Discover the rich heritage and timeless traditions of Crete on this unforgettable journey through some of the island’s most authentic and historic locations. Our first stop is the impressive Melidoni Cave, a place of great archaeological and historical importance dating back to the Neolithic period. We then continue to the picturesque village of Margarites, famous for its centuries-old pottery tradition, where you can stroll through narrow alleys and watch local artisans at work. Next, visit the historic Arkadi Monastery, one of Crete’s most iconic landmarks and a powerful symbol of freedom and resistance. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional Cretan lunch in a mountain village accompanied by live local music and warm hospitality. Following lunch, take a relaxing walk through the village of Apostoli and visit a traditional old olive oil factory to discover the authentic process of olive oil production.
Take a break from the beach and discover the more authentic side to Crete on a small group tour of the small villages and rural landscapes. Visit an old olive oil mill, see the island's oldest monastery and learn more about ancient Eleftherna.
Margarites is a charming traditional village in Rethymno, famous for its long pottery tradition, narrow alleys, and authentic Cretan atmosphere.
Apostoli is a traditional Cretan village known for its authentic charm, peaceful atmosphere, and historic old olive oil factory.
Klisidi Amariou is a traditional mountain village where you can enjoy authentic Cretan cuisine at a local tavern accompanied by live Cretan music.
You will be picked up from your hotel in Scaletta, Stavromenos, Pigianos Kampos, Adelianos Kampos, Platanias, Rethymno City. If you are staying at the Grand Rimondi pickup is from the Opap shop in Stavromenos. Hotel Ideon pickup from 4 Martyrs Square bus stop. Pickup is not available from Grand Rimondi and remote hotels/villas. Pick up not available from Petres.,Gerani, Kavros and Georgioupolis
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
The Real Crete from Rethymno lasts about 10 hours. The itinerary has 5 stops.
Prices start at $41 per person for this Chania 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.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. You will be picked up from your hotel in Scaletta, Stavromenos, Pigianos Kampos, Adelianos Kampos, Platanias, Rethymno City. If you are staying at the Grand Rimondi pickup is from the Opap shop in Stavromenos. Hotel Ideon pickup from 4 Martyrs Square bus stop. Pickup is not available from Grand Rimondi and remote hotels/villas. Pick up not available from Petres.,Gerani, Kavros and Georgioupolis Pickup points include Vetera Suites.
The experience is available in DE, EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 49 participants.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Wow , a great experience First and foremost a big big shout out for Kostos and Nektarios who made our day informative and great fun…..they both treated everyone as if we were family….they clearly love what they do and we cannot thank them enough for making this a fantastic experience. The places we visited were very interesting and we learned so much about Cretan history. We would both highly recommend this trip but would perhaps avoid the red wine at the taverna 😂😂
Absolutely the best day. Kostas and Nektarios doubled as the entertainment during lunch and got everyone up dancing. It was so much fun and we learnt a lot about Cretan history along the way. Highly recommended. Thank you 😎
If you want joy and know more about Creta, you can’t ask for a better trip. To the guide and driver. One word, amazing!!!!
It was a great experience and Nactarius as well as Costas are a well-coordinated team and make this excursion an experience that will be remembered! It is a shame that we only just found you, but it is good that we were there.
We took the extended real Crete trip - there is a shorter one but the one on Sunday seems to be the best one. We were picked up on time by Nictalious ("Nick") and the driver Costas (hope names spelt correctly) . Nick has an entertaining and infectious style of delivery. Rules of the coach - Rule 1 stay in your seat. Rule 2 if you are 5 minutes late you have to sing a song, 10 minutes and you have to sing and dance. 😆 The places we visited had their ups and downs - some very twisty tight roads to get there. We saw the Melodoni Cave - very emotional story behind this and the tomb within. We visited Margarites where they produce much of the islands pottery, visited an olive oil factory and the highlight must be the music and meal at the taverna. You cannot leave without dancing and to be honest everyone joined and had a wonderful time - including the special musical appearance. Nick and Costas were warm, friendly and fun loving as were all of the other Greeks and Cretans we met throughout the day. Awesome trip - highly recommended and the final stop at the monastery even impressed our youngest girl - such a tranquil and peaceful place. Go on this trip and learn a bit more about Crete whilst you're here - I dont think you'll be disappointed.
We participated in this tour as a family and were thrilled. The tour was conducted in both English and German, which was ideal for us. Our guide Nektarius took us on a little journey into the past even during the bus ride. The story of Crete was not told as a dry sequence of numbers and facts, but like a vivid little narrative that you really experience. This allowed us to perceive the places and their history much more intensely. A special highlight was the stalactite cave, where Nektarius brought us closer to Cretan history and the significance of the place. The visit to the old monastery, where the battles against the Ottomans took place, was also very moving and historically impressive. The tour of the olive oil factory, which was additionally supplemented by the family, gave us a personal insight into local production and traditional craftsmanship. Another highlight was the stop at a Greek restaurant with excellent food and live music. It turned out that our bus driver is not only the best and safest driver on the island, but also a talented musician. He introduced us to a piece of Cretan music and thus ensured a special moment. The day ended with a Greek dance, where we all danced and laughed together – a wonderful conclusion to an extraordinary excursion. The route was well chosen, the organization reliable, and the atmosphere relaxed. The price-performance ratio is excellent, and we got to know a side of Crete that one would never discover on their own. A clear recommendation for everyone who wants to experience the real Crete.
A truly beautiful day! We are returning from this day enchanted! So many beautiful moments! Thanks to Nektarios and Costas for this day!!
Wow, what a day! The Arkadi, Melidoni & Margarites Tour was phenomenal from start to finish. The views from the fully air-conditioned coach were amazing, and the whole day was so well organised. Kostas and Nikos were fantastic hosts. Nikos was incredibly knowledgeable — there seemed to be nothing he didn’t know about the island, its history, and all the fascinating places we visited. And then came the meal… WOW! The food was fantastic, and the singing, dancing and entertainment made the whole experience even more special. It was such a wonderful taste of the local culture and something we’ll definitely remember. There was also the perfect amount of time at each stop — never rushed, but enough time to explore and really enjoy each place. A truly fantastic day from beginning to end. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Crete. You won’t be disappointed!
My wife and I did the real Crete tour with Markidis Travel. What a brilliant and unexpected day - Kostas and Nektarios (our driver and tour guide) were brilliant in all aspects of the tour making it really memorable and thoroughly enjoyable 10/10 They both put in so much effort to make this tour a really fantastic experience - we had a great time It was a great tour delivered by Kostas and Nektarios. Highly Recommended and get involved at the Taverna
My son and I did the real Crete tour to Arkadi, Meladoni and Margarites, with Markidis Travel. What a brilliant day we had! Kostas and Nektarios (our driver and tour guide) were ace! They made the day so interesting, memorable and we had so much fun. We started at Meladoni Cave, which was incredible to see. Then we went to an olive oil factory, which was very interesting. Then we went to Margarites, which is a village where they produce pottery, which was great. Then we went to lunch at a taverna which turned out to be the highlight of our week. Kostas our bus driver joined a traditional Cretan singer and started playing the Lyra like a maestro! His fiddling was fantastic, he's an incredibly talented player. Then Nektarios started Cretan dancing! Then we all started dancing! It was brilliant, everyone had such a laugh and a great time. We went to Arkadi Monastery after that. All the places we went to see were great and Nektarios made everything super interesting by telling us the relevant facts and history about everything. But what made the day so outstanding and brilliant fun, was Kostas and Nektarios.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Real Crete from Rethymno | 10 hours | 4.9 (97) | $41 | |
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