Crete · CRETE OLIVE OIL TOURS
An hour at a working mill teaches you more than a lifetime of supermarket labels. These 15 visit groves and presses across the island, priced and clear about how much is tasting and how much is lunch.
You’ll drive a two-person quad from Peninsula Resort with guides such as Stan or Vangelis, following off-road routes above Agia Pelagia to an olive mill, Achlada’s abandoned village, and Fodele, El Greco’s birthplace. The 3.5-hour trip includes helmets, insurance, fuel, and tastings.
“Mr Stan was amazing, truly a great host and made the experience so enjoyable!”
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!”
Spend seven hours exploring rural Crete from Chania with a local guide such as Linda or Electra. Visit the Vouves olive tree, bakery, cheese factory, honey producer, olive mill, and Pnevmatikakis Winery, with generous tastings and hotel pickup included.
“What a fun day! Linda was a superb guide and was full of knowledge, stories and enthusiasm! All of it was fun (and tasty) and I especially loved learning about bees and tasting all the honey! So glad we went, and highly recommend it!”
Travel by air-conditioned bus from selected Crete resorts to Vidiani Monastery, Lasinthos Eco Park, Krasi, and an Olive Mill Farm. Guides including Soula, Tania, Carine, and Eirini lead the day in English, French, or German. Some versions also include Knossos or Zeus Cave, so check the selected option carefully.
“Best day! Tania was such an amazing guide! We loved everything!”
Spend about seven hours exploring eastern Crete with guides such as Petra, Michael, Rolf, or Panagiotis. Ride into mountain country, visit Kritsa, taste olive oil, see windmills, stop at Zeus Cave, meet goats, and enjoy a family-style Cretan lunch. Cave access can change.
“We had an amazing day exploring the Cretan landscape and Petra, our guide was super fun and so full of life. She made the excursion even more interesting with her wit and interesting facts. The lunch was super delicious. A must do excursion. The hike upto the cave os Zeus though is a bit intense as is coming up the cave stairs on your way out.. Just a friendly warning”
Travel from Chania into the Kissamos hills for two family wineries, an olive oil factory, and the famous ancient olive tree of Vouves. You’ll taste Vidiano, Muscat of Spina, international grapes, local oils, cheeses, snacks, and tsikoudia with an English-speaking guide such as Andreas, Alex, or Kostas.
“Our tour guide Andy was wonderful. He was knowledgeable about the olive oil and wine industry in Greece. He was entertaining and informative about Crete culture. Great tour guide!! Best ever.”
Spend 10.5 to 11 hours exploring Crete from Heraklion. Visit Vidiani Monastery, Lasinthos Eco Park, Krasi’s ancient plane tree, an olive mill, and Knossos Palace with a live guide. The day includes hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and time for local food and shopping.
“Very interesting tour. Guide was very knowledgeable and at the Palace brought a guidebook to show us pictures of what the ruins would have looked like. The coach was full, and those who got on later seemed to struggle to sit together. It took an hour to pick everyone up, so we were on the coach for 1h30 before the first stop. The pottery workshop consisted of watching a potter for 5 minutes on his wheel (electric) creating a basic piece. Only the children were invited to have a turn afterwards-there were only 3 wheels, so no possibility of everyone having a go like the tour description had suggested, which…”
At Terra Creta near Kolymvari, an English-speaking guide takes you from olive harvest to bottling, then leads a tasting of three oils with bread, olives, and small bites. Guides such as Katerina, Lisa, and Sophia are praised for clear explanations. Allow time for the shop afterward.
“The tour was really nice and informative. It doesn't take long and afterward, you can taste a few types of Terra Creta olive oil along with some nice bread and olive mixes. For us it was a nice way to start our day.”
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”
Travel from Chania into the Kissamos countryside with an English-speaking guide and wine specialists. Visit Anoskeli Winery and Manousakis Winery, taste Cretan wines, olive oil, and local snacks, and stop at the ancient olive tree of Vouves. Small groups, hotel transfers, and a light meal are included.
“We enjoyed this tour so much! Our tour guide Yannis was so friendly and knowledgeable. We learned so much about wine and olive oil and food was great too! Highly recommend!!”
Spend eight hours with guides such as George or Antonis visiting an olive mill, organic winery, raki distillery, village taverna and pottery studio. Taste fresh olive oil, five wines, local food and raki, then try throwing clay yourself. Groups are limited to eight.
“George was our guide. He knew how to engage the small group, was knowledgeable, and shared his insights in a kind and thoughtful way. The food on this trip was the best local food I’ve had. Getting to know small, family owned producers was great. Overall, I got a lovely view of local life in Crete through the food and drinks. the best way to experience it.”
At Koronekes Olive Mill in Epano Archanes, you’ll learn how organic olives become extra virgin olive oil, compare first cold pressed and centrifuge methods, and taste three oils, two flavored oils, sweet vinegar, and petimezi. The private English-language visit lasts about an hour.
“L’enthousiasme et la connaissance du produit par la propriétaire ! Un dépaysement total Merci beaucoup”
Spend 7 to 8 hours exploring western Crete in a small 4WD group. Visit the ancient olive tree at Vouves, taste olive oils and five local wines at Anoskeli, drive mountain roads, and enjoy a Cretan buffet lunch at Milia Mountain Retreat with guides such as Nikos, Yiannis, Dimitris, or Nasos.
“Our experience was phenomenal. Nassos was a fantastic host and very knowledgeable! The views were absolutely breathtaking! Highly recommend this day trip.”
Meet mother-and-daughter hosts Marianna and Stella at Cretan Vibes near Moires. You’ll prepare a hands-on Cretan meal with fresh farm ingredients, taste premium olive oil, learn family recipes, and eat beside the olive trees with local wine.
“They were very welcoming and warm. The food we cooked was excellent! Fresh and delicious! Beautiful atmosphere.”
Spend nine hours exploring western Crete with stops at an olive mill, Argyroupolis village and springs, and Kournas Lake. Guides such as Yannis, Kostas, Lazaros, and Anastasia have led the trip. Expect a pedalo ride, swimming time, Cretan food, and olive oil tasting.
“Loads of places to see with adequate time at each and an amazing guide and driver made it a real great day trip!”
Pick a coast, a gorge or a kitchen.
