Knossos & lasithi plateau villages,Zeus's cave&olive oil Mill

Duration7h - 8h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

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.

Options

Private tour

Private : This is a private tour option,it also suits the best for shore excursion passengers from cruise ships and also families .
Duration: 8 hours: this option of the tour can be tailored to suit your needs(pick up and drop off times and duration) .
Curated Refreshments: Complimentary selection of hand-selected local wine provided throughout the experience..
Pickup included

Semi Private

Pickup included

What's included

Pick up&drop off from your hotel, heraklion port or designated points from heraklion area
luxury comfortable air-conditioned Mercedes minivan
Water,coffee, Olive oil and raki tasting
Guaranteed On Time return to your Cruise Ship
Informative local English speaking driver guide, Liability insurance
For the Private version we can customize anything you want
Private tour pickup: Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Semi private-group: Heraklion region only

Traditional Cretan and Greek lunch,house wine
Entrance fees at Knossos Archaeological Site 20 euro for adults,and half price for kids
Official licensed tourist Guide inside Knossos Palace
entrance fees at Zeus cave 15 euro per person

What to expect

Omalia Olive Press
1h

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.
Windmills Of Lasithi Plateau
1h

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.
Platanus Tree
30m

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
Aposelemis canyon
5m

We stop near the Aposelemi dam to take some photos and enjoy great views
Kera Kardiotissa Monastery
Pass by

We pass by this beautiful and old monastery it takes about 7 minutes from our previous stop at krasi village
Mochos
1h

Pay a visit to this old village of Mochos with it's beautiful church and square .
Cave of Zeus
1h · Admission ticket not included

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".
The Palace of Knossos
1h · Admission ticket not included

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.
1h 30m

We stop for lunch at the local restaurant with traditional food.(lunch is not included)

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

We can find you at the parking area of the factory ,and we will have a written sign with the name you provided

Meeting point

We can find you at the bus stop located in front of this square ,and we will have a written sign with the name you provided

Meeting point

We can find you at the parking area of the museum ,and we will have a written sign with the name you provided

End point

We can find you at the parking area of the factory ,and we will have a written sign with the name you provided

End point

We can find you at the bus stop located in front of this square ,and we will have a written sign with the name you provided

End point

We can find you at the parking area of the museum ,and we will have a written sign with the name you provided

Pickup details

> 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.

Additional 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 private tours departing after 09:00 AM, the itinerary may be adjusted to ensure guaranteed on-time return to your cruise ship. Depending on your ship's schedule, you may need to skip a site. Your guide will customize the route according to your personal 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

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.9 (115)