Krasi, Crete

Castle & palace tours

Discover traditional life in rural Crete by witnessing the daily activities of the locals and visiting the sites where Greek myths were born. Enjoy a tour of Potamies, Aposelemis dam, Empasa, the cave of Zeus, and the beautiful scenery of the plateau. Start with pickup from your accommodation. Visit one of the most characteristic Cretan villages, Potamies, for a tour of a traditional local farm. See the process of milking and cheese-making, meet the animals, and sample their fresh cheese. Next, head to the Aposelemis dam, the largest water supply project in Crete. See the village of Sfendili submerged in the waters of the dam with its impressive old houses fading on the surface of the water. Explore the natural wetlands and spot a unique variety of birds. Continue uphill on the dirt roads to the gorge of Empasa. Enjoy the views of the mountainous landscape and thriving wildlife. Try your hand at foraging for native herbs or relax and take in the panoramic views. Take a trip to Lassithi Plateau to enter Psychro Cave, the fabled birthplace of the Greek God Zeus. Follow the trails of the gods and after that take a tour around the plateau to get a sense of local life. Finally, enjoy authentic food baked in the wood oven in one of the most celebrated taverns in the picturesque village of Krasi. Admire the town square filled with fountains and see imposing plane trees that are up to 2000 years old. Return to your hotel full of unforgettable memories of Crete.

Enjoy some time away from the beaches and noisy resorts and explore a different side of Crete on a guided excursion. Step into the mythical Psychro Cave, visit the Vidiani monastery, see the freshwater springs in the small town of Krasi and feel the Cretan culture in the Olive Mill farm. Get picked up from your accommodation in the morning and take a drive to the Psychro Cave. Uncover the secrets of the mythical birthplace of Zeus, decorated with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Up next, stop at the Greek Orthodox monastery of Vidiani dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The third stop will be at the traditional village of Krasi. Gaze at the beautiful freshwater springs and the oldest tree on Crete as you take in the countryside scenery. Lastly, see the production of olive soap, olive oil and honey and enjoy an unforgetable meal made from local products, at your own expense at the Olive Mill Farm, with unique aromas from the surrounding wild mountain and view to the Aegean sea

Discover Lasithi Plateau and its important landmarks on a guided day trip from Heraklion, with hotel transfers included. Visit the Psychro Cave, the Vidiani Monastery, and Krasi village. Take a taste of the cretan culture in the Olive Mill farm and end your day exploring the traditional village of Knossos Palace. After a hotel pickup, head to the Psychro Cave, the mythical birth place of Zeus. Admire the ancient Minoan sacred cave and its stalactites and stalagmites. Next, explore the Eastern Orthodox Vidiani Monastery, dedicated to Virgin Mary. Continue to the traditional mountain village of Krasi known for its quaint central square with stone fountains and an enormous plane tree thought to be 2,400 years old. See intimate tavernas and cafes scattered among the streets, small stone churches, and freshwater springs. Following, be guided in an Olive Mill Farm and see teh production of olive soap, olive oil and honey and enjoy an unforgetable meal made from local products, at your own expense at the Olive Mill Farm, with unique aromas from the surrounding wild mountain and view to the Aegean sea. Leaving the beautiful region of Lasithi behind, end the tour at the Historical Site of Knossos, Europe's oldest city. Join a 1-hour guided tour and take photos of this Bronze Age archaeological site. Then, hop back on the bus to return to your hotel.

Visit an Orthodox nunnery, the village of Psychro and the Dictaean Cave. Explore the Lasithi Plateau, and make a stop for lunch while learning about the Plateau's history. Visit a small traditional village on the slope of Selena Mountain, and enjoy beautiful views of Crete on this interesting and unique day tour. Visit the Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, an Orthodox nunnery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, situated near the village of Kera at an altitude of 650m. See the nunnery, famous for the icon of Mary believed to be miraculous, the nunnery's fortified walls, and its 14th and 15th-century murals. Stop next at the village of Psychro, and walk to reach the Dictaean Cave, just above the village of Psychro. See the cave, considered a sacred place of cult worship, and according to Greek mythology, it is believed to be the place where Zeus, the father of Greek gods, was kept and fed from Amalthia. See the most impressive sight is the lake at the lowest point, surrounded by massive stalactites and stalagmites, before moving on to the village of Psychro Reach the northern entrance of the Lasithi Plateau, and stop at Seli Ambelou for a lunch break. Take in a panoramic view of the plateau, where in the 1950s and 1960s, was one of Europe's first wind farms. Stop in Krasi, a small traditional village set on the slope of Selena Mountain, and see its huge ancient plane tree, where the leaves and the branches of the tree provide shade all over the square in a unique and unspoiled environment. Finish the tour at Krasi, and return to your hotel.

Embark on a captivating journey through Crete, a land brimming with history, natural beauty, and cultural treasures. Our tour commences at Knossos Palace, the heart of the ancient Minoan Civilization during the Bronze Age. Immerse yourself in the legacy of King Minos, exploring the oldest city in Europe and the cradle of Western Civilization. Departing from Knossos, our scenic coastal route leads eastward to a traditional olive oil factory. Delight in the process of cultivating the 'liquid gold' – olive oil, discovering its rich history, beneficial properties, and savoring its exceptional flavor. As we traverse mountains adorned with olive trees, immerse yourself in the lush flora and fauna. Visit the village of Krasi to capture unforgettable moments by one of the world's oldest plane trees. Indulge in a taste of tradition as you sip on "raki" next to natural springs, creating memories to last a lifetime. En route to the Lasithi Plateau, pass through the historic Kera Kardiotissa Monastery in Northern Diktis, adding a touch of cultural richness to your adventure. Arrive at the vast Plateau of Lasithi, once home to the world's first and most extensive wind farm. Although only a few windmills operate today, the fertile plain surrounded by the imposing Dikti Mountains provides a stunning backdrop. Explore the mythological Diktaean Cave, the supposed birthplace of Zeus, located above Psychro village in Lassithi Plateau. Take in the breathtaking views of the plateau and enjoy a stop at a traditional local taverna, where you'll savor authentic Cretan cuisine made with local products. Conclude your journey in the traditional village of Mochos, where village cafes beckon you to mingle with locals and immerse yourself in the spirit of Crete. As the tour concludes, you'll be driven back to your location, brimming with cherished memories, and a beaming smile, marking the end of an unforgettable Cretan adventure.

Visit the monastery of Kera Kardiotissa and the Dictaean Cave. You’ll see panoramic views of the Lasithi Plateau and discover the epic Minoan Palace of Knossos. Your first stop is the Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, an Orthodox nunnery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, situated near the village of Kera. Famous for the icon of Mary, believed to be miraculous, it’s surrounded by fortified walls and the church features murals dating back to the 14th century. The next stop is the village of Psychro, where you’ll take a walk to reach the Dictaean Cave, found above the village of Psychro at 1025 meters altitude. According to Greek mythology, it’s believed to be the place where Zeus, the father of Greek gods, was kept and fed from Amalthia, a goat, in secret to be protected from his father.  A most impressive sight is the lake at the lowest point, surrounded by massive stalactites and stalagmites. The next stop is Seli Ambelou for lunch with a panoramic view of the Lassithi Plateau.  Stop in Krasi, a small traditional village set on the slope of Selena Mountain, and see its huge ancient plane tree, where the leaves and the branches of the tree provide shade all over the square in a unique and unspoiled environment. It’s then time for the final destination, a visit to Knossos Palace, the capital of Minoan civilization. You’ll walk through the ancient site and learn how the citizens, believed to be the first Europeans in an organized community, lived 4,000 years ago. You’ll explore the palace and learn about the throne room, the frescoes, and the Minoan columns. 

Through this route we will explore the central part of Crete climbing to an altitude of 1150 meters We will learn a lot about mythology as well as we will have a lot of information about Crete and local life We will drive through a beautiful route with lush olive groves and we will first reach the aposelemi dam where we can see the sunken village of sfentili Then we will visit the traditional olive mill where we will learn how to produce Cretan olive oil and have the opportunity to buy products pure olive oil. Then we will reach the shepherd's farm and we will have the opportunity to learn how the traditional Cretan cheese is produced. Our next stop is the zeus cave where mythology states that the father of the gods was born there (There is a ticket of 6 euros) After we will enjoy a genuine Cretan meal with traditional cuisine in one of the best local taverns Then we will follow a beautiful dirt route at an altitude of 1150 meters where we will definitely be enchanted by the landscape and the photos we will take from this point will be the best of our vacation. We descend and reach the traditional village of kastamonitsa where we will visit the remains of the roman aqueduct learning about its usefulness for the surrounding areas Finally through a beautiful route with a very nice view we end up at the hotel full of memories This day will be full of surprises and will surely fill you with memories that will accompany you for a lifetime.

This tour gives you the opportunity to explore the real Crete in a small group. We visit an olive oil factory to learn how olive oil is made now with modern machines and how used to be made in the olden days and of course we taste different kind of olive oil and honey. Next stop is at the old village of Krasi where we go for a walk around the village to see the oldest plane tree in Crete which is estimated around 2000 years old then we are off to Lasithii plateau where we learn about the old wind mills that were used in the past to pump the water up for irrigation and the old wind mills that were used for grinding to make flour. Now it’s time to go and {meet Zeus } at his cave , well actually we can’t promise that because last time we visited his birthplace he wasn’t there ( had a day off ) …….. so no promises. Then we drive around Lasithii Plateau through old villages where time seems to have stopped then we visit a family restaurant to enjoy some Cretan traditional food ….and some local house wine….( or local beer…) well let’s be local just for a day or two….. maybe you like it ( maybe you don’t but give it a go …..) After enjoying our lunch and wine ( or local beer) it’s time to hit the road to go back to your hotel where we picked you .

Embark on an unforgettable guided quad tour experience and speed through the Cretan countryside. Get to know village life as you discover everyday life on this special island. Take part in an experience which passes through picturesque Cretan villages. Take in the panoramic views and learn all about different aspects of Cretan life from your guide. Enjoy stops at Krasi, Kera Monastery, Potamies, and Avdou. Get under the skin of local culture as you visit Aposelemis Dam, Sfendyli, and Mochos. Learn all about the olive oil production process as part of your experience. Sample olive oil products at a local business before heading back on the quad bikes and the next stage of your island adventure.

Discover the mountains of Crete on a guided quad biking tour. Go offroad and ride along dusty tails as you explore Sisi, Vrahasi, and St. Georg'se Monastery on this unique tour. Start with pickup from your hotel and get set up with your ATV, including an introductory lesson for beginners. Start the adventure by riding uphill to the Omalia Olive Press and taste some olive oil produced onsite. Arrive at the port of Malia and Potamos Beach, and enjoy the views of the surroundings. Continue on the dirt roads to explore the narrow streets of the quaint fishing village of Sisi. Head off-road along a dusty route passing by the traditional village of Vrachasi until you reach the St. George Selinari Monastery, where you can stop for a short break. Next, hit the off-road trail again and travel through a lush landscape of vineyards and olive forests to reach the chapel of the Prophet Elias. From here, relax and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views, before returning to the starting point, with drop-off at your hotel.