Knossos & lasithi plateau villages,Zeus's cave&olive oil Mill
Description
Explore authentic Crete in luxury via an air-conditioned Mercedes Benz. Led by expert driver-guides, this tour blends history, mythology, and local culture. Visit a renowned olive oil factory to learn traditional production and sample "liquid gold" with local snacks.Journey to the Lassithi Plateau to discover the legendary Cave of Zeus, the mythical birthplace of the King of the Gods. Wander the narrow streets of historic villages, see the monumental ancient plane tree in Krasi, and admire the iconic Lassithi windmills. Experience the majesty of Knossos Palace and breathtaking plateau views. You’ll have the chance to unwind in picturesque squares with an iced coffee and opt for a traditional Cretan lunch at a local gem. A perfect, comprehensive journey through Crete’s unique heritage.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit an olive oil factory to learn about olive trees and olives and their connection with Crete and about olive oil making the modern but also the old way.
See the old windmills that used to pump out the water from underground to water their crops and also the others for grinding grains in order to produce flour.
Visit and explore the authentic village of Krasi ,walk around the stone paved narrow streets ,meet the Cretan traditional architecture of houses ,see the oldest and biggest Platanus tree as well as the old aqueduct
We stop near the Aposelemi dam to take some photos and enjoy great views
We pass by this beautiful and old monastery it takes about 7 minutes from our previous stop at krasi village
Pay a visit to this old village of Mochos with it's beautiful church and square .
Step into the heart of Greek legend with a visit to the Psychro Cave (also known as the Diktaean Cave), the mystical birthplace of Zeus, the King of the Gods. Perched high above the stunning Lassithi Plateau, your journey begins with a scenic ascent—either by a paved path or a traditional donkey ride—offering breathtaking panoramic views of the valley’s iconic windmills and rugged peaks. As you descend into the cool, atmospheric depths of the cavern, you will: Marvel at Ancient Wonders: Wander through five illuminated chambers filled with a high density of dramatic stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years. See the "Mantle of Zeus": Admire the cave's most spectacular formation—a massive, curtain-like stalactite that hangs like a chandelier over a hidden underground lake. Touch Living History: Explore the very site where ancient Minoans once left offerings to the gods, a place so magical that it was once called the "Bethlehem of the Ancient World".
Our last stop is Knossos palace archeological site where you can explore it on your own or we can arrange for an official guide with extra charge. After that we drop you off at your pick up point.
We stop for lunch at the local restaurant with traditional food.(lunch is not included)
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
> For Hotels: The Pick-up point is right in front of your reception area. > For Cruise Passengers: Your guide will meet you at Heraklion port, holding a sign with your name at the shuttle drop-off point. Pick-Up Areas: > Private edition: Heraklion, Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and Plaka. > Semi private edition: Heraklion, Kokkini Hani,Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia. We can pick you from Agios nikolaos and Elounda/Plaka If there are more than 4 people ,if not we can set up a meeting point . Other Locations: For areas outside the listed pick-up zones, we can arrange a meeting point in Heraklion region. You'll receive the details after booking.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- our fleet of minivans are wide enough for stroller accesibility but not so for wheelchairs
- For any further information about accessibility, please don't hesitate to reach us we will be more than happy to help you ,just call the number below +30 6974724839
- For the tours that start later than 09:00 am from cruises, kindly note that you may have to skip one/a couple sites to get back to ship on time. Your guide will adjust the program according to your priorities
- There is a hike uphill about 15 to 20 minutes to the entrance of Zeus Cave of a moderate level as well as soon as you reach it 180 steps down to the cave with handrails..
- Guaranteed On Time return to your Cruise Ship
- Please Note: Mountain temperatures can be significantly cooler than the coast. A jacket or warm layer is highly recommended for tours operating in the spring, autumn, and winter seasons.
- Zeus's cave is closed every Tuesday
Reviews(108)
We had a wonderful day with our guide, Mike. He was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. Walking through the villages and discovering local plants was an unexpected highlight. I would highly recommend this tour.
Thank You for Exploring Crete with Us! We are absolutely thrilled to read your wonderful review. It is often those quiet, authentic moments—like learning about wild Cretan herbs and taking in the slow pace of mountain village life—that leave the most lasting memories. We are so glad you got to experience that side of our beautiful island alongside the famous historic sites! We will absolutely pass your kind words along to Mike. He has a deep passion for Crete's rich history, mythology, and unique flora, and he always goes the extra mile to make our guests feel comfortable and accommodated. Knowing he made your day so memorable means the world to him and the rest of our team. Thank you again for highly recommending our tour to fellow travelers. We hope your journey home was wonderful, and we would love to welcome you back for another Cretan adventure in the future
Mike was a fantastic driver and very knowledgeable of the Greek and Cretan history. Van was very clean and comfortable. Food stop at Seli Ambelou was amazing!! Would recommend this excursion to family and friends.
Thank you so much for the wonderful recommendation! We are absolutely thrilled that you had such a great time exploring Knossos and the Lasithi Plateau with us. Mike is a fantastic guide with an incredible passion for Cretan history, and we will happily pass your kind words along to him. It's also wonderful to hear you enjoyed the comfort of the van and that amazing food stop at Seli Ambelou—those views and flavors are hard to beat! We hope to welcome you, your family, or your friends back to Crete for another adventure in the future. Safe travels!
The cave of Zeus is about 90 min drive and a steep hike to reach it , but certainly worth the drive. The Knossos palace is worth a visit, given the different building style of most archaeological sites in the area. The olive oil factory was very educational. Bottom line: Very interesting excursions, but 50% of your day will be driving around.
You are absolutely right that this comprehensive itinerary involves a significant amount of driving—it takes about 60 minutes just to drive directly up from the port. Because Crete's remarkable historical sites and geographical wonders are spread across a massive, mountainous island, traveling between them naturally takes time, especially when managing a tight schedule to ensure a seamless, on-time return to your cruise ship. To make the day as enjoyable as possible, we carefully pace our itinerary and divide the travel time into shorter segments between each location, ensuring you are never sitting in the van for too long at a single stretch. Furthermore, to make these journeys as relaxing as possible, we prioritize using premium, air-conditioned Mercedes Benz vehicles for all of our tours. We hope this allowed you to sit back in total comfort and fully enjoy the beautiful Cretan landscapes rolling by between our stops! Thank you again for your valuable feedback, and we wish you many more wonderful travels ahead.
Mike was great company and so full of knowledge. The private tour is the way to go and worth every penny. He timed things perfect to avoid crowds and the heat. We learned so much about the area and history of Crete. We got to see and do so much in 1 day.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, and we are thrilled that choosing a private tour allowed Mike to perfectly customize your day, dodge the crowds, and share the very best of Crete's history at your own relaxed pace!
Our tour guide was wonderful Mike he was informative and very engaging. The Olive Oil mill was wonderful visit.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled that you enjoyed exploring Knossos, the Lasithi Plateau, and the traditional olive oil mill with us. Mike will be delighted to hear your kind words—he always loves sharing the history and heritage of Crete with our guests. Thank you for choosing Luxury Crete Tours, and we hope to welcome you back again someday!
We had a great guide, thanks to Mike for this beautiful day
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing Luxury Crete Tours! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a great day exploring with Mike. He always goes above and beyond to share the very best of Crete with our guests, and we will be delighted to pass your kind words along to him. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another unforgettable VIP experience in the future!
Mike was keen on having us see as much as possiible before our cruise ship left. He does a great job!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful time. Mike always goes above and beyond to ensure our guests experience the very best of Crete, even with limited time. Managing a tight cruise ship schedule can be stressful, but our priority is always to maximize your sightseeing while ensuring you return to the ship completely relaxed and right on time.
Wonderful boat ride to a historical island with a nice beach trip plus free time in a picturesque lake front village
Thank you very much for your review. We are happy that you enjoyed our island.
We had an amazing time with our guide/ Driver Mike. He took the time to explain everything from Ancient Greek history to the different plants and vegetation in each region. Allowed us to take our time to enjoy and explore through out the day. Thanks James and Mereta.
Hi James and Mereta, thank you for the glowing review! It’s fantastic to hear that Mike made your day so special by blending history with the natural beauty of the landscape. We love that you enjoyed the relaxed pace of the tour. Safe travels, and we hope to see you again!
Mike, our tour guide was amazing! He is so personable and funny, which made us all feel very comfortable. Mike knew so much history about the island and was truly passionate. It was a wonderful day!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review. We are thrilled to hear that Mike made your journey through Knossos and the Lasithi Plateau so memorable. He truly does have a passion for Crete’s history, and we’re glad his humor and personality made you feel right at home. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to him—he’ll be delighted! We hope to see you back on the island again soon."
