Flavours of Crete 4x4 tour with monastery and winery visits

Activities

Flavours of Crete 4x4 tour with monastery and winery visits

from

£83.00

Free cancellation

Language: German, English

Printed ticket only

Duration: from 4 hours to 8 hours

Guided tour

Instant confirmation

Meal included

Private Tour

Why you’ll love this…

You'll whizz through Crete's back roads on a 4x4 safari and tasting tour
There's visits to rustic villages, wineries and traditional olive mills
You can test your tastebuds with wine and olive-tasting sessions
A chance to enjoy panoramic views from a mountaintop monastery
Your tour will be led by an expert local guide with unrivalled knowledge of Crete

What to expect

The rugged mountaintops, sun-kissed plains and rustic villages of Crete are the stars of this 4x4 tour. Go off-road with visits to a winery, Halepa Monastery and an olive oil producer. Katerina, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘A winery owner in Panormos will welcome you before leading a tour and tasting experience. You also find out about Cretan olive oil – another staple of local cuisine. Your hosts will help you unravel the secrets behind why Cretans live longer than the average Greek.'

First up, we'll hop into our 4x4s and head to a family-run winery in Panormos. Enjoy a guided visit and learn about indigenous Cretan grape varieties such as vidiano, vilana and kotsifali. These grapes are well-suited to the island's climate and soil, resulting in unique flavour profiles. After a tasting, we'll rumble through the traditional villages of Dafnedes, Apladiana and Agridia towards Garazo church. This place dates back to the 13th century. Panoramic mountaintop views make it a great place to snap some epic photos.

The rest of the morning is spent driving by sprawling vineyards en route to visit a traditional olive mill. Learn all there is to know about the ancient versus modern harvesting and production of olive oil on the island, and try some for yourself. Finally, you'll experience Cretan hospitality with a meal of tasty local dishes in the village of Melidoni before heading back to Rethymnon.

Read more

What's included

4x4 tour
Guide
Meal in a taverna
Winery tour and wine tasting
Local delicacy tasting

Provider

TUI Hellas Travel, Tourism and Airlines SA, with Tax Number 094469778 and Travel License Number 0261Ε60000126100

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

Julia
From United States of America - July 2025

Travelled with a group of friends

25 - 34 years old

Excellent
Overall rated
5/5

Harry was a fabulous tour guide! I highly recommend!
Steve
From United States of America - July 2025

Travelled as a couple

35 - 44 years old

Excellent
Overall rated
4/5
JJ
From United States of America - June 2025

Travelled as a couple

Bad
Overall rated
1/5

Wij hebben geen klooster bezocht terwijl we dit nadrukkelijk bij de reisleidster aangegeven hebben. Vanaf 9:00 tot 14:00 hebben we geen drinken gehad. ...
Dörte
From United States of America - June 2025

Travelled with a group of friends

35 - 44 years old

Excellent
Overall rated
5/5

Toller Fahrer, interessante Orte, gutes Essen
Stefan
From United States of America - June 2025

Travelled as a couple

35 - 44 years old

Average
Overall rated
3/5

Am besten war der Fahrer der wußte so viel zu erzählen der war einfach spitze. Das was uns nicht gefallen hat war die weinprobe war nicht unser Vorste ...
Michael
From United States of America - May 2025

Travelled as a couple

45 - 54 years old

Excellent
Overall rated
4/5

Viel Geld für die Tour

You might also like

Nat Geo Day Tour: The Millenary History of Olive Oil

Gastronomy & Wine

Nat Geo Day Tour: The Millenary History of Olive Oil

Approximate itinerary and duration of activitiesIntroduction - 15 minutesWalking tour through the olive trees - 30 minutesPause for questions and raki drink - 15 minutesOlive oil factory tour - 40 minutesOlive oil tasting and questions - 55 minutesCooking demonstration and tastings - 30 minutesPlease note the order of activities may vary at your guide's discretion With millennia of experience behind them, it's no wonder the people of Crete produce some of the finest olive oil in the world. You will appreciate the timeless bond between Cretans and their revered olive trees as you trace the long heritage of olive cultivation on the island. Just outside Kritsa village in the hills of eastern Crete, you'll follow Nikos Plevritakis on a brief walk to his olive groves where some trees are 600-800 years old, and learn about olive cultivation from a true specialist. In the shade of the olive trees, you can try local raki known as ‘tsikoudia' with olives to nibble on while discussing the cultural and societal significance of olive cultivation in Crete. Then it's time to visit a local cooperative factory, to see up close how olives are processed into world-class olive oil. Back on the Olive Path, seize the chance to taste fresh figs, almonds, and grapes, see what the locals are growing, and find out all about the Cretan lifestyle and diet. Then, at an olive farm, you can sample olives, fresh tomatoes, and raki before your olive oil tasting session begins – a great opportunity to learn how to taste oils like a professional and compare the flavor profiles of different varieties. Finish off the day with a cooking lesson on various ways to use olive oil in Cretan cuisine. Authentic dishes, such as tzatziki and Greek salad will feature, and you'll find out why the traditional Cretan diet is so beneficial to health and longevity.

free cancellation

Available in:

de, en

Nat Geo Day Tour: Discover Cretan Farm Life

People & Culture

Nat Geo Day Tour: Discover Cretan Farm Life

Small-scale, family-run farms are integral to the Mediterranean diet that Crete is so famous for. A local family will welcome you to their Mitato, a small farmhouse, where you'll be greeted with the genuine warmth of Cretan hospitality. Listen to the local farmer tell the intriguing tale of King Minoas who watched from his observatory, and alerted locals to incoming pirates. Greetings over, it's time for a hands-on bread-making lesson, learning the techniques for typical Cretan bread, made with wheat and barley flour. Then, witness their cheese-making skills using goat's milk from the farm. Next, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in, helping out with daily farm tasks like feeding the goats, pigs, chickens, and rabbits, and tending to the gardens. The adventure continues with a snail hunt over the mountainside, exclusive to National Geographic travellers, peeking under rocks, and among shrubs and flowers. As the day unfolds, your collected treasures, including snails, eggs, fruit, and vegetables, become the ingredients for lunch. Alongside the family, you'll prepare a feast of local delicacies, all made from the products of your day's work. Finish off the experience with a taste of Crete's spirit, Raki, and why not sing along to their traditional Cretan ‘Mantinades,' - traditional Cretan couplets that express sentiments about Cretan daily life.

free cancellation

Available in:

de, en