Top Crete Outdoor Activities

Explore Crete’s rugged interior on a full-day off-road buggy trip from Hersonissos. Drive or ride a 4-wheeler and travel through picturesque villages and countryside up to the Lasithi Plateau, framed by the Dikti Mountains. Follow black-topped roads and off-road trails, traverse olive groves and mountain slopes, and stop for photos and to visit the Kera Kardiotissa monastery (own expense). Traditional taverna lunch, driving instructions, and port and hotel drop-off in the Hersonissos area included.

Immerse yourself in the Aegean Sea with this 3-hour guided snorkeling trip from Chania. All equipment is provided. Swim in the crystal blue waters in Almyrida Chania and explore reefs, caves and see the Elephant Cave of Crete.

Immerse yourself in the Aegean Sea near Chania with this exciting scuba dive for beginners. Learn how to dive from an experienced instructor and then head under the water to explore the sea life in the Aegean.

Go to hidden-away corners of Crete few travelers get to see with this guided all-terrain vehicle tour. Follow your guide off-road to quiet tracks far from the traffic and crowded resorts. Explore the near-abandoned ghost village of Achlada, where only a few locals still live, and Fodele, the birthplace of El Greco.

Travelers to Crete tend to stick to the well-worn paths between major towns and attractions, like Knossos and Rethymnon. This tour, operated using a four-wheeled all-terrain-vehicle, unlocks the Cretan backroads and off-road trails. See parts of Crete that most visitors to the island miss, steal a glimpse into local life away from the main tourist routes and learn how the storied past of the Melidoni Cave stretches back through time.

Escape the tourist trail and spend a day exploring off the beaten track beauty near Georgioupolis. By traveling in a Land Rover, you’ll be able to access off-road sites that you wouldn’t discover otherwise. Visit incredible archaeological sites, traditional villages, and secluded beaches. If you work up an appetite, you won’t have to research where to eat as a delicious lunch in a family tavern is included. The tour will also take you to a winery, an olive oil factory, a castle, and multiple historical sites.

Discover the Cretan countryside by e-bike, and save your legs as you pedal effortlessly through olive groves, villages, and canyons. Cycle at a leisurely pace with a guide, passing through the villages of Charaso and Voritsi, and finding natural Cretan landmarks such as the canyon of Aposelemis. The half-day tour includes plenty of photo stops along the way, as well as a café break for a Greek coffee or a soft drink.

Snorkeling is very relaxing and at the same time a very exciting activity which is suitable for all ages. Join us in a daily (morning or afternoon) guided “snorkeling” trip, take the mask, fins, snorkel and shorty wet suit from us, board on our 10 meters shady rib boat and take the chance to relax watching the marine life of our island. We visit always two different spots with a lot of marine life, such as caves and an open water area always depends on the weather conditions

Discover the Cretan landscape in style aboard this private jeep safari from Chania. Learn about the culture of Crete from your dedicated tour guide as you traverse the ‘White Mountains’ in your air-conditioned vehicle. Sample local delicacies such as olive oil, tea, and wine at a local winery, take in the views from the Samaria Gorge, and enjoy a delicious Cretan lunch over the course of the day.

Experience Crete’s undersea world and learn the essentials of scuba diving on this half-day experience. With a qualified instructor close at hand, enjoy a theory and pool training session before an open-water dive. Don your diving gear and descend below the surface to waft over coral-and-rock beds and watch for exotic fish and other marine species. Choose an experience in the Heraklion, Chania, or Rethymno-Georgioupolis area, with no previous diving required.

Explore Crete on an all-day off-road tour with a personal driver. After a convenient pickup from select hotels, hop in a 4x4 and get off the beaten path with an informative private guide. Visit otherwise inaccessible parts of the island, take a refreshing swim at the famed Preveli Beach, and enjoy a delicious lunch included in the tour price.

The Samaria Gorge is one of Europe’s longest gorges. Traverse it in safety with a professional mountain guide on this small-group door-to-door tour. Your hike begins in Omalos, as you follow the path of an ancient river through rugged mountain landscapes. Finish in Agia Roumeli then board a boat to Sfakia, where the bus will return you home. Please note: Boat tickets and gorge admission are at your own expense.

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.

Blue Dolphin Diving Center is the ONLY organisation who offers organised snorkeling trips to the sunken city of Olous in Elounda for more than 5 years. We made a huge research about the history and the remainings of the city which we will present you with a Power Point presentation at the beginning of the program. Our snorkeling trips are guided by professional snorkelguides who also can teach about different snorkling technics. There is no better way in exploring the sunken city of Olous!

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.

We sail by Fortezza, with its cannon ports still intact to keep the pirates ships out of the bay. So close you can almost touch it! With the view of the Aptera fort, the fort of the Idjedin prison just below it, past the beaches of Kalyves and Almyrides, the isle of Karga we reach for the lighthouse of Drapano. With the White Mountains as a backdrop and always depended on wind direction we may sail northeast to a very small cove with beautiful sandy waters or we sail northwest around another small island to a beautiful lagoon, we drop anchor where you can swim/snorkel and play in crystal clear turquoise waters. While you swim I prepare you a freshly cooked Cretan/Spartan lunch with Greek specialties, local pasta, sauteed vegetables, fresh salad, mama’s olives, goat cheese, fresh bread, wine/beer/soda/water and finally fresh yogurt with sweet fruit and Greek sweets. You enjoy, eat, relax and then we raise anchor to sail back to port, usually as the sun starts to set in front of us.

Try something different in your vacation and dare to explore Crete underwater. Ideal course for beginners who want to observe the marine life in its natural environment and to feel how it is to breathe underwater in an environment with zero gravity! We are here to make you feel safe at first and to help you live a unique scuba diving experience at Crete. No certification diploma needed.

Evening sailing trip from Heraklion to Dia Island. Yachting cruise with us - picturesque views, romance, beautiful photoshoots, delicious finger food and beverages. Meeting sunset on a boat is always unforgettable experience.

Boat trip to Dia Island. Sailing ⛵ on catamaran Lagoon 380. Departure from Hersonissos port. All inclusive yachting tour: Mediterranean meal with grilled fish, local and import beverages, entertainment (SUP, snorkeling masks and fins, floating flamingo and unicorn, four-meters water carpet, fishing rods). 7 hours of sailing fun. Great option for everyone, even for families with small children.

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.

After 1 hour by car that you will see cretan nature on the way and small villages close to the White mountains, passing also from Krapi and Askifou plateu we will be to Imbros village.The hike starts there at the north entrance of the gorge.For the first km the path is easy and the clives wide and low.After they become highter and highter and very nerrow. We will pass from the most nerrow passage, Stenada,that is only 1,5 m nerrow.After we will see a natural arch ,Xepitira, that is at the southern part of the path. In the gorge there are plenty aromatic plants and herbs as margoran, dictamos,sage,thrimbi,tyme,sage...Also cypress trees, prunus, ambelitsea...And many.... wild goads free to feed them by themselfes. The path has been used from the locals in the past to go to Chania. Also the allient forces passed from this path at the 2nd word war. Ending to Komitades you can have lunch if you wish so and after we will use a taxi back to Imbros to the car.Great view also to the Lybian sea.

Our safari style excursion includes all the different aspects of rural Crete. Green valleys, small villages, impressive canyons, beautiful isolated beaches, warm-hearted people... and of course fun and safe off-road tracks that offer unique, breathtaking views. Safari4U brings our visitors away from the touristic "action" and into an authentic Cretan experience.

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.

The best way to explore Crete is by boat and this half-day cruise from Hersonissos visits St. George's Bay and the small towns of Sissi, Malia, and Stalis. Set sail aboard a traditional pirate ship; stop to swim and snorkel at the island’s beaches and bays; spot dolphins and sea turtles along the coast; and tuck into a delicious BBQ lunch on-board.