Enjoy some time away from the beaches and explore a different side of Crete on a guided excursion. See the freshwater springs in the small town of Krasi, visit the Kera and Vidiani monasteries, step into the mythical Psychro Cave, and take part in a traditional ceramics workshop. Get picked up from your accommodation in the morning and take a short drive to the traditional village of Krasi. Gaze at the beautiful freshwater springs and the oldest tree on Crete as you take in the countryside scenery. Up next, stop at two local monasteries. See the Monastery of Kera dedicated to the Virgin Mary, near the town of Kera. Move on to Vidiani Monastery, a small male monastery at the foot of Louloudaki Mountain. Uncover the secrets of the mythical birthplace of Zeus, Psychro Cave, decorated with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Lastly, participate in a ceramics workshop and see how traditional pieces are made, before heading over to a typical Cretan tavern with local products and dishes to enjoy lunch at your own expense.

This tour gives you the opportunity to explore the real Crete in a small group. We visit an olive oil factory to learn how olive oil is made now with modern machines and how used to made in the olden days, of course we taste different kind of olive oil . Next stop is at the old village of Krasi where we go for a walk around the village then we are off to Lasithii plateau where we learn about the old wind mills that were used in the past to water the plants . Now it’s time to go and {meet Zeus } at his cave , well actually we can’t promise that because last time we visited his birthplace he wasn’t there ( had a day off ) …….. so no promises. Then we drive around Lasithii Plateau through old villages to end up into a family restaurant to enjoy some Cretan traditional food ….and some local house wine….well let’s be local just for a day or two….. maybe you like it . After enjoying our lunch and wine it’s time to hit the road to go back to your hotel where we picked you .

Discover Lasithi Plateau and its important landmarks on a guided day trip from Heraklion, with hotel transfers included. Visit Krasi village, the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, and the Psychro Cave. Participate in a ceramics workshop and end your day exploring the traditional village of Knossos Palace. After a hotel pickup, head to the traditional mountain village of Krasi known for its quaint central square with stone fountains and an enormous plane tree thought to be 2,400 years old. See intimate tavernas and cafes scattered among the streets, small stone churches, and freshwater springs. Next, explore the Eastern Orthodox Keras Monastery, dedicated to Virgin Mary. Then, visit the Vidiani Monastery located at the foothills of Louloudaki Mountain. Learn how it was built in the 19th century by the monk Methodius Peraki, probably on the ruins of an older monastery. Continue to Psychro Cave, the mythical birth place of Zeus. Admire the ancient Minoan sacred cave and its stalactites and stalagmites. Next up is a ceramics workshop led by a local potter to see how traditional ceramics are made and try your hands at making one. Afterward, stop at a traditional tavern for lunch. Choose from a variety of local dishes made from local products of the Lassithi plateau, homemade wine, and products from the surrounding mountains. Leaving the beautiful region of Lasithi behind, end the tour at the Historical Site of Knossos, Europe's oldest city. Join a 1-hour guided tour and take photos of this Bronze Age archaeological site. Then, hop back on the bus to return to your hotel.

Explore the Cretan countryside on this tour to a farm in Potamies, the dam of Aposelemis, the gorge of Embasa, the Lassithi plateau, and the village of Krasi. Try farm fresh products, take a cooking and ceramics lesson, and tour an olive oil mill. Be picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in Analipsi, Heraklion, Hersonissos, or Sisi. Sit back and enjoy the scenery on the way to a farm in the rural village of Potamies. Watch as a farmer milks the goats and savor some products made with the milk. Continue to the dam of Aposelemis which is the largest water supply project in Crete. See the sight where the village of Sfendili is submerged in the waters of the dam. Capture pictures of half-submerged houses in this natural wetland with a variety of birds. Drive uphill on dirt roads through the gorge of Embasa. Take in views of mountains and have the opportunity to pick local herbs. Learn how to cook like a local with step-by-step instructions. Prepare dishes from pure ingredients and local products. Visit the Lassithi plateau and head to a pottery workshop to uncover the secrets of Cretan ceramic art. Create your own ceramic masterpiece. Tour the plateau and meet some of the local. Stop at the local cafeteria for a delicious meal baked in a wood oven. Make your way to the picturesque village of Krasi. Stop to see a square with an 18th-century aqueduct and centuries-old plane trees. End your day trip with a tour of an olive oil factory. Learn how to produce olive oil and try some oil samples before returning to your accommodation.

Explore the history of Crete on this tour from Heraklion. Soak up local culture at the villages of Mochos and Krasi. Find out where the mythological figure Zeus was thought to have been born. Travel to the archaeological site of Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. Enjoy the convenience of being picked up in a comfortable van from your accommodation in Heraklion. Sit back and relax on the way to the traditional mountain village of Mochos. Admire its narrow alleys, cobbled streets, and colorful gardens.  Continue to Krasi village to view a Platanus tree that is 2,400-year-old. Stand in the shade of this tree which is locally known as the Writer's Tree. Travel to the cave of Diktaion Andron, which is believed to be the birthplace of Zeus. Have the chance to purchase tickets to go inside the cave. Admire views of the Lasithi Plateau before heading to the archaeological site of Knossos. Buy a ticket to the site to see richly colored frescos amid the remains of this Bronze Age palace. Purchase a ticket to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum to explore collections of Minoan art and artefacts. Feel free to stop and purchase lunch during the tour. Return to your accommodation in Heraklion at the end of the tour. 

Take a day trip from Heraklion to Crete’s important mythological sites. Travel to the palace of Knossos, home to the legendary labyrinth that contained the Minotaur. Climb to the Psychro Cave, a sacred Minoan site associated with the birth of Zeus, and visit traditional Cretan villages as you go. Start in Heraklion, where you will meet your driver and, optionally, your guide. Drive into the hills to Knossos, the large Bronze Age site of ancient Crete’s major city and the political center for the Minoan civilization. Wander through the remains of large palace buildings and past the intricate foundations of what is believed to be the labyrinth built by Deadelus to hide the Minotaur. Next, head into the center of the island to the traditional village of Krasi, home to the enormous 2,400 year-old Platanus tree. Drive further into the hills toward Psychro. After a short climb, admire panoramic views of Crete from the top of the hill before descending into the cave. The cave was an important site for cult worship during the Minoan period and is associated with the legend of the birth of Zeus. Your final stop will be at the CretAquarium to admire the variety of sea creatures that inhabit the Mediterranean sea bed, including sharks and ghost jellyfish. Finish the tour back in Heraklion, where your driver will drop you off.

From the Minoan times, Lassithi Plateau is the earth of fertility and love for food. A rich Cretan land to remind us of just how satisfying it is to source and cook your own ingredients. It’s why we love it. We want to take you away from the crowded places of countless Instagram posts to the island’s most untouched escapes where time has slowed down and history persists. That is why our Travel Experts have designed this culinary adventure for lovers of authentic gastronomy, art, and mythic landscapes. This luxury trip will take you through the charming and often forgotten country of Lassithi, across small villages, emblematic Windmills, and the Plateau’s spectacular views. In the late afternoon, find yourself at a Cretan house that was built next to the Cave of Zeus on the ancient ruins that still exude timeless energy. Here you will meet the chef-owner of Mansion Halavro (means playground among archaic ruins) who will indulge you in the artistic pleasures of Cretan cuisine.

Travel to the Lassithi Plateau to search for the rare Cretan black truffles with a local hunter on this tour from Heraklion. Watch a cooking demonstration, visit a family-run pottery shop, and see the Cave of Zeus. Capture pictures of windmills in Krasi and admire an ancient monastery.  Choose from a range of tour options that offer luxury vehicles that seat from 3-12 passengers comfortably. Be picked up at your accommodation in Agia Pelagia, Heraklion, or Hersonissos and relax on the drive to the Lassithi Plateau. Stay connected with WIFI and USB charging during your trip. Sip on mineral water and savor fresh fruit and snacks during your trip. Meet your local truffle hunting guide and begin your journey into uncovering local flavors with the help of Lagotto Romagnolo Italian dogs.  Learn how to cook your Cretan black truffles with the help of a local chef during a cooking demonstration. Submerge yourself in an authentic way of life in one of the island’s most beautiful regions with a stop to see the windmills in Krasi and the mythical Cave of Zeus.  Gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between recipes, people, and traditions. Check out local art at a family-run pottery shop and be transported in time at an ancient monastery. Return to your accommodation at the end of your day trip. 

Immerse yourself in Cretan culture with a private day trip into its renowned truffle country: Lasithi Plateau. Take part in a traditional truffle hunt and learn about the art of cooking them from a local chef. Enjoy stops at the village of Krasi, Psychro Cave, and an ancient monastery. Get picked up from your accommodation in Elounda or Agios Nikolaos and head into the striking Lasithi Plateau. Join a search for the rare Cretan black truffle. Hear all about the importance of this typical ingredient and learned how to cook it in a typical family restaurant. Travel through the vast fields and iconic windmills of the plateau while gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between recipes, people, and traditions. Explore the quaint village of Krasi, admire the mindblowing formations of Psychro Cave, and see an ancient monastery.

Discover traditional life in rural Crete in private by witnessing the daily activities of the locals and visiting the sites where Greek myths were born. Enjoy a tour of Potamies, Aposelemis dam, Empasa, the cave of Zeus, and the beautiful scenery of the plateau. Start with pickup from your accommodation. Visit one of the most characteristic Cretan villages, Potamies, for a tour of a traditional local farm. See the process of milking and cheese-making, meet the animals, and sample their fresh cheese. Next, head to the Aposelemis dam, the largest water supply project in Crete. See the village of Sfendili submerged in the waters of the dam with its impressive old houses fading on the surface of the water. Explore the natural wetlands and spot a unique variety of birds. Continue uphill on the dirt roads to the gorge of Empasa. Enjoy the views of the mountainous landscape and thriving wildlife. Try your hand at foraging for native herbs or relax and take in the panoramic views. Take a trip to Lassithi Plateau to enter Psychro Cave, the fabled birthplace of the Greek God Zeus. Follow the trails of the gods and after that take a tour around the plateau to get a sense of local life. Finally, enjoy authentic food baked in the wood oven in one of the most celebrated taverns in the picturesque village of Krasi. Admire the town square filled with fountains and see imposing plane trees that are up to 2000 years old. Return to your hotel full of unforgettable memories of Crete.