Knossos & Lasithi Plateau: Zeus Cave, Villages, Olive Oil Tour
Description
Explore Knossos Palace, Lasithi Plateau & the legendary Zeus Cave in one unforgettable day. Discover authentic villages, mythology, and Cretan olive oil traditions. • Visit Knossos Palace, Crete’s most famous archaeological site, with expert local insights • Explore the scenic Lasithi Plateau and traditional mountain villages • Discover the legendary Zeus Cave (Dikteon Cave) — birthplace of Zeus (Zeus Cave is closed on Tuesdays.) • Enjoy authentic Cretan olive oil tasting at a family-run production • Travel in comfortable, air-conditioned transport with small-group or private options • Experience a balanced tour combining history, mythology, culture, and local traditions • Operated by passionate local experts offering insider knowledge and personalized service *IMPORTANT LOCATION NOTICE It is NOT suitable for cruise passengers docking in Chania (Souda Port).
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our journey into Cretan culture begins with an introduction to its famed "liquid gold." At a traditional, four-generation olive oil production facility, you’ll discover the rich history of the olive, learn about harvesting methods from ancient times to the present day, and enjoy a tasting of premium-quality olive oil—an experience sure to elevate your senses.
Νext stop at the village of Krasi where stands the famous plane tree of Krasi which is more than 2000 years old tree. There you will enough time to have a coffee at one of the local kafeneio and take unforgettable photos .
Our journey takes us to the Lasithi Plateau, a captivating stop rich in both natural beauty and ancient mythology. Surrounded by the towering Dikti Mountains, this fertile land is steeped in history and believed to be the birthplace of Zeus. Once home to the world’s first wind farm, the plateau still holds remnants of its past, with a few windmills dotting the landscape. As we explore this tranquil haven, you’ll be immersed in both the stunning views and the legendary stories that make this land so special.
Visit the legendary Cave of Zeus (Dikteon Andron), one of Crete’s most important mythological sites. According to ancient Greek mythology, this is the cave where Rhea hid the infant Zeus to protect him from his father Cronos. Enjoy the scenic surroundings of the Lasithi Plateau and discover the fascinating history and legends connected to the king of the Greek gods. ( Zeus Cave is closed on Tuesdays)
A 14th-century Byzantine gem, known for its beautiful frescoes and the legendary miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. As we pass by, you’ll be able to take in its stunning setting and hear about the monastery’s rich history and spiritual significance, offering a glimpse into a place of culture, faith, and serenity — even without a stop.
On this excursion, you will visit one of the most important sights in Greece: the Knossos Palace. The tour begins with a visit to the Knossos Palace, the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization during the Bronze Age. There, you will explore the stunning palace complex, built for King Minos and considered the oldest city in Europe.
Here, we will stop for lunch, if you wish, at a traditional tavern overlooking the Lassithi Plateau, where you can enjoy authentic local flavors, cooked in a wood-fired oven.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Hotels: Pick-up takes place outside the hotel reception area. Cruise Passengers: Cruise passengers must confirm that their ship docks at Heraklion Port. This tour cannot operate from Chania (Souda Port). Your guide will meet you at Heraklion Port, holding a sign at the shuttle drop-off point. Pick-up Times • Shared Tour: Until 08:30 AM (English & Greek only) • Private Tour: Until 09:30 AM with a flexible, customized program (ideal for cruise guests) Pick-up Areas • Private Tours: Heraklion, Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda • Shared Tours: Heraklion, Kokkini Hani, Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia Other Areas • Rethymno & Chania available upon request (extra charge applies) • For locations outside listed zones, a meeting point in the Heraklion area can be arranged after booking
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(390)
Great guide, very informative, admission fees pay on entrance lovely meal for lunch, make sure you wear suitable footwear and i took umbrella for shade, value for money,
Apostolos (our guide) was fantastic! Very funny and knowledgeable about Crete and the local ways. Admission fees to attractions was not included, but it would have been nice to have the guide accompany us to the attractions and provide info about them. Otherwise tour was lots of fun, good size of group, and again, our guide was great!
Apostolos was an incredible guide. The whole experience was lovely, and he shared much about the culture of Crete. He was courteous and generous with his time and insights.
Apostolos was a wonderful guide to the history, mythology and culture of Crete. If you are interested in this incredible islands past, seeing its beauty and learning about its people then this tour is a must. This wasn’t our first trip to Crete, but this was our best experience here yet. Highly recommended.
Fabulous tour with Apostolos (guide) comfortable cool van - very safe driver! He made the day very enjoyable with his excellent knowledge of history and myths (and a great sense of humour!) Lunch stop with great view and delicious Cretan favourites. Highly recommend this tour.
My family had a great full day tour. We saw many local villages, learned about olive oil production. explored Zeus cave, had a delicious lunch, and saw Knossos palace. There were plenty of opportunities to get snacks/drinks and use the bathroom along the way. Our guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
We had a wonderful time with Manos,. Not only did we learn a lot about the destinations we visited (olive oil press, Zeus Cave and Knossos, but Manos shared some of his knowledge of the Cretan culture and history. At the olive oil press, we learned about both the modern and traditional methods to extract the oil, and then we were treated with a taste test to sample how different olive oil can be. When visiting Zeus Cave, be prepared to hike! We are in fairly good shape, and it took 15 minutes to climb to the entrance (we recommend taking the old path on the right, then return down the newer path), 20 minutes to get our tickets, 20 minutes in the cave and 15 minutes to return back to the meeting area. Be prepared to walk stairs in the cave -- the staircases and walkways in the cave are new and offer safe and reliable passage. I wish we had more time at Knossos. The palace is so large, it is difficult to take it all in within an hour or so. If you choose to hire a guide, you should probably allow at least 2 hours. This tour with Manos and Unique Crete VIP Tours was memorable and worth the price.
Amazing full day out exploring several different aspects of Crete. First stop was the Knossos Palace. This is a very touristy spot and can get very busy. Best visited first thing in the morning or perhaps much later on in the day. We just wondered around ourselves but a guide may be useful to explain more what you are seeing. After that we went to an olive oil factory which was really interesting. The owners are very accommodating and there's some lovely things to buy! Next up to the plateau for some spectacular views and a chance to visit the cave. Be warned, the cave entrance is up a rather steep rocky path that is physically demanding, but worth the 15min uphill climb if you can do it! We had a lovely lunch up in the hills too followed by coffee in one of the villages where you get to see a beautiful old tree! This tour was very well organised and didn't feel rushed. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and we felt very well looked after all day!
The tour was a lot of fun. Apostolos guided us excellently through the stations and showed us super interesting little details along the way. At the Zeus Cave and in the Palace of Knossos, he gave us exactly the freedom we wanted to explore the corners ourselves. One felt perfectly taken care of throughout. Since our English is a bit shaky, he even occasionally spoke German with us – very attentive. Anytime again!
What an incredible trip! Thank you to Apostolos for being so informative and entertaining, we had such a good time! Really enjoyed all the stops on our trip. A great way to see the best of the island. Thoroughly recommend!
