Top 15 Full-Day Tours in Crete

1.Full-Day Samaria Gorge Trek Excursion & Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,191 reviews · 9 - 12 hours · from $41Our pick

You’ll hike 17 rocky kilometers through Samaria Gorge with an English-speaking guide, then rest, swim, or eat in Agia Roumeli before a coastal ferry and bus return. Guides such as Sara and Christina help with pacing and safety, but you need strong shoes and good fitness.

“The tour guide and transportation were great! The gorge itself has too many people. Often, the foot path is only wide enough for one person. With so many people on the paths, some fast, some slow, it kind of sucks. Also, the bathrooms suck. For the amount of money the gorge park takes in, improve the lousy bathrooms.”

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2.Samaria Gorge Full-Day Trek, Pickup & Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,610 reviews · 9 - 12 hours · from $37

Travel from Rethymno to Omalos, then walk Samaria Gorge at your own pace with a multilingual mountain escort. Expect rocky downhill paths, ancient trees, springs, wild goats, and a ferry from Agia Roumeli. Guides such as Pia, George, and Alexandra have been praised for clear instructions and personal care.

“Long day, but great. Well managed and organised. Pia was a fantastic guide with incredible language skills. She managed the group really well.”

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3.Full-Day Land Rover Safari from Heraklion with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,351 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $113Top rated

Spend eight hours with a small group in a Land Rover, traveling from Heraklion into Crete’s mountains. Guides such as Kostas, Yiannis, Chris, and Darryl explain local history, shepherd life, and Minoan stories. The day includes village stops, a three-course lunch with wine, and time near Dikteon Cave.

“We booked this trip for October 9, 2024. We learned shortly before arriving in Greece the Cave of Zeus tour was closed, however, our guide Kosta more than made up for it! We were picked up first, so from the very beginning he regaled us with his knowledge and history of his home; little nuggets of information that gave us a better understanding of Crete's rich history. The island has so many hidden gems. We loved the random stops to see nuts, fruit, vegetables, even seasoning growing along the road. Feed the goats! We thoroughly enjoyed the fresh food and drinks served at lunch. They waste NOTHING, even leftover lunch…”

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4.Full-Day Small-Group Tour in Crete with Zeus Cave Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,099 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $107

Spend about eight hours exploring Crete in a small 4WD group of up to 15 people. Meet local farmers, taste cheese and rakomelo, cross mountain tracks, visit the Lasithi Plateau, enjoy a traditional lunch, and stop in Krasi and Mochos. Guides such as Nikos, Mario, and Andreas are known for lively storytelling.

“We booked this tour last minute not knowing exactly what to expect, but it ended up being one of the best experiences we had during our entire trip to Greece! Our guide was absolutely fantastic. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Crete, but also hilarious, energetic, and passionate. He brought so much life to the tour and made the day unforgettable. The off-roading was a blast and such a refreshing change from the usual tours. Every stop was full of fun, from feeding and milking goats, to watching a pottery demonstration, to a live cooking demo followed by a delicious traditional meal. The views throughout the day were stunning. Although the…”

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5.Georgioupolis Full-Day Land Rover Safari Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 855 reviews · 8 hours · from $92

Travel from Chania, Rethymno, or nearby resorts in a 4x4 Land Rover with guides such as Costas, Nektarios, and Nikos. Visit Lake Kournas, a Byzantine church, mountain villages, Fragokastelo, a secluded south-coast beach, and an olive oil factory, with tastings and lunch included.

“We had Kostas and Nektarios as our guides. they work well together and you call tell they are passionate and proud of their island Crete. very knowledgeable and friendly. told us about the history and way of life of Crete. recommend this tour to everyone”

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6.Full-Day Jeep Safari Tour with Cooking Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 284 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $111

Spend 8 to 9 hours exploring rural Crete in a 4WD vehicle with guides such as Mario, Giannis, Manos, or Nikos. You will visit villages, milk goats, make cheese, cook Cretan food, shape pottery, see Lasithi windmills, enjoy a wood-oven lunch, and taste olive oil.

“Lots of information, fun and hands on experiences. Good way to see off beaten track Crete although we did get bounced about a it in the back of the vehicle. All the drivers seemed very friendly but special shout out to Manos, our driver and Nicos who's group we joined up with at some stops to get a 100% English explanation of things (we were 2 Brits with 6 Germans in our vehicle)”

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7.Full-Day Trip to Santorini by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 279 reviews · 13 hours · from $243

Take a high-speed ferry from Rethymno to Santorini, then explore Oia and Fira by air-conditioned bus with a multilingual guide. You get about 105 minutes in Oia and two hours in Fira, plus an optional caldera boat ride. It is a long, busy day, but an efficient first look at Santorini.

“Santorini is a beautiful place to visit. It was extremely busy and the capital Thira was a good choice for lunch and enjoying the scenery.”

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8.Full-Day Cretan Wines, Olive Oil, Raki and Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 264 reviews · 8 hours · from $141

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.”

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9.Knossos Palace & Heraklion Full-Day Tour from Chania Area

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 235 reviews · 9 - 11 hours · from $57

Travel from Chania to Knossos with a licensed guide, hear the stories of the Minotaur and Ariadne, see the 3,000-year-old throne, visit Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum, and enjoy free time for lunch, shopping, and raki. Guides may speak English, German, or French.

“Really comfortable coach, very friendly guides and lots of activities!”

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10.Heraklion or Ag Nikolaos: Oia & Fira Full-Day Santorini Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 212 reviews · 11 - 13 hours · from $234

Travel from Heraklion or Agios Nikolaos to Santorini by high-speed catamaran, then tour Oia and Fira by air-conditioned bus. You get guided commentary in several languages, free time for photos and shopping, and an optional €20 volcano boat ride. Russian-speaking guide Tatiana has assisted guests on some departures.

“No one has told us that our tour guide will be in Santorini. it was really stressful as we didn't know what to do and have waited around for a long time.”

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11.Knossos Palace & Heraklion Full-Day Tour from Rethymno Areas

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 197 reviews · 5 - 10 hours · from $25Best value

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Rethymno to Knossos and Heraklion. Choose a guided visit with multilingual guides such as George, Sofia, or Anastasia, or explore independently. Allow extra money for the €20 Knossos and €12 museum tickets, payable in cash.

“Everything was really well organized. The museum in Herakleion was great. Knossos was amazing and we had a great guide. The only negative thing was that we ran out of time in Knossos and didn't have enough time to listen to all of the guide's stories about mythology.”

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12.Full-Day Samaria Gorge Hiking Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 162 reviews · from $32

Join Io Tours for a 14-hour Samaria Gorge day trip from Chania or Kalyves. Guides such as Pari and Dafne lead you through an 18-kilometre gorge at your own pace, then you get time for lunch and a swim in Agia Roumeli before the ferry and bus ride home.

“Incredible hike, challenging and hot but very picturesque. Dafne the guide was great. Clear instructions, earned trust quickly. Wear very sturdy shoes, preferably hiking boots. Steep descent of 1,700m isn’t kind to the fittest of legs/ankles. Lots of scree, uneven ground, small river crossings and rock hopping. Plenty of clean spring water, rest areas and toilets on the way. Food at the end was incredible. Pack snacks, lunch as there is no food during the hike. Most of the hike is in shade and there was a coolish breeze comi n up the gorge which was refreshing. Agia Roumelli beach where you finish isn’t the nicest of Crete beaches but…”

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13.Knossos Palace and Heraklion Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 153 reviews · 12 hours · from $56

Travel from Chania to Knossos Palace, Heraklion, and Rethymno in one long day. A local guide explains Minoan myths and ruins, with headsets at the sites. You get about three hours in Heraklion, an optional museum visit, and one hour in Rethymno.

“This trip is a great way to see part of the island. Knossos Palace is really interesting although our group was so large it was difficult at times to hear the commentary. The palace ruins are extensive and it might be a better option for those that want to be able to make their own way around.”

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14.Full-Day Bus Trip to Elafonisi Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 148 reviews · 11 hours · from $40

Ride from Georgioupolis to Elafonisi with an English-speaking driver, passing green hills, villages, and a cave church. You get 3.5 hours for swimming and beach time, plus short stops at Kissamos Port. Bring sun protection, water, swimwear, and shoes for the walk to the shore.

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15.Private Full-Day Sailing Trip to Dia Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 140 reviews · 6.5 hours

Take a private sailing boat from Heraklion to Dia Island with a two-person crew, swimming stops, snorkeling gear, fishing equipment, paddleboards, fruit, drinks, and local white wine. Add hotel transfers or an onboard meal for a more polished day.

“We told the guides we were more interested in sailing than the excursions and they accommodated our request. The Elan 37 is a fun boat and she sailed well even in light winds. The lunch was delicious and we enjoyed it in an idyllic bay on Dia island. The captain and first mate were vey kind and helpful with our two kids. I highly recommend this excursion and will book again if we return to Crete.”

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