Lake Kournas: Our most recommended tours and activities

Rethymnon: Kournas Lake, Argyroupolis, and Olive Oil Tour

1. Rethymnon: Kournas Lake, Argyroupolis, and Olive Oil Tour

Start your day of adventure at your first stop of the trip, a local oil mill. Here you will have the opportunity to see how Crete's famous olive oil is produced on this fascinating and informative outing. Follow on your journey through Crete and make a quick stop at the watersprings of Argyroupolis. These watersprings are responsible for the rich vegetation that surrounds the village, a truly magical and refreshing experience. Your last stop of the tour, lasting roughly 2,5 hours, will give you enough time to enjoy a swim and eat Cretan delicacies at the many taverns that are located around the lake.

Crete: Rethimno, Chania, and Kournas Lake Day Trip

2. Crete: Rethimno, Chania, and Kournas Lake Day Trip

The first stop is the town of Rethimno, the third biggest town in Crete west of Heraklion on the north coast of Crete. Here, archeological monuments of the Ottoman and Venetian eras co-exist. Enjoy a stroll in the alleys of the old town, a visit to the Turkish minarets and the Venetian fortresses, or a coffee at the magnificent harbor. The next stop is Chania town, the second largest town of Crete on the north coast west of Rethymno. The city of Chania is divided into the Old City, with the gorgeous harbor, and the New City, beyond its Venetian fortifications. The Old City is one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean and is called “Venice of the East”. You can find Turkish minarets and mosques, Muslim neighborhoods, Venetian fortresses, dockyards, fountains, squares, arches, mansions, Loggia and the Lighthouse. Visit the famous Agora (market), which houses traditional little shops and taverns. The last stop of the day is Kournas lake, a beautiful habitat with natural freshwater, one of a kind in Crete. The whole area of Kournas is protected under 'Natura 2000', as it's a designated wetland. Vast greenery, steep cavities between hills, and rare species of fish and birds make Kournas the ideal place to enjoy an early afternoon walk.

From Heraklion: Chania Town, Kournas Lake, and Rethymno Tour

3. From Heraklion: Chania Town, Kournas Lake, and Rethymno Tour

Morning Pick up: We will start collecting participants from pick-up points in the morning. Depending on the place of your hotel/apartment the bus drive will differ. Bus Drive: 3 hours 1st stop: Chania Town – 2 hours 30 minutes Our groups will enjoy their time to wander around the beautiful Venetian streets and neighborhoods of this picturesque town of Greece. Walk through its roads full of little shops, markets and local restaurants around theirfamous old port. Bus Drive: 1 hour 2nd stop:The lake of Kournas – 1 hour 20 minutes The largest natural lake of Crete reflecting the White Mountains gives you the sense of an Alpine landscape. Grab the opportunity to hire a pedal boat for a lovely ride around the lake, swimming and enjoying a meal in one of the little tavernas (not included). Bus Drive:20 minutes 3rd stop: Rethymno – 1 hour 30 minutes Visit Rethymno and its picturesque venetian town. Enjoy your free time to walk along the old port and beautiful oriental beach road. End of the tour – Return to resorts: Embarkation in the buses and drive back to the hotels where we gathered participants in the morning. Depending on traffic and on the pick-up places of each one, the time of journey back to the hotel will differ. Bus Drive: 2 hours

Heraklion: Chania Old Town, Lake Kournas, & Rethymno Tour

4. Heraklion: Chania Old Town, Lake Kournas, & Rethymno Tour

Depart Heraklion and journey west by bus to the stunning city of Chania. Learn about its Minoan history and see sights from different civilizations, including the Byzantine, Ottoman and Venetian eras. Get a view of the lighthouse in the port, wander the narrow streets of the old town and enjoy some free time for lunch in the pretty harbor. Look for gifts and souvenirs in the famous agora (market) and more. Then, make your way to Lake Kournas and get back to nature in the lush green hills. Keep a look out for rare birds and marine life, including eels and turtles. Go for a swim or take an early afternoon walk in the protected wetlands. Drive back towards Heraklion and stop in the city of Rethymno along the way. Wander the enchanting alleys of the old town, see the domes and minarets of the Ottoman-era mosques, and marvel at the 16th-century Venetian fortress.

Heraklion:Day trip to Chania old Town,Kournas Lake& Rethymno

5. Heraklion:Day trip to Chania old Town,Kournas Lake& Rethymno

After pickup from your hotel, drive to Chania in the West of Crete. According to ancient writers, it was the “mother of the Cretan cities”, and an important Minoan city. Explore the Old City and see elements from all the civilizations that flourished here in the past: archaeological Minoan sites, Turkish minarets and mosques, Muslim neighborhoods, and Venetian fortresses. See dockyards, fountains, squares, arches, mansions, and the Lighthouse. You can enjoy lunch at the picturesque harbor or visit the famous Agora, a market hall that is home to small traditional shops and taverns. Next, the bus will take you to the quaint Lake Kournas, the only freshwater lake on the island. Admire the area's lush vegetation, steep hills, and rare species of fish and birds, like eels, moorhens, and two-color turtles. Here you can enjoy a swim in the lake, or take a leisurely afternoon walk. Continue to Rethimnon, the third biggest town in Crete, where monuments of the ancient Greek, Ottoman, and Venetian eras coexist. Explore the small alleys in the old town, see the Turkish minarets, and visit the Venetian fortresses. Alternatively, just relax and enjoy a Greek coffee at the vibrant old port. You will then board the bus for the return journey back to your hotel.

Lake Kournas - Chania city - Souda Bay Tour

6. Lake Kournas - Chania city - Souda Bay Tour

Explore the picturesque city of Chania, the freshwater of Lake Kournas and your boat trip from Souda bay, on this day trip from Rethymno. Enjoy pickup from your hotel and the scenic journey to Lake Kournas. Once there, explore the lake or tuck into a delicious meal at a local taverna. Enjoy the relaxing views beneath looming mountains. Look out too for the local wildlife - moorhens, eels, and turtles are among the permanent residents of this friendly wetland. Then, head for Chania, the charming city perched on Crete's north west coast. Admire the lively port of the Old Venetian Harbour and its imposing lighthouse. Stroll the atmospheric narrow streets of the city, filled with shops, churches and tavernas. Pick up some traditional local products like cheese or pastries at the municipal market. Shop for leather goods and souvenirs at the famous Halidon Street. After your free time thereyou are off for Souda bay where your boat will be waiting for you. Experience a relaxed and refresing round, where you will be provided with masks and you will be free to snorkel into the blue sea. Arrive at marathi beach and enjoy your bath and sunbath there. Take pleasure in being out in nature amongst this beautiful scenery, before hopping back in the vehicle for your journey back to Rethymno.

From Rethymno: Chania and Lake Kournas Day Trip

7. From Rethymno: Chania and Lake Kournas Day Trip

Explore the picturesque city of Chania and the freshwater of Lake Kournas on this day trip from Rethymno. Enjoy pickup from your hotel and head for Chania, the charming city perched on Crete's north west coast. Admire the lively port of the Old Venetian Harbour and its imposing lighthouse. Stroll the atmospheric narrow streets of the city, filled with shops, churches and tavernas. Pick up some traditional local products like cheese or pastries at the municipal market. Shop for leather goods and souvenirs at the famous Halidon Street. Next, sit back and enjoy the scenic journey to Lake Kournas. Once there, explore the lake or tuck into a delicious meal at a local taverna. Enjoy the relaxing views beneath looming mountains. Look out too for the local wildlife - moorhens, eels, and turtles are among the permanent residents of this friendly wetland. Take pleasure in being out in nature amongst this beautiful scenery, before hopping back in the vehicle for your journey back to Rethymno.

Kournas Lake – Springs of Argyroupolis

8. Kournas Lake – Springs of Argyroupolis

Discover the hidden treasures of Crete on a mesmerizing journey to Kournas Lake and Argyroupolis Springs. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Kournas Lake, with its turquoise waters and surrounding lush landscapes. Then, wander through the enchanting village of Argyroupolis, where natural springs and cascading waterfalls create a serene oasis. Embark on this unforgettable adventure and let nature's wonders captivate your soul. Georgioupolis is a small seaside town in west Crete. Georgioupolis is set in green countryside with a large beach. Just before the town, it forms a little lake that is home to many birds and animals. The main square of Georgioupolis is one of the most attractive to be found in a Cretan tourist village. Georgioupolis is a village of many shops. The most popular sight in the harbor, however, is the chapel of Agios Nikolaos, set on a manmade rock jetty. It’s worth walking along to take wonderful pictures. Kournas Lake is the only natural lake on the island. The lake is in a beautiful landscape, lying in a valley among the hills. Swim or ride a pedalo on the waters of the lake. There are little beaches on the banks of Lake Kournas just under the main road and in front of the tavernas. There you will find sun loungers and umbrellas in the summer months. Argyroupoli waterfalls the refreshing springs of Argiroupolis are a verdant scenery with springs, watermills, and tap water running in streams! As for the food, in most taverns, you will find live trout and sturgeon!

From Rethymno: Lake Kournas and Villages Full-Day Tour

9. From Rethymno: Lake Kournas and Villages Full-Day Tour

Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Rethymno, and then journey by bus to the stone church in Kotsifu Gorge. Marvel at the steep cliffs and dramatic rock formations of the canyon, and then make your way to the historic plateau of Askifou. Stop to take souvenir photos of beautiful Plakias Bay, and then drive up into the mountains to visit the traditional village of Kallikrati. Swim in the deep blue waters of the Libyan sea. Stop for a coffee in the village of Argyroupolis near the Roman site of Lappa and marvel at the waterfalls. Next, go to beautiful Lake Kournas and enjoy a well-deserved traditional lunch in a typical village tavern at your own expense. Get a magnificent view of the lake and mountains before you drive back to Rethymno and get dropped off at your hotel.

From Chania: Rethymno & Lake Kournas Private Tour w/ snacks

10. From Chania: Rethymno & Lake Kournas Private Tour w/ snacks

Explore two of the most picture-perfect destinations on Crete during this half-day private tour that visits Rethymno and the Lake of Kournas. Take off directly from your accommodation in Chania via an air-conditioned vehicle fully equipped with Wi-Fi and USB ports. After pickup, start your journey in Rethymno, a romantic city with a variety of picturesque routes to follow and numerous historical monuments to visit. Marvel at the large Venetian castle Fortezza, the old lighthouse, and countless churches, mosques, and arches. Walk along cobbled paths leading to other hidden spots of the old city. The next stop is the famous Lake of Kournas, the only freshwater lake in Crete. This place is ideal for relaxation and walking. Take in the one-of-a-kind view of the White Mountains reflected in the waters while drinking a cup of traditional Greek coffee. Choose to rent a pedal boat to spend some time in the water looking for the turtles that live in the lake. In between your trip, sit down and enjoy a snack break including a meal box with sandwiches and Cretan kalitsounia (Cretan sweet cheese pastry). Cold soft drinks, beer, wine, and bottled water will also be available. 

Add dates

Lake Kournas

All activities

25 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 2

Immersive experiences

Go beyond Lake Kournas

Explore all

Other Sightseeing Options in Lake Kournas

Want to discover all there is to do in Lake Kournas? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Lake Kournas

Overall rating

4.2 / 5

based on 180 reviews

Michaelis was a good guide, letting us know what to expect. The coach was comfortable and the transition to minibus went well. Rethimno was just worth a visit - the Fortezza was huge, but perhaps could do with a museum inside. Chania was good to visit, with.a fairly scenic harbour area, plenty of alleys and a lot of tourist shops. For me the best part was the Museum of Ancient Shipbuilding on the eastern side of the harbour in an old Venetian ship shed, which contained an interesting replica minoan ship. Finally, the short swim stop at Kournas - not everyone liked this, and would have preferred more time in Chania, but I enjoyed having a fresh water dip, with hot chocolate at a waterside taverna afterwards. I had googles, but did not see any of the terrapins or goldfish that it is stocked with. Overall a pleasant day,

We had a great tour exploring the west side of Crete, albeit a very long day (13 hours total!). We were only in Crete for 1 week, so we were glad to get to see Chania and Reythmno (both beautiful cities that are definitely worth exploring!). Our tour guide was very jolly and very knowledgeable about Cretan history and culture. Our tour group was bigger than expected (full on tour bus), but given the price I guess to be expected. However, It was annoying having to pick everyone up and drop them off. Our hotel was one of the first to be picked up and last to be dropped off. It must have added 1h at the start and 1h at the end of the day. I would much prefer for everyone to get themselves to a single meeting spot, or only pick up/drop off from points along the main road, instead of having to go down all the back roads.

The lake is cool, but perhaps not as beautiful as it is depicted in photographs (that being said I did see it on quite an overcast day). However, the towns were absolutely lovely and I really enjoyed just strolling through and exploring a different side of Crete! Really loved the guide as well!

It was a long but fun day. Visited two beautiful and nice pictures and a beautiful lake with a nice view. Everything was well arranged, they were on time at the pick-up location and a nice guide.

We booked the excursion at very short notice and everything worked out great! Thanks for the great organization