Crete Tours & Trips
Could you spend a week where Greek myths were born? Explore Athens' Acropolis when the light's perfect, wander Heraklion's archaeological museum, visit Knossos where the Minotaur supposedly lived, tour Spinalonga (the leper island with quite a story), taste Cretan wine that's nothing like what you get at home, eat in family tavernas, and swim in waters that are genuinely that blue. Crete's magic.
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Sheri • traveled in June, 2025
The entire Crete trip was beyond my and my husband's expectations from Crete airport pickup to Crete airport departure! We would have liked to explore a couple of more days, but we would have needed a day to rest. Argri and Dionysis were excellent tour guides and helped make our experiences memorable. It was a perfect mix of ancient sites, history, city walks, some shopping, GREAT food, boat rides, some beautiful spots to take a small break and enjoy the scenery, beaches, museums...and making great memories.
Incredible Crete! - DI
Dorothy • traveled in October, 2024
2. We should have had contact with all independent tour operators in the event of issues that arose. 3. Finally, I think that the tours should be spread out over the period and not lumped together in the last four days. Perhaps an every other day would have been less taxing. By the way the Tui operated tours were excellent and the Safari tour was also very good.
Treasures of Crete - R
Renee • traveled in May
This is a self-drive package of hotels/rental cars, and suggested itinerary. If you are looking for a group tour, this isn't it. This was exactly what we wanted. The car was ideal to suit our needs, and the hotels were lovely. If you are over 69-year-old, they will not let you be the driver. My travel companion could not be added as second driver for this reason. The car rental said it was insurance reasons. I was of age, so it was fine, but people should be aware. The hotels were of high quality with excellent breakfast buffets. There is excellent value for money, and I would use this operator again.
Discovering Crete, Self-drive
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The best Crete tour packages
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MelissaCrete travel expert at TourRadar
Treasures of Crete
18 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“All 4 excursions were very intensive, informative, well planned. My two room apartment at the Bells Vista hotel was nice.”
Irina, traveled in June
From Knossos Palace to the Venetian towns of Chania and Rethymnon, Crete's treasures unfold at approx. $130 per day. Hotel Hersonissos Central serves as home base while visiting Spinalonga island, savoring Cretan feasts in Elounda, and reaching Zeus's legendary birthplace cave by Land Rover.
Duration 7 days Destinations Heraklion, Spinalonga, Knossos, Chania, Rethymnon Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Greece From $803
10% Off- US$723You save $80
Discovering Crete, Self-drive
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The car was ideal to suit our needs, and the hotels were lovely. There is excellent value for money, and I would use this operator again.”
Renee, traveled in April
Hotel Olympic in Heraklion launches visits to the Palace of Knossos before heading to Chania's Venetian harbor. Hotel Arkadi guests explore Elafonissi's pink beaches and Rethymnon's medieval streets. The journey concludes at Hotel Apollon in Agios Nikolaos, near Spinalonga island and Vai's palm forest.
Duration 8 days Destinations Heraklion, Chania, Elafonisi, Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Spinalonga, Sitia Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Destination Services Greece From $626
10% Off- US$563You save $63
Incredible Crete!
7 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The hotels were varied and high quality, and we visited beautiful spots with few other tourists.”
Alice, traveled in May
Knossos Palace, Spinalonga island, and Elafonisi beach represent the best of Crete. Three to four-star hotels across Chania, Rethymnon, and Heraklion welcome travelers. Traditional taverna dining and expert guides enhance the historical experience.
Duration 8 days Destinations Athens, Chania, Souda, Aptera, Elafonisi, Rethymnon, Agia Roumeli, Hora Sfakion, Plakias, MatalaSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, Spanish Operator Epos Travel & Tours From
10% Off- US$3,882
Explore Crete & Local Experience (4 days Self-guided)
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“This was an incredible tour of Greece. The travel guides and bus pick ups were perfectly timed.”
Kathleen, traveled in June
Stay 3 nights at City Breeze Suites in Heraklion with airport transfers and free Wi-Fi included. Hop on Bus No. 2 for a quick 20-minute ride to the UNESCO-listed Palace of Knossos, where you'll see the famous Throne Room and Grand Staircase, then walk to the Venetian Harbor and Koules Fortress for nice sea views.
Duration 4 days Destinations Heraklion Age Range All Ages Welcome Operated in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch Operator Dot Travel From
10% Off- US$200
Duration 7 days Destinations Heraklion, Crete, Knossos, Plakias, Chania, Samaria Gorge, Agia Roumeli, Matala Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Worldee From
10% Off- US$437
Walking in Crete
43 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The walk on the Wednesday with lunch and swimming in the beautiful cove was just fabulous.”
Ann, traveled in September
Samaria Gorge, Europe's longest, leads to the remote village of Loutro and through the White Mountains. Traditional accommodations in Chania's Venetian quarter and mountain villages offer authentic stays. Taverna dining and coastal walks round out the adventure.
Duration 8 days Destinations Chania, Crete, Samaria Gorge, Loutro, Hora Sfakion, Zaros, Heraklion Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Explore! From $1,810
15% Off- US$1,539You save $272
Highlights of Crete
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“I don't see myself traveling any other way! I cherished each experience I had -- many of which would not have happened if I had traveled a different way.”
Sonya, traveled in September
Ancient ruins of Knossos stand in contrast to the lively port of Chania. Traditional guesthouses in Agios Ioannis welcome visitors exploring Sougia's pristine beaches. Local culture comes alive through wine tastings, kalitsounia workshops, and treks through the dramatic Agia Irini Gorge.
Duration 7 days Destinations Heraklion, Knossos, Sougia, Agía Iríni, Chania Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From
15% Off- US$1,955
Travel Crete your way
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Top Crete travel itineraries to fit your plans
Demographics
Solo Travelers56 tours- Couples48 tours
- Seniors (50+)27 tours
Best time to visit Crete
- Spring 2026
Spring's mild weather makes Crete perfect for outdoor exploration. The Walking in Crete tour really comes into its own during April and May - you'll see wildflowers dotting the trails as you tackle Europe's longest gorge descent in Samaria. Our cycling groups love riding the eastern coast this time of year, following routes from Knossos to Agios Nikolaos with plenty of beach stops along the way. The cultural tours mix things up nicely by combining visits to Spinalonga island with walks through mountain villages. The off-road trips into the White Mountains are especially good now, offering clear views across to snow-topped peaks and lush valleys below.
- March 2026 22 tours
- 42 tours
- popular 56 tours
- Summer 2026
Summer tours need smart planning to beat the heat. Most of our customers opt for early starts at sites like Knossos, then head up to cooler mountain villages for lunch with locals. The coastal routes through Chania and Rethymnon become really popular - our guides know just where to duck into traditional tavernas to escape the midday sun. We adjust several tour schedules to hit Spinalonga and the mountain plateaus in the morning hours. The jeep safaris run shorter routes but add extra stops at spring-fed villages and shaded gorges. Our travelers tell us they really appreciate guides who know when to slow the pace and find those hidden beaches for cooling swims.
- popular 51 tours
- 45 tours
- 45 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2026
Fall brings perfect weather for active touring in Crete. The Hiking Crete routes work brilliantly in September and October - you can do the full Samaria Gorge walk without summer's intense heat. Our customers often end up joining local harvests, helping collect olives or pick grapes at small wineries. Cyclists love this season too, with comfortable temperatures for riding between historical sites and mountain villages. The cultural tours take advantage of the pleasant weather by spending more time exploring outdoor archaeological sites and walking through the old quarters of Chania and Rethymnon. Looking at the feedback from our travelers, Destination Services really stands out for how well they handle their tours. Their off-road experiences get particularly good comments - the guides know the terrain and keep things running smoothly. TUI's situation is a bit more complex. While they offer good value tours and the Jeep Safari gets solid reviews for being informative, we've had some concerns from customers about transfer timing, getting clear updates and the occasional canceled tour. Still, when tours do run, people generally find the guides knowledgeable and engaging. What's interesting is how the safari experiences differ between operators. The guides on these tours really seem to make or break the experience - when they're good, they bring the whole journey to life with local insights and well-planned routes. The key seems to be booking with operators who maintain consistent service levels and good communication throughout. We've found that travelers who choose Destination Services tend to have fewer logistical hiccups and more predictable experiences. Their attention to detail shows up in little things like on-time pickups, clear meeting points and backup plans when needed.
- popular 56 tours
- 55 tours
- 20 tours
Contact our Crete travel experts
Laura
Expert in Crete at TourRadar
Laura is one of our seasoned Crete Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Crete tours answered!
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