From Heraklion : Full-Day Bus Trip to Chania city , Kournas lake & Rethymno city
Description
This excursion brings us to West Crete and our first stop in Chania, the most ravishing city of Crete. It was an important Minoan city and the “mother of the Cretan cities”, according to ancient writers. The city is divided in the Old City, with the gorgeous harbor and the New City, beyond its Venetian fortifications.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This excursion brings us to West Crete and our first stop in Chania, the most ravishing city of Crete. It was an important Minoan city and the “mother of the Cretan cities”, according to ancient writers. The city is divided in the Old City, with the gorgeous harbor and the New City, beyond its Venetian fortifications. The Old City is one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean and is called “Venice of the East”. We can admire samples of all the civilizations that have passed from here: archaeological Minoan sites, Turkish minarets and mosques, Muslim neighborhoods, Venetian fortresses, dockyards, fountains, squares, arches, mansions, Loggia and the Lighthouse of Chania, Chania 731 32.
Going back, we stop in Rethimnon, the third biggest town on Crete, where monuments of the archaeological, Ottoman and Venetian eras coexist, in an extremely interesting way. Have a stroll in the alleys of the old town, visit the Turkish minarets like Neratze Mosque and the Venetian fortresses or just enjoy your coffee in the magnificent harbor.
Leaving this extraordinary city, we arrive at the quaint Lake Kournas, a beautiful habitat with natural freshwater, one of a kind on Crete. Lush greenery, steep cavities between hills, rare species of fish and birds, like eels, moorhens and two-color turtles, make Kournas the ideal place to enjoy a swim before our lunch or an early afternoon walk. The whole area of Kournas is protected under Natura 2000, as it has been a designated wetland.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Hotel pick-up and drop off (in Malia, Stalis, Hersonisos, Anissaras, Analypsi, Gouves, Gournes,Heraklio, Ammoudara, Agia Pelagia/Lygaria, Fodele).
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(67)
Should have just done chania and lake. Three places took too long as did the drop off back to Heraklion
Hello thank you for the informations thats helpfull
Ignore the tour times - states on here that you receive 2 hours at Rethyno, this is a bare faced lie. I brought this up with the guide who stated it was never advertised as this and did not want to see the listing showing otherwise. Only reason we picked this tour is due to the extra time at this location but it was all just a lie. Would not recommend this company for others. Air con broken on bus, tour guide speaking constantly so unable to sleep/relax on the bus.
Hello thank you for the informations thats helpfull
A nice excursion with a bilingual guide (English: French) who shared his passion for his country with us. The comments were interesting, but since they were repeated in both languages, it felt a bit long... Chania and Rethymnon are interesting; the lake is not essential at all except for dining by the water. I would have clearly preferred to have more time in Rethymnon (one hour is insufficient). Overall, a beautiful day.
thank you for the review
An easy way to visit Thanks and Refugee from Irakio. A long day with ample time to visit both cities. Comfortable bus, knowledgeable tour leader, and great sites
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Very well organized and enjoyable despite a large number of participants. Highly recommended.
thank you for the review
The guide was great! Just maybe instead of showing us the way to see the attractions, she could have accompanied those who wanted and then left some free time!
thank you for the review
The tour was a pleasure from start -720am pickup -to 8pm finish.The 3 stops were all worth seeing with the only change being longer in each place would have been nicer but due to the length of the day this was not possible The tour guide was a friendly and informative lady who made the day a real pleasure .Thank you for such a lovely tour!
Thank you for the review
It was amazing how they managed to pack so much into one day. Crete is so big, so to be able to see these wonderful places on a day trip was brilliant. I would have to say that it's a very long day, it was about 14 hours from start to finish but I suppose it depends on how far away you are. It was definitely worth it though. Thanks very much.
Thank you for the review
Bus was old and uncomfortable. Speakers poor , my wife had to sit behind a broken seat. Guides response was to change seats but there were no spare for two people. The driver drove very fast
Pros: Unmissable places to visit to discover the north of Crete.The guide "Olga" very friendly and professional Cons:Departure from the hotel at 7.30am and arrival in Chania at 11.30am...A very long bus ride that can seem endless.Running tours , timed and shortened because of the “latecomers”.
thank you for the review
