6 Cave Tours in Heraklion to Build a Day Around

1.Zeus Cave -Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 694 reviews · 7 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $136Our pick

Spend about 7.5 hours with a local English-speaking guide such as Stavros, Ed, Mike, or Spyros, traveling from Heraklion through olive country and mountain villages. Taste olive oil and raki, visit Krasi and Mochos, see Lasithi windmills, and add Dikteon Cave and Knossos when open.

“Ed was a great tour guide! This tour was a little of everything and very off the beaten path. Ed offered options, choices and suggestions while providing tons of info and comedy relief. Will definitely recommend Ed to my friends who go to Crete in the future!”

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2.Knossos & Lasithi Plateau: Zeus Cave,Villages, Olive Oil Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 328 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $127

Travel from Heraklion in a Wi-Fi-equipped minivan to an olive oil press, Krasi, the Lasithi Plateau, Zeus Cave, a mountain taverna, Mochos, and Knossos. Guides such as Marinos, Nikos, and Angie add local stories and flexibility. Zeus Cave is closed for restoration until summer 2026.

“An amazing small group tour across the mountain regions, a stop at an olive oil factory and a visit to Knossos Palace. Everything was relaxed and perfectly timed – we didn’t feel at all rushed. The beauty of this tour was that unlike larger tours, we were able to visit areas that coaches simply cannot access. The best part of the day was having Nikos as our guide – what a warm and friendly person with an hilarious sense of humour! Thank you, Nikos, for making this a truly unforgettable day”

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3.Day Trip to Matala Hippie Beach and Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 148 reviews · 8 hours · from $37Best value

Travel by coach from Heraklion to Matala, then spend about four hours swimming, eating by the sea, exploring the former Roman tombs, and walking the colorful town. A multilingual guide provides commentary during the journey, while the cave entrance costs extra.

“Guide agréable, visite en autonomie, très jolie ville dans son décor hippie et visite des grottes super sympa (prévoir de bonnes chaussures, ça grimpe!). Bus peu confortable pour 1h30 environ de route.”

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4.Matala Beach and Hippie caves, Red beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 70 reviews · 8 hours · from $41

Travel by air-conditioned coach from eastern Crete to Matala, where you get four hours for swimming, cave exploration, village shops, tavernas, and the walk to Red Beach. A live guide speaks English, German, or French, but the Red Beach route may require you to find your own way.

“fantastisch plaatsje. waar je veel langer wilt zijn dan 4 uur. dat is te kort om alles te kunnen zien. de heenweg richting Matala duurde gewoon 3 uur. dat is te lang. de terugreis was in 2 uur.”

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5.Lasithi Plateau-Cave of Zeus for Cruises Heraklion Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $132

From Heraklion port, you’ll visit Knossos and the Cave of Zeus, enjoy a traditional lunch on the Lasithi Plateau, taste olive oil and honey, and stop in Krasi. Expect about 7 to 8 hours, roughly 2.5 hours of driving, and a guide such as Kostas.

“Kostas was excellent. Helpful, knowledgeable, flexible, and entertaining. He also gave us homemade delicious treats.”

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6.Zeus Cave -Olive Oil Factory – Traditional Villages

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $167

Travel from Heraklion in a small group of up to eight with an English-speaking driver-guide. Visit an olive oil mill, Kera Monastery, Dikteon Cave, Lasithi’s windmills, Agios Georgios, and Krasi. Lunch, water, WiFi, and hotel-lobby pickup are included. Guide George is praised for his warmth and flexibility.

“This tour was on of the best excursions our family enjoyed while on holiday in Greece. Our tour guide, George, was extremely knowledgeable, extremely kind, a great conversationalist, and was a joy to be around. The mountainous scenery of Crete is jaw-dropping and some of the sites he took us to were unforgettable experiences! The lunch was also incredible!! Again, this tour is a must while in Crete!”

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