15 Kourtaliotiko Gorge Tours in Crete Worth Booking

1.Preveli Beach Damnoni Beach Kourtaliotiko Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 929 reviews · 9 - 11 hours · from $25Our pick

Travel from Rethymno with guides such as Barbara, Stella, or Alex to Kourtaliotiko Gorge, Damnoni Beach, Preveli’s palm forest, and Plakias. Expect a full 9 to 11 hours, comfortable bus transport, several swims, a short but steep gorge walk, and extra costs for the boat and gorge entrance.

“I was really impressed about the whole experience. First things first, Barbara, our guide, was super! All locations are really beautiful, perfect schedule and timings, super comfy transportation and really good driver. Great value for money also! I highly recommend this particular day trip to anyone that wants to see some amazing spots of Crete.”

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2.Preveli By Boat, Damnoni & Kourtaliotiko Springs

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 254 reviews · 11 - 13.5 hours · from $58

Travel from Heraklion to southern Crete for a swim at Kourtaliotiko Springs, free time at Damnoni Beach, and a boat ride to Preveli’s palm-lined river. Guides including multilingual Elisabetta lead the long day, which costs $58 and includes transport and boat tickets, but not lunch or the €5 springs fee.

“Very interesting destinations. Frendly staff. Maybe 1/2 hour more in Retimno will be enough, because I didn't have time to see the fortress, and the town is not to litle.”

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3.Kourtaliotiko, Preveli Palm Beach, & Damnoni

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 203 reviews · from $28

Travel from Rethymno through Kourtaliotiko Gorge to Damnoni, then take a boat to Preveli Palm Beach for two hours of swimming and palm-forest walks. Guide Anastasia and drivers such as Giannis or Kostas lead the day in English, German, and sometimes French. Lunch in Damnoni and a Plakias stop follow.

“This Tour was probably the best organized Tour I ever participated in! Anastasia has an incredible Talent for languages and is a really authentic and lovely Person. The Bus is very comfortable and Anastasia has a lot of knowledge about the landscape. You drive for 30 minutes to Spili. I would recommend bringing a light jacket in the colder months cause it’s in the Mountains. You spend 1 hour there and Continue to damnoni. You take the boat for 30 Minutes and you see so many Beautiful caves in the water. At Preveli i recommend walking around the Palm Forest. Bring water shoes if you have sensitive feet. You have…”

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4.Kourtaliotiko Gorge: Guided River Adventure Trek with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 106 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $112

Join Panos, Alkis, or another certified guide for a 4.5-hour river trek through Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Swim to a cold waterfall, walk through clear pools, spot frogs and dragonflies, and finish with Cretan tapas and a beer at The Banana Garden.

“Great tour, great guide, truly stunning and breathtaking nature. Perfect length for a hike and a lovely ending at the tavern”

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5.Kourtaliotiko Gorge River Trek with Lunch! Pick-up Avaliable

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 90 reviews · 5 hours · from $112

You’ll follow an English-speaking guide through Kourtaliotiko Gorge, swimming to its great waterfall and walking through river pools for about two hours. Gear, transfers, a waterproof phone case, and a light meal at Banana Garden are included. Hotel pickup around Rethymno is optional.

“It was truly an awesome experience from the very start to the end. The guide was well organised and helped walking through more challenging spots in the river. Also told a lot about Crete and the place where we were walking. The views were breathtaking. At the end we had lunch at banana garden where we also got a chance to walk around with the garden owner and see lots of plants/trees. Thanks very much for such a great experience. It was well worth it!”

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6.Preveli Palm Beach and Kourtaliotiko Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 87 reviews · 10 hours · from $25

Travel from Rethymno by air-conditioned coach to Kourtaliotiko Gorge and Preveli Palm Beach. You’ll stop for photos, take a short boat ride from Damnoni, then swim, walk beneath palms, and explore at your own pace. English-speaking guides may include Brenda, Spiritos, or Johnny.

“Very relaxed activity with ample time for everyone to do what they want to. Both beaches are nice.”

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7.From Chania private trip to Spili-Kourtaliotiko-Kalypso beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) Top rated

Travel from Chania into southern Crete with Angie, Aggeliki, Maria, or another local guide. Visit Spili’s lion-head fountains, a traditional house museum, an olive oil and honey producer, Kourtaliotiko Gorge, and Kalypso Beach. Swimming, snacks, and schedule changes depend on weather and conditions.

“Spili, the gorge, and the beach were all fantastic. The tour exceeded our expectations and Aggeliki was what every tour guide should be! She is very personable, knowledgeable, and has a great sense of humor. She even laughed at our jokes! Her vehicle was immaculate and very comfortable. I would book other tours with Aggeliki without hesitation. Should I return to Crete we will definitely use her services again!”

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8.Snorkeling Trip to Kourtaliotiko Gorge Waterfalls, Plakias, Crete

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 64 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $109

Meet at Dive2gether Crete in Plakias at 9:30 am for transport to Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Follow the cold stream through a natural lagoon and cave to a huge waterfall, with wetsuits, snorkel gear, fruit, and guides such as Paul, Tom, Jelle, or Kilian.

“The waterfalls were breathtaking. It was a very strenuous hike down and back from the falls, carrying a heavy ruck sack with gear for 2 people. The activity also included climbing up and down rocks in the gorge. It was a cool trip and the guides were wonderful! I just wish we spent more time at the waterfalls and that I knew the hike down and back would take the majority of the time.”

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9.Canyoning in the water – Kourtaliotiko Gorge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $144

Join ECO EVENTS for a 3.5-hour canyoning trip in Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Guides including George, Harry, Barbara, and Nikos help you rappel beside waterfalls, make optional water jumps, and walk through the river to the Fairy Cave. Gear and photos are included.

“Excellent excursion! The team prioritized safety while running a fun activity. Small family run business.”

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10.River Trekking at Kourtaliotiko Gorge Waterfalls to Preveli Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $156

George leads a private five-hour trek from Kourtaliotiko Gorge through the Megalopotamos River, with a waterfall swim and a trail to Preveli Beach. Expect cold water, slippery rocks, a safety briefing, lunch, and a moderate workout. Morning or afternoon departures are available.

“George was an amazing guide. Made us feel super comfortable and allows the patrons to set the pace. Very informative and experienced. Highly recommend!”

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11.Private South Crete Full-Day Tour-Spili, Kourtaliotiko & Preveli

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.)

Spend 8 to 9 hours with Crete Wanderer and driver-guide Leonidas exploring Kourtaliotiko Gorge, Preveli Monastery, the palm forest, Spili, and a traditional taverna. Pickup is included from Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion, with a private vehicle for up to seven people.

“Amazing tour! Plenty of time at each stop to enjoy the sights, lots of information about the area and the island that kept both myself and my son engaged. Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking for a little adventure with breathtaking sights!”

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12.Canyoning Tour in the Kourtaliotiko Gorge

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 38 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $141

At Kourtaliotiko Gorge, English-speaking instructors fit you with neoprene and canyoning gear, then guide you through waterfall rappels, refreshing river jumps, swims, and a short trek to the Fairy Cave. Barbara is one of the friendly guides leading this three-and-a-half-hour outdoor adventure.

“It was an amazing day! The guide was so nice and patient and we all had a lot of fun! I would always book this activity again:)”

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13.From Rethymno Private Tour to Spili Kourtaliotiko Kalypso Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.)

Travel by air-conditioned minivan from your pickup point to Spili, its lion-head fountains, Folk Museum, Maravel Garden, Kourtaliotiko Gorge, and rocky Kalypso Beach. Your local guide, possibly Angie, includes olive oil, honey, Cretan snacks, water, and time to swim.

“Angie was an amazing tour guide full of knowledge of the island as well as all kinds of information on the local area! Enjoyed the tour so much and Angie was flexible on time at each stop which included the waterfalls and the beach/swimming alcove.”

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14.Private Tour Rethymno: Spili, Preveli, Kourtaliotiko, Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews

Travel by private air-conditioned car or minivan through southern Crete with a guide such as Georgia or Romano. Visit Spili, Kourtaliotiko Gorge, Preveli Monastery, the palm forest, Damnoni Beach, and Rethymno Old Town. You choose how long to spend at key stops, while meals and entrance fees remain your responsibility.

“The walk through Rethymno was very interesting. The walk down to the gorge was beautiful and windy. Monestary was interesting and partial walk down to beach was a great photo op.”

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15.River Trekking at Kourtaliotiko Gorge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $112

Join guide Panos for a 4.5-hour river trek through Kourtaliotiko Gorge. Swim to a powerful waterfall, walk through clear pools, look for turtles and dragonflies, and stop for tea beneath plane trees. Equipment and photos are included, while lunch at a Greek taverna is optional.

“Our day out with Panos and two other families was a day to remember. Panos was so knowledgeable about the gorge, wildlife, herbs and nooks and crannies of the river and a very pleasant guide. Our group was 8 people which made everything more personal as it made the shared experience even more special. The freezing water near the waterfall is worth swimming through (you will acclimatise) to witness the thundering power of the water and beauty of the gorge. I took my 14 year old video game loving child with me and he was so grateful! You do need to be moderately fit as a lot of walking both…”

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