Top Crete Bus Tours

Although Heraklion is the perfect base to see Crete’s cultural and architectural heritage, it’s not the only part of Crete that is worthy of a visit. On this full-day tour, discover two of the prettiest cities in Western Crete, Chania and Rethymno. Learn all about the diversity of Heraklion’s heritage, including its Venetian, Ottoman, Byzantine and ancient Greek influences.

Take a day out from Crete to visit Santorini on this day trip. Board a boat to this famous volcanic island, known for its sea-filled caldera (crater) and black cliffs. On arrival, enjoy a caldera cruise to admire the whitewashed houses perched high on the cliffs, and take an island tour to stroll along the clifftops and visit Thira and Oia. Boat transfers, transport on Santorini, and pickup and drop-off at selected Crete hotels included.

With traditional villages and plenty of warm Mediterranean sunshine, the Samaria Gorge is the longest of its kind in Europe—but it’s also a challenging and rewarding hike, considered by many to be among the toughest in Crete. This adventurous full-day combination bus and hiking tour from Chania takes you deep into the gorge itself, where large boulders lie beneath soaring limestone cliffs. Follow a 10-mile (16-km) route though the Samaria Gorge and experience the best of the Crete countryside with a guide.

Escape the hum of bustling Crete and get into nature on this full-day tour of pristine Elafonisi, a small island famed for its beautiful pink sands. Soak up the Grecian sun as you explore this protected wildlife sanctuary, enjoying a walk on the sand, or swim in the clear, azure waters of Elafonisi's paradise-like beach just a stone’s throw from the southwest corner of Crete.

Explore with a guided group, the monastery of Kera Kardiotissa and the Dikteon Cave followed by a visit to Psychro village to meet a potter in action. Enjoy the panoramic views from Seli Ambelou Lasithi Plateau and complete your tour to the Minoan Palace of Knossos where civilization history began 4000 years ago.

Walk one of Europe’s longest canyons on this full-day hiking experience through the Samaria Gorge from Chania. With an experienced guide, hike the 10 miles (16 kilometers) through this breathtaking gorge, part of the Samaria national park in Crete’s White Mountains. Walk between towering cliffs, pass abandoned villages and absorb the awe-inspiring natural scenery and tranquility. Keep a steady pace during the 6-hour hike, sometimes over rocky terrain, and finish with time for a swim and lunch at Aghia Roumeli village. Numbers are limited for a more personalized, small-group experience.

Our bus will pick you up early in the morning! We will have a short stop to see a cave. Our second stop will be at Elafonisi beach (4 hours) where you will have the chance to swim! On the way back we will have an 1 hour stop at Elos village for lunch! We will be back around 18:00.

This tour combines two of Crete’s top historical sights—Knossos Palace; a Bronze Age archeological site, and Heraklion Archaeological Museum. See impressive ruins and artifacts along the way, and benefit from having guide commentary so you understand the historical background information. Highlights include seeing the original throne of Minos at Knossos Palace, and rare examples of Minoan art at Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

Want to spend an unforgettable day away from the hustle and bustle of cities, in complete relaxation of the soul and body? Take a break of your busy life to the most unusual place in Crete! The island of Chrissi is protected by the state as one of the last "heavenly places" on earth. The unique reserve got its name because of the golden sand that covers the whole island and is formed from fragments of small shells. A lot of visitors come to the island because of the exceptional natural beauty. The island is uninhabited and there is only one tavern on the island where you can have lunch. Enjoy azure crystal clear water and fabulous beaches, check out traces of the Minoan settlement and St.Nicholas church, find a wonderful view of the small island of Micronisi and take your mask to try snorkelling in this great location. Moving by bus up to 2,5 hours, boat ride - 60 minutes each way from Ierapetra town.

Join our small group (up to 8 pax) Walking tour at Knossos palace with a Licensed Tourist Guide. Skip-the-ticket line to enter Knossos Palace. Explore the ancient palace, step into the royal residence and see the Minoan king's throne. Be amazed by the House of the Frescoes and its colorful wall paintings. Learn about the history of the Minoan Civilization, probably the oldest one on the European continent. Use the combine ticket (value for money) to enter the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion when you go to Heraklion city later. Please check your location before booking! Crete is divided in four regional units and is approximately 260 km (162 miles) long and 60 km (37 miles) wide. Crete’s four prefectures: from west to east, Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, and Lasithi (Elounda, Agios Nikolaos). Knossos palace located at the center of the island (Heraklion). Distance to Knossos palace from: Heraklion center, port or airport (code HER) approx. is 5 km (3 miles or 20 min by car)

Get to know Heraklion and stop to visit the Palace of Knossos just outside the city on this open-top hop-on hop-off tour. With your unlimited-use 1-day ticket, board the open-top, double-decker bus at any of 10 stops around the city. Then, with your free city map, hop off at the stops of interest to visit attractions such as the Minoan relics at Knossos and the harborside Venetian Castle. Otherwise, stay aboard and absorb the panoramic views of the sights as you learn about Heraklion’s past from the onboard audio commentary.

Skip-the-ticket-line service ! Licensed tour guide (English or French) for a 90-minutes guided tour in a small group. Discover with us the Labyrinth and Palace of Knossos! Skip the long ticket line and with our expert Guides unraveling the Myths and Legends surrounding the site. Visit the Mythical Palace of Knossos of King Minos and Labyrinth home to the Minotaur Your expert tour Guide will be your personal Ariadne of Greek Mythology through this Amazing site during your visit. Safety measures in place: Up to 8 people only (masked); tour given via ‘Whispers’: an audio system that means you can hear with clarity your guide, without having to stand by their elbow.

Sightsee around the scenic villages of Crete in the company of a local guide in a private luxury vehicle Choose an itinerary tailored to your interests and specifications Zero hassle! Your personal guide will arrange everything Visit the top wineries of the region to discover unique and hard-to-find wines Relax on some of the most beautiful beaches of Greece Visit archaeological sites that give an insight to a civilization lost since the remote antiquity. Sample Itinerary : The tour will start at the seaside traditional village of Armeni, and continue to the region of Alikambos, where we’ll walk in olive & citrus groves of unparalleled beauty, where the rows of fruit-bearing trees point toward the sea. Last, we’ll visit Limni Kourna, a gorgeous, untouched lake of great geological and ecological significance. After a walk by the the azure waters of the lake, you can visit the village of Kournas, the seat of the Cretan Revolution of 1866.

Exploring the locations of the Battle of Crete—an important World War II battle—without a guide could leave you with only a patchy take on this pivotal event. With this tour from Chania, learn about the battle at its key sites, hearing how Nazi forces took Crete from the Allies in 1941. Visit the Maleme airfield, monuments, and cemeteries, and discover secret shelters and sites you might miss alone.

Grab your proper shoes and get ready for the 16km hike! Get ready for a lifetime experience and be ready to have your breath taken away by the astonishing view. The descent of the gorge will start early in the morning and it will last about 5-6 hours (depending on the visitor). Along the length of the gorge you will cross a wonderful landscape with little lakes, huge rocks discovered by the bed of the torrent. All together we will get on the boat with destination the city of Sfakia the CHECKINCRETA’s bus will waiting for us to take us back to the hotel. It’s necessary to have with you a hat, sunscreen, a bottle of water and some fruits. All along the way of the Gorge, you could find water spot as well as toilets. The guide of our agency CHECKINCRETA, will follow you all along the day and will stay with the last persons of the group. Pregnant women as well as persons with health problems are not allowed to do this excursion.

Discover the cultural heart of Crete on this full-day tour of Apokoronas from Chania. Learn more about Cretan life, traditions, and handicrafts at the Apokoronas Museum; enjoy wine tasting at the wineries of the White Mountains; and sample local specialties such as rusks, raki, and cheeses; then tuck into a typical Cretan lunch.

Make your dream come true in one of the most amazing destinations worldwide! Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greece's mainland. It is the most active volcanic center in the Aegean Arc, though what remains today is largely a caldera. The name Santorini was given to it by the Venetians in the 13th century and is a reference to Saint Irene. Before then it was called Kallisti, Strongili or Thera. Today, Santorini is the only inhabited Caldera (volcano cauldron) in the world. Unlike other islands in Greece, the towns and villages sit densely on top of the massive cliffs of the Caldera and from a distance appear like snow capping the towering mountain tops. The colored strata of the volcanic rock of these cliffs are spectacular in themselves: chocolate brown, rust red, yellow ochre, white and cream will never let you forget.

Elafonissi Beach Elafonissi is located 76km west of Chania in the southwestern most point of Crete. Elafonisi is an oblong, which often "breaks" in two parts by water giving the impression of being a separate island. Elafonissi is a “Natura 2000” protected area. The island is full of dunes with sand lilies and junipers (like-cedar trees). The endangered turtles Caretta-Caretta and several rare animals nest on the island and it is strictly forbidden to remove any plants, animals from the area. Exotic beach with white sand and turquoise waters, reminding of the Caribbean, are formed on either sides of the peninsula. The sand is pinkish in many places, taking its color from thousands of broken shells.

Soak up the sun and Santorini hotspots on this 2-day trip from Crete. Feel the sea breeze on a SuperFerry to Santorini and visit Oia, a charming, historic town clinging to Santorini’s cliffs with your guide. On day two, venture out with some free time in the morning, before exploring the island’s volcano and unwinding in the famous hot springs. Your trip will conclude with transportation back to Crete in the evening.

There still exists a purity of experiences in this world, and you can find it here in East Crete. Have the inside track from our top local insider unearthing gateways to an unseen world by the comfort of luxury chauffeured vehicle at your disposal. Venture from village to village to see the island through the eyes of a local. Get off the beaten track & follow archaic trails across the Minoan mountains embraced by ancient forests. From a perfect mountainside peak take in the bird’s eye panoramas of the Libyan & Aegean Seas. Then lose yourself in the deep veins of magnificent gorges that host wild beauty with a soft heart. Somewhere between heaven & earth, discover a secret paradise of our forefathers nestled within an oasis of towering-aged trees & perennially flowing waters. Revel in genuine tastes of Cretan cuisine with local cooking techniques on a wood oven or open fire. Looking for stories that define people & culture, we want to give you access to Crete’s best-kept secrets.

Visit the spectacular volcanic island of Santorini on a full-day independent trip from Crete. After a hotel pickup, cruise to the beautiful Greek island, and explore as you wish. Admire the stunning scenery and clifftop towns, laze on black-sand beaches, browse the shops of the cliffside capital of Fira, visit picturesque Oia, and relax in the tavernas and bars, many with epic views over the caldera. Finally, catch the return boat from Santorini to Crete for a hotel drop-off. All meals and activities on Santorini are at your own expense.

Enjoy some of Crete’s most beautiful beaches without the self-drive hassles on this guided small-group tour. Travel direct from your door to Kissamos, where you board a boat for Balos Beach and Lagoon, then savor the soft white sands. Next, ride a boat to Gramvousa Island (own expense), swim in the clear waters, and opt to hike to the 16th-century fortress. Your guide will drop you directly to your door.

Somewhere between heaven & earth, there is a Cretan beach paradise sculpted by nature over ancient times. On some days, this geological masterpiece is connected to the coastline of South-West Crete, and on others, it is an island you can easily wade to through a shallow sea corridor. Imagine yourself basking in crystal blue waters of the intermingled Cretan & Libyan Seas. With your toes sinking in the fine white sand that is blissfully blended with flecks of pink from millions of crushed shells as the fresh sea-breeze touches your cheeks leaving salt crystals in its wake. There are many ways to appreciate Elafonisi, but none quite as rewarding as a tailored & stress-free escape for the discerning travelers who pursue experiences at their own pace. On the road trip across West Crete rely on our top local insider to immerse in a true adventure by the comfort of a luxury chauffeured vehicle. This is your relaxation rhythm. Take things slower, breathe deep & luxuriate in your freedom

The first references of wine and olive oil in Crete date back to 5000BC during the Minoan civilization. 7000 years later, Cretans produce wine, beer and olive oil on the same land, with the only changes the enhancement of production through technology and the optimization of crops! In this tour we will visit a winery, a beer and an olive oil factory. All three have high standards of production, marrying the old traditions with modern technology and processing. In each location we will spend around one hour touring the facilities and tasting! We can be flexible and eat in a local restaurant, visit a 5.000 year old olive tree, nearby monastery, Maleme airfield and the WW2 military cemetery! Tour times in each location can be modified depending on the travelers' starting time and the date. Before confirming each tour, we have to double check that the tours will be available. Each location has 3-4 time slots available.