Crete Tours

The tiny isle of Spinalonga is just a short hop away from Crete but a visit is like stepping back in time. Centuries of history are packed within the walls that encircle it. See it through the eyes of a true local on this full-day tour of its must-see monuments.

An excursion that gets better and better as the day goes on. Enjoy some sightseeing before an afternoon relaxing in Elafonisi, an idyllic island off southwest Crete. You'll also visit the village of Voulgaro and the Agia Sophia cave.

The volcanic island of Santorini lies north of Crete. And this daytrip by fast catamaran is a great chance to take a close-up look at it. Curved around a colossal, sea-filled caldera that was formed by a massive volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago, it's all black cliffs, whitewashed villages and blue-domed churches. It's picture-postcard Greece.Once you're on dry land, you'll take off on a scenic tour, exploring many of the island's attractions and learning about its history. Explore a caldera-edge town, where whitewashed houses, cobbled streets and tavernas cascade down the cliff-face in steep terraces.You'll then have some free time in both Oia and the island's capital, Fira. Spend an hour or so snapping up treats in the quaint shops and boutiques. Or, visit some of the best lookouts to take photos – the views over the caldera are great. It's made for selfies.

Thought to be the cradle of Europe's first civilization, the UNESCO-listed Palace of Knossos is one of the most important ancient sites in Crete. Let an expert bring history to life as you explore the island's most-prized archaeological gem. This trip also includes free time in the resorts of Rethymnon, plus a tour of the Cretan capital, Heraklion. Andreas, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘The Minoans were very advanced, and the Palace of Knossos showcases architectural techniques such as multi-storey buildings and a sophisticated drainage system that were ahead of their time.'You'll start the morning in Rethymnon's maze of colourful streets, where you can browse the shops, find a little cafe or head down to the harbour. Curving around the small bay, Rethymnon harbour is as pretty as it is old. The views of the Venetian-era Fortezza and out to sea are a delight. Next up is Crete's capital, Heraklion. Here, you'll enjoy a guided tour of the city's best bits, such as the Venetian lion fountain and the loggia. There'll be some free time to explore at your own pace, too.Last but by no means least, the last stop of the day is a guided visit of the Palace of Knossos. Admire treasures like the throne room, royal apartments, and the fabulous frescoes. The ancient frescoes are particularly impressive, depicting scenes of everyday life, religious rituals, and mythical creatures. You'll also experience the Labyrinth, where legend has it, the fearsome half-man, half-bull creature known as the Minotaur lurked.

Western Crete boasts wonderful local produce and spectacular beaches. This excursion showcases the area's best bits, with a wine tasting at the Karavitakis winery, sampling delicious local olive oil at Biolea estate and some relaxation on the white sands of Falassarna beach.

The uninhabited island of Elafonisi may be tiny but it's bursting with personality. This journey to this islet off southwestern Crete is steeped in myths and legends and boasts historic buildings and amazing natural scenery – making it an ideal excursion for all the family.

Spinalonga is one of Crete's most talked about sights. It was Europe's last leper colony and scores of lepers lived here, in exile from the mainland, until 1957. Sail to this eerie island just 15-minutes from the mainland and explore this relic of the past.Arriving at the island, you'll find yourself immersed in its history right away. Over the years, it's been a Venetian outpost, an Ottoman town and most notoriously, a leper colony which led to it being dubbed the ‘isle of tears'.A guided walk will show you around the Venetian fortress and the main street lined with the shops and houses where the lepers attempted to live ordinary lives. You'll get to look round the old hospital and graveyard, too. Later, you'll sail back to Elounda where you can swim in the sea, stretch out in the sunshine or watch the world go by at a waterside café. There's also free time to find lunch in a local taverna and a visit to the chic resort of Agios Nikolaos.

The volcanic island of Santorini lies north of Crete. And this daytrip by fast cat is a great chance to take a close-up look at it. Curved around a colossal, sea-filled caldera that was formed by a massive volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago, it's all black cliffs, whitewashed villages and blue-domed churches. It's picture-postcard Greece.Once you're on dry land, you'll take off on a scenic tour, exploring many of the island's attractions and learning about its history. Explore a town where whitewashed houses, cobbled streets and tavernas cascade down the cliff-face in steep terraces.You'll spend about 90 minutes in Oia – the village with the most magnificent views on Santorini. From its lofty clifftop perch, the panorama over the volcanic caldera is pure wow-factor. Then it's on to Fira, the island's capital. You'll have an hour or so to snap up treats in the quaint shops and boutiques.

This tour takes in the historic Agia Triada Monastery, a guided tour of Chania and time to unwind at Crete's only natural lake. Angeliki, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘Agia Triada offers a glimpse into Crete's rich cultural heritage. It was built during the Venetian period and boasts an impressive array of frescoes and religious artefacts. The monastery is an oasis of tranquillity, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards.'After exploring the monastery, you'll head up to the Hill of Prophet Elias, also known as Profitis Ilias, to soak up the insta-worthy views here. Then, you'll continue to Chania, one of Crete's most appealing port towns. Steeped in history and renowned for its atmospheric Venetian harbour, you'll explore its narrow streets on a guided tour. You'll also have the chance to shop along the famous ‘Leather Lane' and enjoy some free time to stroll around the harbour or delve further into the old town.To round off the tour, we'll visit Lake Kournas, a jewel of a freshwater lake surrounded by hills. The lake is home to a wide range of wildlife, including turtles and a variety of bird species. You'll have free time to explore, take a swim in the limpid waters, or enjoy a walk around the lake. Angeliki says, ‘Local myths claim that the lake is bottomless, but science has intervened and in fact it's only 22.5 metres deep.'

Southern Crete's coastline is full of unexpected surprises and on this exclusive-to-TUI tour you'll find yourself in the middle of a tropical paradise. You'll enjoy a boat tour from Damnoni to Preveli Palm beach and visit the springs in Kourtaliotiko gorge as you explore the ever-changing terrain of the south coast.

Discover Knossos Palace and the Cave of Zeus from Heraklion and Elounda during this tailored-made private tour.

The volcanic island of Santorini lies north of Crete. And this daytrip by fast cat is a great chance to take a close-up look at it. Curved around a colossal, sea-filled caldera that was formed by a massive volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago, it's all black cliffs, whitewashed villages and blue-domed churches. It's picture-postcard Greece.Once you're on dry land, you'll take off on a scenic tour, exploring many of the island's attractions and learning about its history. Explore a town where whitewashed houses, cobbled streets and tavernas cascade down the cliff-face in steep terraces.You'll spend about 90 minutes in Oia – the village with the most magnificent views on Santorini. From its lofty clifftop perch, the panorama over the volcanic caldera is pure wow-factor. Then it's on to Fira, the island's capital. You'll have an hour or so to snap up treats in the quaint shops and boutiques.

The rugged mountaintops, sun-kissed plains and rustic villages of Crete are the stars of this 4x4 tour. Go off-road with visits to a winery, Vosako Monastery and an olive oil producer. Katerina, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘A winery owner in Panormos will welcome you before leading a tour and tasting experience. You also find out about Cretan olive oil – another staple of local cuisine. Your hosts will help you unravel the secrets behind why Cretans live longer than the average Greek.'First up, we'll hop into our 4x4s and head to a family-run winery in Panormos. Enjoy a guided visit and learn about indigenous Cretan grape varieties such as vidiano, vilana and kotsifali. These grapes are well-suited to the island's climate and soil, resulting in unique flavour profiles. After a tasting, we'll rumble through the traditional villages of Dafnedes, Apladiana and Agridia towards Vosako Monastery. Steeped in history, it was once used as a refuge where Cretans could escape civil unrest. Panoramic mountaintop views make it a great place to snap some epic photos.The rest of the morning is spent driving by sprawling vineyards en route to visit a traditional olive mill. Learn all there is to know about the ancient versus modern harvesting and production of olive oil on the island, and try some for yourself. Finally, you'll experience Cretan hospitality with a meal of tasty local dishes in the village of Melidoni before heading back to Rethymnon.

An oasis of tranquillity, Crete's botanical gardens provide a respite from the bustling beaches. On this morning tour, your guide will show you around the vast gardens and teach you about the local plants and wildlife. You'll also get to prepare and try one of Greece's most popular mezze dishes.On arrival, you'll be greeted with a refreshing welcome drink of homemade lemonade. A short introduction to the tour will be given in the amphitheatre and then you're free to explore. You'll have the chance to walk around the vast and verdant gardens with a guide. Learn all there is to know about native flora and fauna, as well as exotic species from around the world. What's more, the grounds have been designed carefully with the environment in mind – ensuring your visit is sustainable.Once you've finished admiring the greenery, there's a short cooking workshop where you'll learn how to prepare a Cretan speciality, ‘tzatziki'. You'll also get to taste the dip, which is popularly served with bread. It's the perfect appetiser to keep you going before lunch.

The volcanic island of Santorini lies north of Crete. And this daytrip by fast cat is a great chance to take a close-up look at it. Curved around a colossal, sea-filled caldera that was formed by a massive volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago, it's all black cliffs, whitewashed villages and blue-domed churches. It's picture-postcard Greece.Once you're on dry land, you'll take off on a scenic tour, exploring many of the island's attractions and learning about its history. Explore a town where whitewashed houses, cobbled streets and tavernas cascade down the cliff-face in steep terraces.You'll spend about 90 minutes in Oia – the village with the most magnificent views on Santorini. From its lofty clifftop perch, the panorama over the volcanic caldera is pure wow-factor. Then it's on to Fira, the island's capital. You'll have an hour or so to snap up treats in the quaint shops and boutiques.

Tucked in the western corner of the island, between the White Mountains and the Sea of Crete, lies the port town of Chania. Here you'll spend the evening getting lost in its characterful cobbled streets. Take a stroll through the old town to Eleftherios Venizelos Square where you might catch an impromptu show from the local street entertainers who often perform here in front of the fountain. With free time before and after dinner to explore, you can wander the winding lanes. Look up to admire the blend of Venetian and Turkish influenced buildings – a nod to Crete's eclectic history of Roman and Ottoman rule. If you're on the hunt for leather bags, boots and belts then make sure you head down ‘Leather Lane', officially called Skrydlof Street. The highlight of your evening will be dinner at a waterside restaurant, nestled among the colourful buildings that line the old harbour. Feast on classic Cretan dishes, like Tzatziki, baby squid and moussaka, with sunset views of the16th-century Venetian lighthouse.

The volcanic island of Santorini lies north of Crete. And this daytrip by fast cat is a great chance to take a close-up look at it. Curved around a colossal, sea-filled caldera that was formed by a massive volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago, it's all black cliffs, whitewashed villages and blue-domed churches. It's picture-postcard Greece.Once you're on dry land, you'll take off on a scenic tour, exploring many of the island's attractions and learning about its history. Explore a town where whitewashed houses, cobbled streets and tavernas cascade down the cliff-face in steep terraces.You'll spend about 90 minutes in Oia – the village with the most magnificent views on Santorini. From its lofty clifftop perch, the panorama over the volcanic caldera is pure wow-factor. Then it's on to Fira, the island's capital. You'll have an hour or so to snap up treats in the quaint shops and boutiques.

It's all about the best of the west on this small group tour. You'll explore Rethymnon in the morning and Chania – known as ‘Little Venice' – in the afternoon. And as group sizes are limited, you'll get to know even more about two of Crete's biggest cities.The fun begins in Rethymnon. Here, a maze of narrow alleys links the old harbour to the Fortezza citadel. Everything in between dates from the Venetian and Ottoman eras. On your guided tour, you'll encounter churches of all styles and mosques. You'll also have free time to find a nice taverna for lunch.Next, make the hour-long journey west to Chania, the island's second-largest city. The imprint of Venice can be found all over the old town. Nowhere more so than in the harbour. Here, Venetian dockyards blend into terraced cafés. Enjoy a guided tour of the old town, visiting the market and the famous ‘Leather Lane', and some free time.