Santorini & Crete Tour: Explore Greece's Best Destinations

Experience the best of Santorini and Crete on this 10-day tour. Explore the mystical ruins, relax on glorious beaches, and witness the most spectacular sunset in the world. Book now!

Duration: 10 days
Cancellation: 6 days learn more
Highlights

Meet and Greet at Athens airport

Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” - Our driver will meet you at Athens airport to transfer you to your hotel in Athens.

Private Private Tour Athens - Acropolis, Parthenon - Temple of Zeus

Temple of Olympian Zeus - Meet your private driver & tour guide at the hotel to start with a panoramic city tour. You will visit the Panathinaiko Stadium where the first Olympic Games took place in 1896. Panathinaiko Stadium is the only one built out of white marble. You will continue by visiting Zappeion and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. You will then pass by the Trilogy of Athens. Continue, passing by the National Garden, Hadrian’s Arc, St. Paul’s Church, Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Schliemann’s House (Numismatic Museum), Catholic Cathedral, Old Parliament, Constitution Square, Russian Orthodox Church. Then our driver drop you of at Acropolis one of the most iconic structures in Athens to continue the tour with licensed tour guide!

Acropolis - The Acropolis holds the essence of the entire country and its ancient civilization. You will walk at the Theatre of Dionysus, marvel at the balcony of the Caryatids, and of course, the famous Parthenon.

Acropolis Museum - Descend through the olive trees to reach at the Museum of Acropolis which holds ancient artifacts of everyday life and statues from the archaic period that will definitely impress you.

Plaka - Stroll through the picturesque narrow streets of Plaka and Monastiraki full of old mansions to admire the Greek architecture and to taste the famous Greek “Souvlaki”.

Athens - Santorini

Santorini - Our driver will meet you at your hotel at 05.45 to transfer you to Piraeus Port to take the Ferry departing at 07.00 for the famous Santorini Island. Upon your arrival, you will meet our driver who will transfer you at your hotel. Free time for yourself. Visit Oia or Fira town, stroll at the rim of Caldera with panoramic view, admiring the most spectacular sunset of the world. Enjoy your drink or dinner, at one of the hundred places located just on the rocks above the sea and walk among the narrow streets of the island where you can buy many souvenirs.

Santorini - (optional) Semi-Private Sunset Cruise Caldera with BBQ on board

Palea Kameni - Embark on an enchanting Santorini cruise starting with a pick-up at the your hotel. Visit the therapeutic Hot Springs on Palea Kameni and enjoy a refreshing swim. Capture stunning photos of Aspronisi, the Ancient Lighthouse, Akrotiri, and Indian Rock. Explore the famous Red Beach with its unique volcanic sand and the secluded White Beach accessible only by boat. Indulge in a delightful onboard BBQ buffet featuring fresh seafood, grilled meats, salads, and desserts. Conclude the journey with a magical sunset view in Oia, as the Caldera and the village turn into a golden spectacle against the violet sky, creating an unforgettable experience.

Santorini - (optional) Tour at the most Highlights

Oia - Begin in the serene Megalochori Village, where 17th-century history meets traditional architecture. Explore Red Beach, renowned for its volcanic rocks and crystal-clear waters. Wander through the ancient Emporio Village, dating back to the 15th century. Enjoy leisure time at Perissa Beach’s black sand, with opportunities for seaside dining. Visit the iconic Prophet Elias Monastery atop the island for panoramic views. Capture the beauty of the Blue Dome in Firostefani and immerse yourself in the charm of Imerovigli Village. Culminate the journey in the famous Oia Village, famed for its sunset views.

Santorini - Crete

Heraklion - We will transfer you to Santorini port to take the ferry to Heraklion, Crete. Our local driver will meet you there, he will assist you with your luggage and then transfer you to your hotel.

Crete - Private Tour Knossos and Olive Oil Tasting - Chania

Knossos Archaeological Site - Palace of Knossos: We start with a private tour to Knossos. This complex of Minoan ruins was unearthed early 1900s. The excavated site today is huge and attract thousands of visitors each day. Knossos is a must-see, mainly because of the palace, with its hundreds of small, interconnected chambers, which is believed to have been the Labyrinth of legend of Minotaur and is connected with the story of Daedalus and Icarus. Knossos, apart from being the royal family’s residence, was also the administrative and religious center for the whole region, so, do not miss the visit in Knossos once you will be in Crete.

Koronekes - Olive Oil Tasting: After Knossos, we will reach at a traditional oil farm. The farm’s land includes hundreds ancient olive trees cultivated since the 1900s. A friendly staff welcome you at the oil grove, guides you to the facilities and explain you the production of oil at all stages. Finally, you will have the opportunity to try 3 different types of oil in combination with Cretan delicacies as well as the famous balsamic vinegar.

Chania Town - At the end of the tour the driver transfer you to the city of Chania for overnight

Day Crusie to Balos Lagoon and Granvousa Beach

Gramvousa Fortress - Day Cruise to Gramvousa & the exotic lagoon of Balos: Meet your private driver at your hotel in Chania to transfer you at Kissamos port to to get the local boat to start your day cruise. First stop in Granvousa where you will stay for almost 2 hours so that to have the chance to feel the magic aura of the historical island which is famous for its myths. You should visit the beach with the famous shipwreck and the Venetian Castle of Gramvousa to admire the panoramic view. After another 20 minutes of sailing, you will reach at the exotic lagoon of Balos. You will be amazed with the warm shallow emerald sea and relax at the unique white sand beach while admiring the unique landscape. Leave from Balos after 3 hours and sail back to Kissamos where our local driver will wait to transfer you at your hotel. The duration of the tour is about 8 hours.

(optional) Private Tour in Rethymno - Arkadia and Pottery Village - Flight to Athens

Rethymnon Old Town - Start your tour at the Venetian Fortezza, a 16th-century fortress that overlooks the town and the sea. 
Walk down the hill to the Old Town and enter through the Venetian Loggia, a beautiful building.
From the Loggia, head to the Rimondi Fountain, a 16th-century fountain that was once the main source of water for the town. The fountain is decorated with carvings of lions, dolphins, and mythical creatures. Walk along Arkadiou Street, which is lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants. 
Take a left turn onto Vernardou Street, which is a picturesque street lined with small shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, and local products. Continue to the Nerantze Mosque, which was built by the Ottomans in the 17th century and is now used as an art gallery. The mosque has a beautiful courtyard with a fountain and a garden.
Walk along Paleologou Street and admire the Venetian and Ottoman-era buildings, which are adorned with colorful facades, wooden balconies, and ornate doors.

Monastery of Arkadi - Our next stop will be at the Arkadi Monastery, as it is the most historic monastery of Crete and it has been designated by UNESCO.

Margarites - Next visit will be at the village is well known for its pottery and it is called “Margarites», a village with Venetian roots, mentioned by sixteenth-century travelers. Enjoy your visit at the ceramic’s ateliers.

Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis - At the end of the tour can get the flight to Athens. Our driver will meet you at Athens Airport and transfer you at your hotel in Athens.

Departure day

Athens International Airport - Meet your private driver at your hotel to transfer you at Athens airport according to your flight details.

What's Included
  • Private tour in Knossos & Olive Oil Tasting
  • Private tour Athens with guide
  • Day Cruise to Balos Lagoon and Granvousa Beach
  • Breakfast
  • Domestic air tickets from Crete to Athens
  • Fast Ferry tickets from Piraeus port / Santorini / Crete
  • 9 Nights accommodation
  • Welcome bag with gifts
  • Private transfers from/to Hotel/port/ Airport in each area
What's Not Included
  • Optional Tours / Guides
  • Hotel city tax
  • Gratuities (optional)
Additional Information

Embark on a 10-day journey encompassing Santorini and Crete, the top highlights of a Greek summer holiday. Experience the majesty of Crete’s splendid beaches and mysterious ruins along with the awe-striking panorama and ethereal sunsets of Oia at Santorini’s Caldera rim. Here, the sight of white houses and domed churches cascading down the caldera’s lip is a spectacle.

The adventure continues in Crete as you explore the iconic Palace of Knossos. Stroll around old cities like Rethymno and Chania, learn about Zeus’s birthplace in a cave, and indulge in a refreshing swim in the Balos lagoon during a cruise to Gramvousa islands.

In Santorini, your holiday is sprinkled with a variety of engaging activities. From exploring Oia and its impressive Caldera rim view to indulging in wine tours, sunset cruises to Volcano, visiting the peak point of Pyrgos village, and much more is at your disposal. Reserve the 10-day tour in Santorini and Crete online and benefit from the best prices.

  • Upon your booking we need to know your names as mentioned at your passport & your gender in order to issue the air tickets and ferry tickets
  • Note that 2 persons will stay in double sharing room, 3 persons will stay in triple sharing room, 1 person have a single private room.
  • Domestic flight from Crete to Athens including 23kg Check-in luggage + 1 Carry-on / persons)
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(4 Ratings)
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4 stars
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1 star
Girasardesai
May 26, 2023
Fabulous Greece holidays - Meticulously planned itinerary , good hotels , super car and great driver- George made our trip fantastic. Effie , our tour organiser was reachable any time of the day and always had solutions for whatever were our requests. she was efficiency personified. The only think I would suggest , gets added in tour planning is time for shopping . There is so much one can shop. Our Ferry experience was probably the only bad experience . I fee
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X5648kkkostasm
Dec 11, 2021
Amazing Trip to Greek Islands - We visited Greek Islands on Oct and we are so lucky that booked this tour through *Private Tours Greece* The communication was perfect, the tour was customized as we added 3 more days and we were absolutely satisfied with the hotels, and the local activities. Also the manager of PTG offered us a complimentary dinner with Acropolis view.. thank you Ioannis!! We planing on our next adventure in Greece via Private Tours Greece
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Magdor
Feb 3, 2020
Highly recommend! Magical experience! - I highly recommend this tour and company. I contacted many tour agencies, and this one was so easy to work with as they spoke excellent english and responded immediately to all my questions and offered a very competitive price compared to other tours. They were also very accommodating to my schedule and worked out a custom tour for my party of 7. They provided a wonderful tour of central Greece. Meteora was breathtaking and unlike anything I've ever seen. Despite it's 4.5 hour drive from Athens, it was definitely worth it! Request Nikos for a driver as he made our trip so special and memorable. He was a lot of fun to talk to and was such a pleasure to spend almost three days with. He also was quite the unofficial tour guide by pointing out specific places we'd want to see or take pictures as well as giving us background and context for the sites we were seeing. We truly are so grateful to this tour company and Nikos for making our short trip to Greece magical.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bilde84
Sep 11, 2020
The things you see are worth the money - For the price it was a good trip. After taking another trip with a privat driver, I would probably have done this tour privat instead of a group tour, but because of the price this is a good option. The good part (that on its own gets 5 stars); seeing Delfi and the Monasteries is a really beautiful thing, and i recomend doing it, mabye even do a 3 day trip, so you get more time at the monasteries! the guide was good at the places vi saw. the place of the hotel was good! Okay bus to sit in, just glad we where not a full bus! The company is easy to get in touch with and easy with payment. would use them again. not so good; i had to walk to another hotel to get picked up, evendo my hotel was only 3 minuts away and everybody else godt pickup at there hotel. And i could not get droped of at my hotel near the habour(but it was not a downtown hotel, so i knew that might happen). The guide was not that passionet, she was good on the sits, but in the car nobody could understand what she was saying in the mirophone, not even the person next to her. I told her on the first stop that i had a hard time hearing her, and asked her to re tell a story, and she did, but never asked our changed anything after that. I startede google what we saw instead. The driver got us there fast! some times maybe a little to fast, but that is greek driving;) The stops where we ate was not that good, the first lunch stop was in the middel of nowhere and seemed like a old hotel, the food was ok, and the people was sweet. the motorwaystop was very basic. I do not know if these are the only places that makes sense to stop becuase of time, but i think there is so many beautifull places that if possible, it would give the tour something ekstra if the stops where at small taverns in beautiful towns. And the food at the hotel for dinner, was really not that good, and that was a 4+ hotel. Last i wish we had been able to stop ind the mountain town before Delfi, i think it is in the tour describtion. and that they would have done more in terms of the monastaries, more stops for pictures our mabye asked if we would have gone up and seen the sundown or sunrise, because that would have ben special. The stop to get us to buy pictures and souvieniers(but calling it a workshop), i would rather have spend the time at the monasteries. I know my negativ list was long, but the trip was really good, taking the time to go up and see these tings are worth the time and money. I only wish it had been a more full expirience, thats why it gets 3 stars, it is good, but that is because of the things you see, not the tour as a hole thing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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October 2024
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