13 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.Matala Beach – Caves & winery Full Day tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 37 reviews · 8 hours · from $110

Join Safari Experts Crete for an 8-hour trip from Heraklion or nearby resorts. Visit a Cretan winery, cross the Messara Valley, explore Matala’s seaside caves, swim, and eat a traditional lunch with local wine. Guides may speak English, French, German, Dutch, Greek, or Russian.

“Un grand merci à Nikos pour la journée passée ensemble ! Une excursion découverte incroyable de la "vraie" Crête 👌 Ambiance parfaite tout le long du trajet, tout était au top ! PS : Nikos on attend toujours Patrick Sébastien dans la voiture 😅”

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6.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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7.South Crete – Matala, Red Beach and caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $42

Travel from northern Crete to Matala in an air-conditioned coach, then spend free time exploring the old fishing village, beach, shops, taverns, and famous caves. The tour may also include the Matala Beach Festival, with concerts and events until midnight. Guide Viola has received special praise, but guide assignments can vary.

“The trip to Matala was very nice. It went from the north of Crete to the south. The ride goes through the mountains where you could enjoy really beautiful views. Matala is known for its caves where hippies lived in the 60s. Before entering the village, there is an olive tree with faces carved into its trunk. Matala itself consists of taverns, souvenir shops and textile-supplying shops. There is also a beach there, which is very gravelly and studded with stones in the water. The water gets deep very quickly and when you go in and out you sing deep into the gravel. It doesn't take much time to see…”

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8.Knossos Palace, Zeus Cave & Oil Mill Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 8 hours · from $108

Spend eight hours with a private driver-guide such as Spyros or Dimitris, linking Knossos Palace with Lasithi Plateau villages, an olive oil mill, old windmills, pottery, and a family taverna. Zeus Cave is currently closed, but the mountain route and local stops remain worthwhile.

“We had a fantastic day with our Guide Spyros. He was very knowledgeable of the area having grown-up there. He gave us the locals experience. Took us to all the highlights and some off the beaten path locations. He also helped get us a reservation at a restaurant that was full for the following night. Can’t recommend this tour enough.”

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9.Full-Day Private Tour in Matala Caves and Ancient Gortyn in Crete

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews

Travel from Heraklion to southern Crete with a private driver, often Leonidas, for a flexible day at Gortyn, Matala Caves, Matala Beach, and Phaistos. Expect coastal views, ancient ruins, swimming time, bottled water, and commentary during the drive, but explore each site independently.

“The guide was incredibly friendly and kind, making sure everything ran smoothly for everyone. The organization was flawless, with well-respected schedules. The destination itself was breathtaking — truly a paradise, full of unique charm. I absolutely loved every moment and have no regrets!”

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10.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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11.Cave of Zeus & Knossos Palace Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 8 hours · from $436

Travel by private vehicle from your hotel, villa, cruise port, or another Crete address to Knossos, the Cave of Zeus, Lassithi villages, and local food stops. Guides such as Alex, Nikos, and Marinela have led lively, flexible tours, with snacks, WiFi, and hotel drop-off included.

“Our driver and our guide were amazing! They were thoughtful, knowledgable, flexible, safe, and enthusiastic. They anticipated our needs and questions, were efficient with our time, and were professional in all ways. The vehicle was in pristine condition and all the spots they chose for photos, lunch, and adventures in between the scheduled points of interest were interesting for everyone in our group. We would absolutely book another tour (especially specifically requesting our driver Stefano and our guide Alexander), and will highly recommend the experience to others.”

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12.Knossos Palace &/or Zeus Cave + Olive Mill | Local & Private

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 7 - 8.5 hours · from $96

George, your local driver-host, takes you from Heraklion or nearby resorts into Crete’s mountain country. Choose Knossos, Zeus Cave, or both, with olive oil tasting, village stops, monastery visits, photo stops, and an optional Cretan lunch.

“Super expérience ! George est au petit soin pour nous faire découvrir sa région ! Journee en excursions en famille, avec la découverte de la Crète par les montagne c'était extraordinaire ! Vous pouvez y aller les yeux fermés !”

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13.Full Day Knossos Palace Zeus Cave Lassithi Plateau from Elounda

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.)

Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle from Elounda with a licensed guide and driver. Visit Knossos, Krasi, Vidiani Monastery, a pottery workshop, Zeus Cave, and Lassithi Plateau. Guides Lina, George, and Elena have helped make this a flexible, family-friendly day.

“Elena and George were wonderful. She came with us and explained all the sites and George was right there to pick us up. We had a wonderful lunch in a cretin village that was far from the crowds. Definitely recommend.”

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