Day East Crete Tour from Heraklion cost?
Prices start at $769 per person for this Heraklion experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Private Full-Day East Crete Tour from Heraklion for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We pick up guests from their hotel at an arranged time. Pickup points include CONTACT_SUPPLIER_LATER, LOC-6eKJ+or5y8o99Qw0C8xWyHJlgY/k6JHmSkEeUmHwFFA=, LOC-6eKJ+or5y8o99Qw0C8xWyNAGZHpLmsa383MMHQ8sWTk=.
What languages is Private Full-Day East Crete Tour from Heraklion offered in?
The experience is available in EL, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(50)
J
Jason_V
July 19, 2026
Kostas was a great tour...
Kostas was a great tour guide. We took his private tour of East Crete. He was friendly, talkative and very knowledgeable. He took us to an olive oil factory, Zeus Cave, Knossos Palace and many other sites. The tour seems to be customizable, so let him know if there are specific sites that you wish to see. The tour included lunch at a traditional Cretan restaurant and was amazing. Kostas also had traditional Cretan treats for us to try at each stop. I would definitely recommend this tour.
T
toni_m
June 4, 2026
Do NOT book!
Extremely disappointed with this tour. We booked and paid for an all-day excursion, woke up at 6:00 AM to be ready for pickup, and the tour guide never showed up. We tried repeatedly to contact the guide and the tour company, but no one answered and we were completely unable to reach anyone.
As a result, we wasted an entire day of our vacation waiting for a tour that never happened. There was no communication, no explanation, and no effort to notify us or make alternative arrangements.
I understand that unexpected issues can occur, but leaving customers stranded without any communication is unacceptable. I would not recommend this company based on our experience and hope they improve their reliability and customer service in the future.
Operator response
Dear Mrs. Toni Mazzacca,
Hopefully, you are much better at giving tax advice at Grassi than you are a human being because as a human you are despicable. Every word you have written in this review is a lie. You made the booking on June 3rd at 8:26pm for the following morning June 4th and I reached out to you minutes later at 9:07pm to inform you that you had booked the wrong tour explaining everything. 9:08pm you asked a short question about the meeting point. 9:12pm, I answer that question of yours. 10:40pm it is still unclear to me whether we would be going forward with the tour since you never replied after 9:12pm (you would have to come to Heraklion in order for us to do the tour) and I messaged you asking a clarification. No response. You did message me again at 7:03am the next morning asking the time I would pick you up (from your hotel I guess you meant) and since I did not respond as quickly as you would like me to have done, you contacted Viator Support and they called me at 7:32am, I explained everything to them and they relayed the message back to you. They called me again at 7:40am and then you called me at 7:46am. In that call, that lasted for 10 minutes, I was absolutely polite and kind. I calmly explained the problem with your booking, AGAIN, and when you realized that I was not kowtowing to your preposterous demands you resorted to threatening me with a review that quote “will ruin my business” and of course you did not disappoint, I will give you that. I will be uploading the pictures that prove all that too. I even have the recording of you threatening me. What I do not have is the money required for a lawsuit that would knock you off of your “entitlement” horse and reset your completely distorted values and ethics to what a decent human being should be. Contemptible, vile, malevolent, malicious intent should not be on that list and yet you are the dictionary definition of all of them.
Unfortunately, you are not the real problem. The real problem is Viator and TripAdvisor that no matter how hard I have tried, they will not remove your review. Even though they can see our communication (they have told me so), even though I can provide them with all the evidence, but still nothing they can do. So, at the end of the day you still win. You did hurt my business as promised so it is only fair I return the favor.
Kind Regards,
Kostas
D
David_G
April 8, 2026
We had the best day with...
We had the best day with Kostas. Brilliant, funny and so accommodating. Took us all over Eastern Crete, from oil factory to tiny villages. He is so good, keeping his name on file .
Operator response
Dear Mr. David,
Thank you so much for your kind words — it truly made my day to read this! I had a wonderful time taking you around Eastern Crete and loved sharing some of my favourite spots, from the oil factory to those tucked-away villages. It's always a pleasure when guests are as curious and fun to be around as you were. I hope our paths cross again on your next visit to Crete! 🌿
Kind Regards,
Kostas
D
Daymen_S
March 12, 2026
Amazing day in Crete!
Kostas was amazing as a driver and tour guide! In addition to seeing amazing sites and getting tons of information, he also helped us experience the smells of fresh fruit and flowers, the tastes of his countless homemade treats, and the hidden treasures must tourists will never see. His communication before and after the tour was amazing, he even sent us a customized itinerary for our next day where we were exploring alone after the tour was over! Thanks for the hospitality Kostas!
Operator response
Dear Mr. Daymen,
Thank you for taking the time to share such a heartfelt review! I am thrilled to hear that I delivered an experience that went far beyond sightseeing. Immersing guests in the local sights, sounds, tastes, and aromas of our region — along with the hidden gems most visitors never discover — is exactly what I strive for.
I take great pride in my personalized approach, and preparing a custom itinerary for your independent exploration the following day is a testament to my genuine dedication to my guests' experience.
I hope to see you again on your next adventure!
Kind Regards,
Kostas
M
Marta_C
October 12, 2025
Kostas / Best tour guide
I don’t even know where to start for our driver was Kostas. He was waiting for us at the port when we got off the ship and he stayed in contact through chat before I got to the port. He was very responsive, very responsible and he picked us up in an amazing vehicle, we were a total of six people. He was so knowledgeable. He took us to amazing places. I cannot tell you how knowledgeable he was. He took us to where he thought were the best places to see Crete. I highly recommend him. I have never had such an amazing.
A
Annie L
October 9, 2025
Book this now! Fully customizable and unforgettable!
This experience was well beyond what we hoped for! Our day started with Kostas picking us up at our hotel in a lovely VIP minibus is pristine condition. We discussed the itinerary, told him we were completely flexible, and off we went!
Our first stop was an olive oil factory where we learned about the process and the importance of first press (cold press), the use of words like refined (avoid this and the process of second press (don't put this in your body). We sampled some amazing EVOO and continued on our way.
One of the reasons this tour was incredible is because we got to see several little villages in Crete via the back roads instead of the highway. We enjoyed breathtaking views while listening to some of the history related to the island. Ultimately our goal was to get to Plaka and Agios Nikolaos so we could enjoy the east side of Crete, the path we took was anything other than the normal route - and it was completely worth it! The best part was along the way we enjoyed breathtaking views, delicious homemade snacks (we love you Kostas' mama), and enjoyable thought provoking conversation.
This tour was anything other than ordinary and all four of us cannot stop talking about how much we enjoyed it. From the views, to the windmills and fantastic food, you will not be disappointed in you Mr day with Kostas. This is perfection!
L
Leigh_L
October 9, 2025
Book this now! Customizable and not your normal scripted tour
This experience was well beyond what we hoped for! Our day started with Kostas picking us up at our hotel in a lovely VIP minibus is pristine condition. We discussed the itinerary, told him we were completely flexible, and off we went!
Our first stop was an olive oil factory where we learned about the process and the importance of first press (cold press), the use of words like refined (avoid this) and the process of second press (don’t put this in your body). We sampled some amazing EVOO and continued on our way.
One of the reasons this tour was incredible is because we got to see several little villages in Crete via the back roads instead of the highway. We enjoyed breathtaking views while listening to some of the history related to the island. Ultimately our goal was to get to Plaka and Agios Nikolaos so we could enjoy the east side of Crete, the path we took was anything other than the normal route - and it was completely worth it! The best part was along the way we enjoyed breathtaking views, delicious homemade snacks (we love you Kostas’ mama), and enjoyable thought provoking conversation.
This tour was anything other than ordinary and all four of us cannot stop talking about how much we enjoyed it. From the views, to the windmills and fantastic food, you will not be disappointed in your day with Kostas. This is perfection!
D
Danna_S
September 18, 2025
East Crete
Kostas was very knowledgeable about all things. He had treats from his mother at every stop. Very good driver. It was a long day as we also hired him to Taxi us to Chania.
T
Tim S
September 4, 2025
East Crete with Kostas
Kostas was a great guide, knowledgeable, kind and funny. We had a fun full day of site seeing, swapping the cave of Zeus which is closed for Malia palace which I am told is better preserved than Knossos
We had numerous pleasant stops along the way to Spinalonga island finished off with a great meal in Nikolaos.
Special thanks to Kostas’s mum for a the home cooked treats along the way!
R
rich_b
June 12, 2025
Great experience
The experience was great , we had a fun time with Kostas our guide. He was very flexible and knowledgeable
