Full Day Trip to Spinalonga Zeus Cave and olive oil factory

Embark on an intimate adventure through the splendors of Crete! Join our exclusive small-group tour to Agios Nikolaos, Spinalonga, and an Olive Oil Factory. Discover ancient legends, stunning panoramas, and the essence of Crete, curated by locals.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Mochos - Discover the allure of Mochos, a traditional village featuring a charming square lined with cozy cafes. Soak in its lively ambiance while enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views of Hersonisos, Stalida, and Malia along the stunning North Coast. It’s a delightful mix of genuine village life and spectacular scenery, ensuring an unforgettable stop on your Crete adventure.
  • Krasi - In the village of Krasi, you’ll be captivated by the ancient plane tree. The Old Plane Tree of Krasi is a legendary and awe-inspiring natural marvel that holds a special place in the village’s heart. This magnificent tree, often called the “2000-year-old plane tree,” symbolizes history, resilience, and cultural significance in the Cretan village of Krasi.
  • Dikteon Cave - Consider visiting the Dikteon Cave, famed as the birthplace of Zeus in Greek mythology. A short drive from the plateau, this cave is rich in legend and history. Wander through the caverns, stalactites, and stalagmites while soaking in the mythical atmosphere.
  • Lasithi Prefecture - Enjoy lunch at one of the local tavernas. Savor traditional Cretan cuisine made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients while basking in the tranquil ambiance of the plateau.
  • Selinari - Make a brief stop at the monastery of Agios Georgios “Selinari” to get a closer look at one of Crete’s historical monasteries.
  • Spinalonga (Kalydon) - Next, you’ll be welcomed by the iconic bay of Merabelo with its crystal-clear blue waters. One of the most unique and authentic corners of Cretan beauty is unveiled in an area that encapsulates the essence of the Cretan landscape, featuring the traditional fishing villages of Elounda and Plaka. From the port of Plaka, we’ll board a boat to the historic island of Spinalonga, where you can admire the fortress and the former leper colony. Alternatively, you can explore the picturesque alleys of Plaka, enjoy the view of the Cretan sea, or swim in the deep blue waters of Merabelo bay.
  • Lake Voulismeni - The next stop is Agios Nikolaos, an international cosmopolitan resort built on three hills. It will enchant you with its character and winding streets. Lake Voulismeni, the city’s most beautiful gem, is surrounded by countless legends, making it even more impressive.
What's Included
  • Private knowledgeable local guide
  • On-board WiFi
  • Pick up and drop-off from your hotel or designated meeting points
  • Private tour pickups: Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Shared mini-group: Heraklion region only
  • Liability insurance
  • Transport by luxury air-conditioned minivan
  • Bottled water, Coffee
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fees to spinaloga (8 euros per person)
  • Anything that is not specified in the program as included
  • Gratuities ( optional)
  • Boat ticket 12€ per adult. Children untill 13 years old for free
  • Lunch (optional)
  • Entrance to Zeus Cave 6,00€ / per person (for EU citizens under 25 and above 65 is free)
Additional Information

Embark on an intimate adventure through the splendors of Crete! Join our exclusive small-group tour, limited to seven guests per luxurious vehicle, for an immersive exploration. We’ll start at Merabelo Bay, showcasing the enchanting Agios Nikolaos. This coastal gem, with its Mediterranean charm, offers scenic beauty and a vibrant atmosphere. Our journey then leads to the storied Spinalonga Island, steeped in history and tales of resilience, an emblem of the island’s rich heritage. But that’s not all. We’ll uncover the legendary Diktaion Andron, the birthplace of Zeus, an archaeological wonder alive with ancient legends.Travel comfortably through the picturesque countryside aboard our deluxe mini vans. Engage discover the region’s flora and fauna while soaking in stunning panoramas. Join us for an expedition that transcends sightseeing—it’s a deep dive into Crete’s essence, curated by locals for an insider’s view.

  • Transportation is already included on the total duration of the tour
Location
Mochos
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(27 Ratings)
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Lorap472
Jun 8, 2024
12/10 stars- phenomenal - 12/10 stars! A perfect day with a phenomenal guide, Marinos. The day was well planned and Marinos was a knowledgeable guide who considered our every need. Could not have been happier with the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mbshirk
May 19, 2024
Our Best Day in Crete - What a fantastic day we had! Marinos treated us like his own family and was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Crete. We loved learning about the history and culture of Crete from showing us his wedding video to explaining centuries long traditions of the Cretin people. My entire family enjoyed the adventure, from my teenager to my husband. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Keithss3312mz
May 17, 2024
Fantastic Experience! - Full day tour with a knowledgeable and friendly local gide. Small family run business. Willing to taylor the tour to create an individual experience, and recommended local spots to visit later. Took us to a hidden gem of a restaurant for lunch. Wonderful views and learned plenty about the local culture and history. Tour included a couple smaller additional destinations we weren't expecting. Kept well fed with snacks (including home made baking) and beverages throughout the day. Felt treated like family!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J_s
May 7, 2024
Great Tour While In Crete - Angie was very personable and explained all the sites we visited. We met Angie early in the morning and spent the day exploring Crete and it’s many sites. We enjoyed Spinalonga and on our way there Angie explained it’s history, she’s very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Crete. If you’re not quite sure of Zeus’s Cave, do it. This tour was perfect and they were very accommodating, they even moved the pick up location to a closer city.
Review provided by Viator
Michelle
Nov 1, 2023
Feel Crete with this day tour! Unbelievably special day. - This is a must do tour if you are visiting Crete ! Marinos, our tour guide, is not only native to Crete, but it became clear right away how proud he is of his homeland. He was flexible with the itinerary and took us everywhere we wanted to go and had a few surprises too, including a 2000 year old tree in Krasi. We especially enjoyed the Kera monastery , the Cave of Zeus and the storytelling behind why they are so special. We had a delicious iced cappuccino at a local spot in Mochos and delicious lunch at Seli Ambelou in Lasithi. THANK YOU for this unforgettable day Marinos! We will not forget it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Guide07720472020
Oct 28, 2023
A fabulous day, seeing real Crete, great value - just book! - We had a wonderful day with Marinos. Great communication with Maria before the trip and a pick up on time, in a really comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. We started with a visit to the Olive oil factory, which we weren't really sure about, but it was fascinating. We had no understanding, of either the hard work involved or the different grades of olive oil. It was genuinely a very interesting visit, that we really enjoyed. We then visited a monastery on the way to Agios Nikolas, it was beautiful and very peaceful, Marinos was very informative about the Greek Orthodox Church, which we found interesting. Our next stop was Agios Nikolaos, where we had some free time to walk around and take pictures of the beautiful bottomless lake. We weren't rushed at all and enjoyed an ice-cream in the warm sunshine. We then went on to Plaka to catch the boat to Spinalonga. Marinos, saw us safely onto the boat and we spent an hour walking round the island. As a historian, I found it so interesting. There is a lot of information throughout the island to explain what you are seeing. We took our time wandering round and enjoying the views, before catching the boat back, to be met by Marinos who took us back to the minivan and then off to a traditional Cretian village for lunch in a taverna. The food was delicious and sitting outside, in the shade, eating wonderful food was a perfect way to end the day. However, there was so much more to the day that this, Marinos was an expert guide and was so knowledgeable about Crete and the traditions. He would also stop at great view points as well as showing us herbs and fruit growing on the road side, we tasted carob, he brought us fresh bananas salt fresh oregano and sage. We were also lucky enough to taste some of Maria's traditional baking, which was delicious. It was all the local knowledge that made this trip really special. We were out for the whole day, never felt rushed and were welcomed like family. I highly recommend this trip and Marinos.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K9449wcmarkm
Oct 17, 2023
Outstanding - Our guide (Doukiantzakis Marinos) was fantastic, the tour was off the charts. I would highly recommend our guide for any tour you pick. No complaints on any thing. What ever tour you pick make sure to ask for him. We came from the States, and not a clue what to expect.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
526barbaraz
Oct 15, 2023
Terrific guide for our Adventure - There were four of us joining Marinos, our guide, from Unique Tour Crete for our day’s adventure. Marinos ( hopefully the spelling is correct) is the owner and is enthusiastic about the history and beauty of his homeland. So as we traveled, we talked together - we asked questions and were enriched by his knowledge of history, culture, daily life and current issues in Crete. This made each stop even more significant. He couldn’t accompany us into the former leper colony in Spinalonga, so travelers have an option of hiring a guide for this. The weather was perfect. The day was our week’s highlight.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L1709knlilyc
Oct 11, 2023
Fun and interesting tour in Crete - Fantastic and informative tour with Marinos who made our time in Crete even more memorable. Just the right amount of historical detail so that we were not overwhelmed with information. Highly recommend Marinos and Unique Crete Tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adrianaff1390fw
Oct 6, 2023
Best Crete Tour!!! - This was an excellent full day tour! Our guide Marinos picked us up right at our hotel and was very punctual! He is very friendly and knowledgeable, explaining sites as we traveled from destination to destination. He had chilled water, fresh fruit, and delicious homemade cookies from his wife Maria and played traditional Greek music omg the way. The pace of the trip was perfect! We stopped at several lovely locations — where Marinos doubles as tour photographer — with the Zeus Cave, Spinalonga, and Agios Nikolaos being my top three favorites! I had the chance to ride a mule in the Lasithi plateau and enjoyed the short boat trip from Planka to Spinalonga. Also found the Omalia Olive Press to be interesting. Had a delicious traditional Greek lunch. I highly recommend ordering the pastitsio!! Also had a nice drink waterside in Agios Nikolaos. Definitely world take another Unique Crete VIP Tour!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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1 Adult
September 2024
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