CRETE · GREEK ISLANDS
The tours and day trips worth booking.
The 15 top-rated things to do in Crete — the boat trips, beach days, volcano hikes and old-town wanders worth building a day around, with real prices and who to book each one with.
Day trip to Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, then a boat to Spinalonga island for fort and leper-colony history. Spinalonga entry €20.
Most Popular“No problems well organised all very punctual Guide friendly and helpful”
Boat cruise from Agios Nikolaos to Spinalonga with a swim stop in Mirabello Bay, plus guided history and time to explore the fortress.
“We really enjoyed the boat ride and the stop for swimming!! We felt safe, had a fun time, and the guide was very informative. For the price, we’d do it again! I would note that the ticket to Spinalonga island was not included and it was €20/person since its peak season and we are not…”
Prebook a timed e-ticket for Knossos, explore Minoan rooms at your pace, and add optional audio for key palace highlights.
“Very simple to use app. Good price, and Knossos is well worth a visit. Unfortunately the gift shop was closed for renovation when I went (May 2024), but there was a very good local gift shop over the road that sold guide books, etc.. Very nice and reasonably priced cafe on site. I went at…”
Pink-sand Elafonisi day trip from Chania with hotel pickup, an English guide, and plenty of swimming time in clear, protected waters.
“Our excursion to Elafonissi Beach was absolutely amazing! Everything was so well organized, and the day ran perfectly from start to finish. The highlight, though, was our incredible guide, Simona. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and full of positive energy — you could tell she truly loves what she does. Also a big shout to our…”
Guided day trip across western Crete: Rethimno’s old town, Chania’s Little Venice, and Kournas Lake. Pickup, coach, and great value.
“The trip was fantastic ! Our tour guide Michael was the sweetest person and the most helpful when we needed help with things during our trip ! Everything was beautiful and we had such an amazing time ! Thank you for everything! ❤️”
Half-day quad bike safari from Rethymno with mountain off-road, shallow-water crossings, coffee stops, and Prassies village snacks.
“Excellent journey up into the mountains by quad. I didn’t expect there to be as many amazing views and scenes of nature along the way! There were some of the most beautiful viewpoints I’ve ever seen. Of course, the quads were fun as well and the crew was great at guiding us and making everything…”
Skip-the-line entry to Knossos with a licensed guide for a 1.5-hour walk through Minoan palace myths, courts, and engineering.
“Akrivi was amazing! Such a great storyteller! It was very interesting and we learned a lot :)”
Full-day Land Rover safari from Heraklion to Zeus country, shepherd villages, and the Lassithi Plateau with lunch and pickup.
“A great day out. Beautiful views in the mountains, visited an olive factory, a shepherd and had a fabulous lunch at a tavern. Sadly the cave of zeus is closed so we were unable to visit. Tony was an informative, fun guide.”
Sail from Heraklion to Dia Island for swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and unlimited drinks on a shared or private yacht cruise.
“This activity was amazing, great communication from the get-go, staff were lovely and very knowledgeable, the transport shuttle was on time and quick, the boat and Dia Island were stunning and the food and drinks were great - especially if you like a sweeter white wine!”
Ride through Crete’s Finikia mountains on a guided horse tour tied to Zeus myths, then enjoy a farm lunch or dinner with homemade wine.
“It’s was a very good experience. The hosts (and the horses) were very kind and friendly, the dinner was good too! Very perfect! My first horseriding couldn’t be better. Thank you. Sex on the beach 😉😉”
Knossos Palace and Heraklion in one easy day trip with hotel pickup, an expert guide, and time to explore the museum and city sights.
“Very knowledgeable guide, the experience very enjoyable, everything was explained really well. We had three hours free time in Heraklion, where you could easily spend a whole day. The archeology museum has some fantastic exhibits and is very interesting. Overall an excellent trip and excellent value for money.”
Small-group 4WD Crete day trip with farm life, Aposelemis Dam, Lasithi windmills, optional Zeus Cave, and a wood-oven lunch with wine.
“Great day and we loved seeing all of Crete. The Cave of Zeus was closed, but went to a pottery demonstration. Jesus and Buddha were fantastic tour guides. Lunch was delicious and the view was breathtaking!”
Guided Samaria Gorge hike from Chania or Rethymno: Iron Gates cliffs, 16 km downhill, Agia Roumeli swim, and ferry ride.
“A well organized trip, and well worth the money to avoid hassles of coordinating bus, tickets, maps, and ferries by yourself. We def got our exercise that day, hiking 16 kms on steep, rough terrain and descending 1250 m into the gorge! Awesome!”
Quad Safari in Crete with olive oil tasting, Achlada ghost village, and Fodele orange views plus El Greco connections in 3.5 hours.
“Excellent time! Fantastic way to experience some of the island. Guides were fantastic. Pit stop for juice and a Greek pita was delicious. Would highly recommend this tour.”
A long, well-paced day trip from Chania/Kalyves to Gramvousa and Balos with comfortable transfers, big views, and a swim in clear water.
“I really enjoyed the trip with a stop for snorkelling and discovering the island. Guys who work there are truly amazing and helpful. 2 hours is just enough. Thanks for raki!”
Every archipelago, and the best of each island in it.
