Join us on this full day PRIVATE TOUR or book the SMALL GROUP TOUR OPTION to explore the Real Side of Crete together away from big crowds. Visit a few old traditional villages and walk through the old narrow streets …Enjoy an iced coffee or fresh juice at the main square …….visit an olive oil factory where we learn all about the olive oil ( Golden Liquid) production and taste different kind of this golden liquid.
Enjoy the ride with our comfortable air conditioned vehicles while learning about local traditions, history and myths .
Explore the Old Wind Mills and enjoy the amazing views from around 3000 feet above sea level.
Visit the Cave of Zeus where according to our mythology he was born ….
Stop at a family restaurant to enjoy Cretan traditional lunch which is a must but it’s OPTIONAL.
Now it’s time to travel back in time and visit Knossos Palace
Now after creating unforgettable memories it’s time to go back to your hotel or cruise port .
Tour Options
SMALL GROUP
Pick up - drop off : We can pick you up from Heraklion Region and port.
From Elounda , Agios Nikolaous , Rethimno you must book the Private Option
Pickup included
PRIVATE TOUR
We can customize this tour on your wishes and needs .
Pickup included
Itinerary
30 min
We stol at an olive oil factory where we learn all about the Cretan Golden Liquid…… and of course taste a few different olive oils ……
10 min
Our tour starts from Heraklion city, Driving through and around the city
Pass by
Pas by without stopping but could be a pick up location of your choice.
45 min
We stop at the old village of Mochos to walk through the narrow streets , see the old churches and take a taste of the local way of life , probably have something to drink or enjoy some local food st a family restaurant at the villages main square .
60 min
We will see the old wind mills that used to pump the water up from underground to water the crops, and the other wind mills that used to grain ,wheat and corn to make flour .
Pass by
Drive through the town but it could be also a pick up location.
25 min
We walk around the picturesque village of Krasi, take some photos of the oldest and biggest Platanus tree in Crete.
5 min
We stop up on the mountain to enjoy the view of the Aposelemi Dam .
Admission not included60 min
For the moment the cave is closed but according to the Ministry of Tourism it will open in April.
There is a 30 minutes walk to the cave and around 185 steps to explore the cave then back up .
Pass by
A potential pick up location.
Pass by
A potential pick up location
45 min
We usually stop at a family restaurant up on the mountain to have lunch but this is OPTIONAL….
Pass by
A potencial pick up location
Admission not included60 min
This is our last stop and it’s OPTIONAL,
Highlights
Coffee, water ,
Knowledgeable local driver guide
Transportation with comfortable air conditioned vehicles .
Olive oil , and Raki tasting.
Liability Insurance
What's included
Included
Coffee, water ,
Knowledgeable local driver guide
Transportation with comfortable air conditioned vehicles .
Olive oil , and Raki tasting.
Liability Insurance
Not included
Lunch is OPTIONAL
Knossos Palace entrance fee ( OPTIONAL )
Entrance fee 15 eu per person. Cave is closed every Tuesday, to get to the cave there is a 15 minutes walking up hill then around 150 steps to explore the cave , going to the cave is ( OPTIONAL)
Pickup Locations & Times
We can pick you up from Heraklion Port and Heraklion Region, Hersonisos, Malia , Analipsi, Gouves , Agia Pelagia . ONLY if you book the PRIVATE TOUR OPTION we can pick you up from Agios Nikolaous Port and Region , Rethimno city and Region ,Elounda or if you are more than 5 people.
We don’t pick up from Chania Region ,Souda Port , Ierapetra or Sitia .
Traveller Ratings
5.0
93 reviews
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92
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Important Information
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
PRIVATE-Knossos Palace-Zeus Cave-Olive Oil Tasting-Old Villages lasts about 7–8 hours. The itinerary has 14 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $136 per person for this Crete experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel this tour 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 can pick you up from Heraklion Port and Heraklion Region, Hersonisos, Malia , Analipsi, Gouves , Agia Pelagia . ONLY if you book the PRIVATE TOUR OPTION we can pick you up from Agios Nikolaous Port and Region , Rethimno city and Region ,Elounda or if you are more than 5 people.
We don’t pick up from Chania Region ,Souda Port , Ierapetra or Sitia . Pickup points include MEET_AT_DEPARTURE_POINT, CONTACT_SUPPLIER_LATER, LOC-6eKJ+or5y8o99Qw0C8xWyMCjGZ9Fl1Ih6J7PuAfPCP8=.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 12 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Specialized infant seats are available
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(93)
T
Tony_H
August 11, 2026
Amazing tour of the farmlands of Crete
The tour was extremely personalized and wonderful, even educational! Our guide and host Stavros was super knowledgeable, kind, and efficient throughout the tour, even taking us to small town villages and farmlands to experience living in Crete. I would recommend this tour to everyone!
Operator response
Thank you so much Tony and family for your great review, we really appreciate your time and are glad to hear that you really enjoyed the tour .
Keep being awesome.
Explore Real Crete Tours
M
Michael_H
July 4, 2026
Fantastic tour of Crete!
We had a fantastic tour of Crete with our guide Stavros. He was born in Crete and knows the island, its history, and local villages well. He showed us the key areas and several spots that we would have never seen without him. He took my wife and me to a family farm where we picked strawberries and enjoyed them with a wonderful glass of wine. Don’t hesitate to book this tour - you won’t regret it!
Operator response
Thank you so much Tony and Katherine for taking the time to write a super great review, it’s so lovely to hear that you had a wonderful time with us and hopefully you will make it in Crete again in the future so we can show you another part of our home island and create new memories while showing.
Explore Real Crete Tours
C
Cruiser37765423242
June 14, 2026
Amazing!! You will love it!
We ended up being the only ones traveling that day. We got a private tour all around Crete. When I tell you it was nothing but magical would be an understatement. We met locals and sat with an 88 year woman at her cafe. We sat and talked. Amazing! If you don’t book this adventure, you’re crazy!
Operator response
Thank you so my Joyce and Robert for your great review, we are delighted to hear that you really enjoyed the tour with us and hopefully we will meet again in the future to explore together our home island.
Explore Real Crete Tours
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Navigator53028556486
June 11, 2026
You’ll love Real Crete
Stavros with Real Crete Tours is the very best guide on the island. You will not regret booking with him. He knows everyone and all the local places, beautiful views, and best food. He has a high-end transport van that is a very comfortable way to travel. We highly recommend him and his company!
Operator response
Thank you so much Steve and Mara for taking the time to write this amazing review.
We really appreciate it and are happy to hear that you really enjoyed the tour with us .
Hopefully we will meet again to show you another part of Crete while having fun and creating new memories.
Explore Real Crete Tours
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TrailBlazer281072
June 11, 2026
Great tour of Crete; we loved it!
Overall, it was a fantastic experience. Our guide picked us up on time and was very welcoming. He was VERY knowledgeable about Crete and showed us the several things off the beaten path. We stopped to have coffee at an authentic Greek cafe run by local woman who had run village cafe for decades. Since my wife has a foot injury and we were not able to traverse the Zeus cave, our guide was able to pivot and show us other things that we found fascinating. All-in-all, we loved it. I highly recommend it.
Operator response
Thank you so much for taking the time to write an amazing review, we are delighted to hear that you had a great experience with us and hopefully we will meet again in the future to explore together another part of Crete .
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O3934NVdianef
June 10, 2026
Tour with Spyros
We had such a wonderful day with our guide Spyros. So friendly and welcoming. Plus he knew everything about the beautiful Island of Crete. He was so happy to share his experiences and knowledge. Just couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Bravo to spyros.
Operator response
Thank you so much Diane and Mark for your great review, we are glad to hear that your had an amazing day with Spyros and hopefully we will meet again here to show you another side of Crete next time.
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Lauren M
June 5, 2026
Brilliant tour! Highly recommend.
We had an amazing day exploring Crete with Stavros! He was friendly, easy to talk to, and made the whole experience fun from start to finish. It felt more like spending the day with a local friend than being on a tour.
Stavros knows the island incredibly well and shared lots of interesting stories along the way. He took us to some beautiful spots and made sure we were having a great time.
If you're visiting Crete and want a relaxed, authentic experience, I’d definitely recommend Explore Real Crete Tours. Thanks for a fantastic day!
Operator response
Thank you so much Lauren for taking the time to write this great review.
We are pleased to hear that you really enjoyed the tour with us and hopefully we will meet again here in Crete to explore together another part of our home island.
Thank you very much
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AlisonMcC
May 6, 2026
An unforgettable day out.
This was an excellent eight hour tour which never flagged. It was varied - Knossos, an olive oil factory, coffee in a village square, and incredible scenery. Stavros was knowledgeable, interesting, entertaining and quickly tuned into our family's interests.
Operator response
Thank you so much Alison for taking the time to write this great review, we really appreciate it and are happy to heather you had an excellent experience with us .
Hopefully we will meet again in the future so we can show you another part of Crete.
Warm regards
Explore Real Crete Tours
S
stephaniemV7260NY
April 17, 2026
Great day tour - you will see the best of Crete
What a wonderful tour! We were picked up by Mike - who entertained us for the whole day with interesting facts and stories, even testing our geography skills! He was very knowledgeable about the places we visited and contentious of our needs. He rearranged the stops so we could get to Knossos Palace before it got too busy.
We toured an olive oil farm and had an olive oil tasting
We visited Lasithi Plateau - spectacular! and had our best meal at a local restaurant.
I would highly recommend this tour - it was our highlight of Crete.
Operator response
Thank you so much Stephanie for taking the time to write this amazing review.
Really glad to hear that you had a great time with us and we hope to meet you again soon we can explore together another part of Crete .
Thank you
Explore Real Crete Tours
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TheNottsLot
April 16, 2026
The BEST way to see the real Crete!
What an amazing day spent seeing the real Crete with our fantastic guide, Stavros (aka son of Zeus 😂)
He arrived to pick us up on time, full of smiles and energy and this continued all day. He was passionate about Crete’s history and showed us some beautiful villages, an olive oil factory, the Monumental Plane Tree, the Lasithi Windmills, Knossos and a lovely walk on the beach to finish the day.
I am so pleased we booked this trip as we have seen villages and areas that we would never have visited and have learnt so much from Stavros, as well as lots of laughs and fun along the way!
Thanks so much from Ramona and Austin x
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Thank you so much Ramona and Austin for the amazing review, we are glad to hear that you both had a wonderful time with us and hopefully we will meet again in the future to show you another part of Crete .
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