Crete · MONASTERY TOURS IN HERAKLION
Good monastery tours in Heraklion fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 10 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Spend a relaxed day in South Crete with Matala Beach, its famous hippie caves, scenic coastal views, and historic Odigitria Monastery.
“amazing day, the beach is absolutely incredible, the water is so clean and transparent. we really loved it. highly recommended.”
Ride a 520cc quad through Crete’s mountain trails, visit a Byzantine monastery, taste local olive oil, enjoy lunch, and swim at Sisi.
“We joined the Quod Safari tour with visits to the Monastery, Malia Palace, and lunch included, and it was truly a unique experience! Everything was perfectly organized from the very beginning: the guides were friendly, professional, and knowledgeable, always happy to answer any questions. The quod ride was super fun, adventurous but always completely safe, with spectacular landscapes along the way. The Monastery is a place of great spirituality and beauty, surrounded by peace and silence. Malia Palace really impressed us with its fascinating history and majestic architecture. Lunch was another highlight: authentic local cuisine, generous and flavorful portions, served in a charming location....”
Explore Kera Monastery, Lassithi Plateau, Psychro pottery, Zeus Cave views, mountain villages, and a traditional Cretan lunch for $44.
“Excellent - very well organised. Guides were knowledgeable, caves were immense and the lunch was so authentically Greek !!”
Explore Matala Beach, its famous hippie caves, Gortys, and Odigitria Monastery on a relaxed full-day trip from Heraklion.
“L’’escursione è memorabile, lo spettacolo naturale vale il viaggio. La guida era molto preparata e disponibile”
Explore Lasithi Plateau from Heraklion with village stops, off-road views, olive oil and wine tasting, pottery, lunch, and Greek mythology.
“Exceptional Service. Knowledgeable guide. Iosef gave us great insights into the Cretan way of life and drove us on winding roads so we could get the closest view possible from our off road vehicle. He brought us to a family run business, where Popi was the perfect hostess. She treated us like family! We tasted different Cretan wines, oils and liquor and even had a pottery lesson on the wheel! The traditional Cretan lunch was delicious! We highly recommend this tour. Nothing better!”
Explore Crete’s Lassithi Plateau, Kera Monastery, Zeus’s cave, windmills, and pottery workshop on an affordable guided day trip.
“We booked the tour on a date which was available due to an error in their system, even if it shouldn't have been. The normal response of companies is to cancel the booking and write and apology. This company (and primarily the wonderful guide Viola) however sincerely apRead more”
Explore Crete’s Lassithi Plateau, Zeus’s birthplace, village life, local coffee, mythology, and a generous Cretan lunch in a small group.
“Ein sehr schöner individueller Ausflug zu Land und Leuten und in die wunderbare Natur Kretas. Dazu gibt's reichlich interessante Informationen zur griechischen Mythologie. Vielen Dank für die tolle Führung an Viola.”
Explore Orthodox Crete from Heraklion to Matala, with monasteries, Agios Myron’s healing cave, Phaistos, private guiding, and local insight.
“Ioanna was a passionate guide with an extensive Judeo-Christian knowledge base. She is able to convey this in a way that makes it come to life while visiting the various religious and historical sites. This was a very meaningful and impactful tour that will stay with us long after we have left Crete. We enjoyed the whole day and she crafted a personalized tour to make sure we were able to see what was important to us.”
Explore Crete’s Lasithi Plateau, monastery, mythology park, pottery workshop, tastings, and Knossos Palace on a full-day guided tour.
“Two hours spent just picking up people for the tour. Host was incredibly hard to hear. It's a 20 min walk up steep hill to see cave of Zeus, which they failed to mention in description. But kudos to the driver as though those were tricky roads to manage.”
Explore eastern Crete on a full-day trip to Toplou Monastery, Vai Palm Beach, and Sitia, with transport, a guide, and free time included.
“Grandioser Ausflug. Wir haben sehr viel gesehen. Vai und Sitia sind wunderschöne Orte. Immer wieder gerne würde ich es buchen.”
Pick a coast, a gorge or a kitchen.
