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Ancient Palaces with Minoan Wine Routes & Iconic Matala Beach from Heraklion
5.0
9 Ratings
Hersonissos
Embark on a luxurious journey through ancient palaces, Minoan wine routes, and the iconic Matala Beach. Discover the wonders of the Minoan world and indulge in the rich history and natural beauty of Central Crete.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Heraklion Prefecture - Plunge into the guide tour of the land of old-world splendor of Minoan Crete with our brilliant local guide
- Agios Myron - Wander the picturesque village of Agios Myronas and step into the sacred cave of the Saint where still flows the holy water
- Gortyna - Stroll the Gortyn archaeological site famous for the great Gortyn Code in Doric dialect that later became the Spartan Law
- Messara - Wallow in the central Crete vineyard tour along the emerald expanse of Messara valley and visit a boutique winery to taste luxuriant wine tasting Heraklion flavors
- Faistos - Embrace the legendary Faistos Palace, the seat of king Rhadamanthus, where the Phaistos disc hieroglyphic script was excavated
- Odigitria Monastery - Discover the Cretan sacred jewel of Odigitria monastery (Agiofarango) with a strong monastic tradition linked to Apostle Paul
- Matala Beach - Delight in scenes of the spectacular sunset fading behind the iconic Matala caves as you bath in the azure waters of the Libyan Sea
- Matala - Taste delicious seafood dishes from the fresh local catch of the Matala village fishermen by indulging in the culinary significance of South Crete
- Hersonissos - One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
- Anissaras - One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
- Analipsi Beach - One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
- Gouves - One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
- Kokkini Hani - One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
- Heraklion - One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
- Agia Pelagia Beach - One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
- Fodele Beach - One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
- Bali - One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
What's Included
- Private expert guide in art, history, & archeology
- VIP skip-the-line access & assistance with purchasing admission tickets
- Assistance with the best restaurant recommendations & reservations
- Exclusive insider-access opportunities & tailored details of your personal interest
- Pride in having the best local guides of Crete!
- Flexible personal pick-up & drop-off service
- Concierge support before & during your day trip
- Chauffeured premium vehicle with full amenities
What's Not Included
- Drinks and meals
- Admission fees
- Wine tasting expenses (if requested)
Additional Information
Embark on a luxurious journey through time in the heart of Central Crete, a cherished region of our past, where the marvels of the Minoan era unfold.
Experience endless splendors of the ancient Messara plain from the plush seat of a high-end chauffeured vehicle, guided by our best local expert. Here, fertile terrains of wine-red color host opulent vineyards and the oldest olive trees continuously reach for the horizon, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty.
You will have the opportunity to visit an esteemed family-owned winery located amidst breathtaking scenery. Our enthusiastic winemakers will captivate you with their fascinating world. Revel in history as you explore the Bronze Age palaces of Phaistos and Gortyna, along with the narrative-rich villages and monasteries.
As the day unfolds, immerse yourself in the free-spirited ambiance of Matala, a place that once mesmerized Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin. Relax in the crystal-clear waters of the Libyan Sea and unwind in the enchanting village, known for its freshly grilled catch and top-notch ouzo.
To us, traveling is about enlivening your spirit with unforgettable tales.
Location
Hersonissos
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(9 Ratings)
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Annpo7979ky
Jun 9, 2023
If you are visiting Crete book this tour! - Our private tour was outstanding! Stavroula and Hector are a great team- we learned so much about the history/culture of Crete and traveled in safety and comfort. By the end of our day trip it felt as if we were with long time friends or family. My friend and I now would like to visit Crete again and spend a week or two.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Benmu1763qd
May 31, 2022
Five stars for the whole experience - We booked the private tour with a private guide and driver and we weren't disappointed. Whilst it is pricey, if you want to learn more about the history of Crete and visit sites that you wouldn't normally see or hear about then this is definitely worth considering.
Irini was full of fascinating facts and information and there was no question she couldn't answer. In terms of places we visited, we drove to Agios Minos, Gortys and Phaistos palaces, a working nunnery and finished with lunch in Matala.
The car was an immaculate Mercedes with air conditioning (definitely needed in 30 degree heat) and the driver Dimitrios was brilliant (and hilarious). He claims he can't speak good English but don't be fooled as he can certainly speak much better English than he gives himself credit for. Both he and Irini made the day super special and we won't forget the effort they made in making it such a wonderful experience for both of us.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Erpel1
Apr 15, 2022
Perfekt day on Crete - We spent a wonderful day with Nektarios - he knew so much about Greece, Greek history as well as mythology, took us to great viewing spots. Very interesting day to get to know Crete. Thanks a lot!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Doesnthaveone
Sep 25, 2021
Highly Recommend - I booked a private tour and it was a fabulous day. Alexander tailored the tour to my interests ensuring I saw everything I wanted to see and he stopped at some great locations for wonderful photo ops. Tasted some great wines while enjoying a beautiful view and the highlight of the trip was getting to revisit the 1960s in Matala. What a cool town! Thanks for Alexander and Ioannis for an unforgettable day!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
168mauricew
Jul 20, 2021
Great wine and sights!! - Wow ! This was a super fun tour. The Boutari Winery is gorgeous- and the wines are great. All 6 wines we tasted were delicious- we bought several to take home with us . Seeing the ancient palaces and cities was so interesting and our tour guide Marinela was full of knowledge about everything we saw. She was delightful, bright and a joy to be around . Matala Beach with lunch overlooking the sea is trip not to be missed in Crete. The day on this tour was one of our best days in Crete - I highly recommend this tour. In addition to Marinela being amazing our driver Dimitrios was excellent- we felt safe and comfortable with him. I want to thank Snami Travel for arranging this private tour for my family - the vip treatment we received was top notch . Looking forward to more adventures with Snami Travel on our next visit!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sallamab2021
Jul 11, 2021
Highly recommended - What an eventful tour. Highly recommended
Maria our guide did an amazing job planning the day .Highly knowledgeable and accommodating.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dco90
Oct 30, 2020
5 star experience. - An incredible day with Alexander. We did a private tour and he took a genuine interest in our personalties to make our experience bespoke and perfect! Was truly a 5 star experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sophiaaslp
Jul 24, 2020
Private daytrip with Dimitrios was majestic!! - My fiancee and I wanted to visit Matala by sunset. With snami travel we customized the experience to a greater extent.
Dimitrios was the best insider we have ever met. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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