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Old Windmills & Lasithi: Olive Oil & Zeus Cave
5.0
69 Ratings
Iraklio
Experience the authentic beauty of Crete on a private tour that takes you to Spinalonga, Zeus Cave, traditional villages, and more. Taste olive oil, enjoy a Cretan lunch, and savor local wines while taking in breathtaking views. Customize your itinerary for a truly unique adventure.
Experience the authentic beauty of Crete on a private tour that takes you to Spinalonga, Zeus Cave, traditional villages, and more. Taste olive oil, enjoy a Cretan lunch, and savor local wines while taking in breathtaking views. Customize your itinerary for a truly unique adventure.
Duration:
8 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Heraklion - For cruise ship passengers, pick-up and drop-off services are available at the port. After the tour, enjoy a drive around Heraklion city, visiting Lion Square, the Venetian castle, and the Cathedral of Saint Titus to experience the charm of our hometown.
- Omalia Olive Press - Explore an olive oil factory to sample various types of…
- Heraklion - For cruise ship passengers, pick-up and drop-off services are available at the port. After the tour, enjoy a drive around Heraklion city, visiting Lion Square, the Venetian castle, and the Cathedral of Saint Titus to experience the charm of our hometown.
- Omalia Olive Press - Explore an olive oil factory to sample various types of olive oil, learn about its production, and witness the olive oil-making process.
- Mochos - Stroll through the quaint, narrow streets of the village to experience local life, discover historic churches, and savor a traditional Cretan lunch at a family-run restaurant.
- Lasithi Plateau - Visit the historic windmills that once pumped water for crop irrigation.
- Kera Kardiotissa Monastery - Pass by this stunning monastery en route to Lasithi Plateau; stopping for a visit is easily accommodated.
- Windmills Of Lasithi Plateau - Explore the ancient windmills used for grinding, while enjoying breathtaking views from above.
- Aposelemis Dam - Pause on the mountain to admire the distant view of Aposelemis Dam.
- Platanus Tree - Visit Krasi Village, home to Crete’s oldest Plane tree.
- Malia - Drive through Malia town and along Malia beach.
- Knossos Archaeological Site - Explore Knossos Palace, delve into the Minoan civilization, and embark on a quest to find the MINOTAUR.
- Hersonissos - Pass by without stopping, though it can serve as a potential pick-up location for your group.
What's Included
- Pick up and drop off from your hotel or Heraklion port
- Private transportation with air-conditioned vehicle
- Liability insurance
- Olive oil and Raki tasting
- Bottled water, coffee, tea
- Knowledgeable English-speaking local driver guide
- Pick up and drop off from your hotel or Heraklion port
- Private transportation with air-conditioned vehicle
- Liability insurance
- Olive oil and Raki tasting
- Bottled water, coffee, tea
- Knowledgeable English-speaking local driver guide
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Entrance fees
- Lunch
- Entrance fees
Additional Information
Explore an olive oil factory to discover the fascinating process of olive oil production and indulge in tasting a variety of olive oils. Stroll through the charming village of Mochos, wandering its quaint, narrow streets, and savor a coffee in the lively main square. Enjoy a comfortable journey in our air-conditioned vehicles while learning about local…
Explore an olive oil factory to discover the fascinating process of olive oil production and indulge in tasting a variety of olive oils. Stroll through the charming village of Mochos, wandering its quaint, narrow streets, and savor a coffee in the lively main square. Enjoy a comfortable journey in our air-conditioned vehicles while learning about local traditions, history, and myths.
Optionally, visit a family pottery workshop or stop at a mountain family restaurant to sample some delicious local dishes. Dive into the rich history of the Minoan civilization by exploring Knossos Palace, if you choose.
Embrace the Greek Myth with us and create unforgettable memories. We offer customizable tours tailored to your preferences and needs, so feel free to let us know your desires.
For those booking the small group tour or private option, we offer pick-up from Heraklion port and region. For pick-up from Rethimno region, Agios Nikolaous, and Elounda, the private option or a group of five or more is required.
Location
Heraklion port
Leoforos Nearchou
We can pick you up from Heraklion cruise port or your hotel in Heraklion area , Rethimno , Agios Nikolaous or Elounda .
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(69 Ratings)
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1 star
Jasonk3649
Jun 6, 2025
Unforgettable Crete Adventure with Stavros! - Our Crete adventure with Stavros from Explore Real Crete was nothing short of spectacular! Right from the start, Stavros’ infectious enthusiasm and joyful spirit made the day truly special. He brought the island to life, guiding us through its breathtaking nature, fascinating history, quaint villages, and vibrant local culture. His curated wine selections were a delightful highlight, perfectly complementing the experience. What made it even better was Stavros’ warm and friendly approach—we felt like old friends instantly, and his laid-back style put us completely at ease. This excursion was the standout moment of our vacation, and we’re already singing Stavros’ praises to friends. A private tour with him is an absolute must!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ianmb9443bv
May 9, 2025
A magical journey with Spyros! - This by far was one of the most fulfilling tours of any destination we have been so far as a traveling group of family and friends! Let me start by saying that Spyros is the funniest and most accommodating guide in Crete! He is truly dedicated and easy to work with. He asks about our interests so he can coordinate a tour based on what we like. Our olive oil stop was excellent and we even got an unexpected tour of raki making and tried a fresh batch still maturing! We had the MOST AMAZING lunch in a taverna in Skalopatia. When I tell you the porchetta was all I was talking about as we traveled other places in Greece. I personally will pilgrimage back to Crete just for that taverna. All the food was phenomenal and the family running it were the nicest people, even making a special dish for my mother to try! Also Katerina our tour guide at Knossos Palace put on a showcase for storytelling and history. We were taking a journey through her words that really made the palace shine in all its glory. It was extremely memorable! Overall this tour is an absolute must. And please if you opt for the tour guide at Knossos, ask for Katerina first. She is the best. Thank you again and I wish you blessings Spyros! You really made our journey through Crete special! And thank you for saving our olive oil and bringing it to the airport for us when we forgot it in your van!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debrakag
Dec 7, 2024
Book a tour with this company right away! - A very special tour with Edmond! Our group of six wanted an off-the beaten path tour, with a final stop at Knosso Palace. Ed did not disappoint! We had a wonderful time and we felt we saw a part of Crete that most people don't get to experience. Thank you for a memorable day in Crete.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lojeslj
Nov 25, 2024
Best tour of our trip, great way to see Crete! - We just returned from a wonderful Viking Ocean Adriatic/Agean cruise. Our favorite excursion was in Crete, where we had a fantastic private guide, Edmond Hoxhara, for the 6 of us.
We had a van to ourselves. He arranged a archeologist guide for Knossos, and got us there a good bit before the ship's tours arrived allowing us to have the site almost completely to ourselves. After that he took us around the countryside, saw the windmills used to mill grain historically, explored farms and fields, local produce and honey, excellent olive oil, local wines, and the local iced coffee. We stopped at a small grocery store to pick up "real" Greek yogurt and cheeses. It was easily apparent he knew the locals, and their dogs, giving us a real feel for local life. While it doesn't sound all that exciting, it was the total combination of all the small ways he made the day wonderful for our group. He was a hoot, and obviously cared deeply for his island. He's full of good jokes but also was generally an easy conversationalist and good to talk with. I would highly recommend him as a guide for anyone looking to explore Crete.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adventurer317229
Oct 27, 2024
Don’t Miss This!!! - Don’t miss this!!!! After getting recommendations from our hotel we did our own research. We were fortunate to have struck gold with Stavros tour and from beginning to end he kept us entertained. He is a master storyteller and weaver of dreams from ancient times. He was kind, honest very entertaining and could not have been more accommodating. We picked fresh strawberries with wine in hand, ate walnuts straight from the tree and we got to see real Crete. Book direct with Stavros you won’t be sorry you did!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kimberlycn6187vq
Sep 4, 2024
Custom Crete Private Tour - I can't recommend this tour highly enough! Our guide, Mike, was absolutely amazing—so knowledgeable, friendly, and dedicated to making our experience unforgettable. He went above and beyond, answering every question and taking the time to ensure we were all engaged and never felt rushed.
Ed, the owner of the company, was also fantastic. His responsiveness and excellent communication made us feel like family.
If you’re considering a tour in Crete, look no further. We were a lively group of 12 New Yorkers, and Mike managed us perfectly. His professionalism and warmth made our first experience in Crete truly special. We’ll definitely be booking with them again on our next visit!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Steve
Aug 23, 2024
Wonderful tours in Crete! - ExploreRealCrete is the real deal. Ed (owner) and his group of other tour guides are fantastic. Ed was incredibly responsive and helpful arranging a private tour from our doorstep in Heraklion to Chania, Rethynmo and other sites along the way. Our guide Dimitris was wonderful, knowledgeable and friendly. Late at night after the tour, we reached out again to Ed to arrange another private tour (Zeus’ cave, an olive oil factory, and other sites) for the next day ahead of our travel back home. Ed came through and our guide, Michalis, was nothing short of amazing. Michalis kept us entertained with wonderful stories of Greek history and mythology. In short, I would not look at any other tour company when in Crete! Thank you Ed, Dimitris and Michalis!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Annaram
Aug 19, 2024
Better than 5 Stars - My family's day with Ed, exploring real Crete, was my favorite day of an almost 3 week trip in Greece and Turkey. I absolutely loved walking through small villages, exploring the countryside, and sitting in a field eating the best yogurt I have ever had along with freshly picked strawberries and melon. But the absolute best part of the tour was spending the day with Ed. I am sure his staff is also great because I know Ed wouldn't have it otherwise. But he is so incredibly personable and very, very funny. Thank you Ed for such a wonderful experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davedq9342fb
Aug 14, 2024
Private personalized tour with Ed - Correct me if I'm wrong, and Ed enthusiastically did so on our private tour beginning in Agios Nikolaos-in a funny, incredibly enjoyable, informative and entertaining manner, but I don't know how things could be better than our group of 5 experienced touring Crete in a full day off the beaten path. By far, this was the best day of a 9 day trip through the Aegean. 'You da man Ed!'
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762cath
Aug 8, 2024
Great day out to make memories - Booked this tour before we came to crete after reading the excellent reviews it had. Great communication with Ed on what's app because we wanted to change the date. We really enjoyed this trip with Ed he took us to some Iovely little villages with great charm and character. Olive oil factory and zeues cave were fascinating You could tell he really enjoyed his job because he is very enthusiastic. Really glad we did this trip and really recommend it to people vising crete. Thanks ed
Review provided by Tripadvisor
