Heraklion Adventure: Explore Matala & Gortyn

Escape to Matala Hippie Beach and explore the ancient Gortys Archaeological Site in South Crete. Swim in crystal-clear waters, visit the famous Caves of the Village, and discover the rich history of the Roman capital of Crete.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Heraklion - Experience a delightful, air-conditioned day tour through South Crete with convenient pick-up from selected spots in Heraklion. Relax and enjoy the scenic journey as you head south.
    After a morning pick-up from your accommodation, embark on a picturesque 1.5-hour drive to Matala, renowned for its laid-back vibe, sandy beach, and…
What's Included
  • Liability Insurance Coverage by ALLIANZ for tour participants
  • Air-conditioned vehicles for comfort
  • Professional driver for safe transit
  • Knowledgeable tour guide for an insightful experience
  • Inclusive of all fees and taxes
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Entrance fees
Additional Information

Experience the laid-back allure of South Crete with a delightful day trip from Heraklion. Revel in ample free time at the vibrant seaside village of Matala, where you can take a dip in the pristine waters of the Libyan Sea, unwind on the sandy shores, or explore the renowned hippie caves etched into the cliffs. Step back in time at the historic…

Location
Heraklion
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(35 Ratings)
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P7109sulizr
Sep 2, 2025
Matala beach is a wonderful place, the caves are good for photos - Matala is a lovely, quiet, relaxing resort. Its far away from the overcrowded main resorts. There are lots of places to eat, lots of space on the beach. The caves attract tourists but they are only accessible to very able bodied, agile people and you'll need grippy footwear and lots of suntan lotion. There isn't any info there to explain them. Its only 5euros, so no loss if you only look at one cave. The beach can get very hot as its quite dark, wear sea shoes. It can get quite windy so the waves can be quite big. When there's no breeze, the sea is wonderful for swimming. I would highly recommend visiting Matala. The best restaurant is Lions, on the sea front, amazing food and very friendly staff.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M
Jul 25, 2025
Great. - It is a very charming village with lots of shops and delicious restaurants The guide and bus driver are very friendly
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Flora_c
Jul 21, 2025
Fun day - Day very well I'll only have one thing to say to Gortyr about the stop. No explanation in the site that 2 vestiges for 10€ / person is a bit expensive. Otherwise matala is really top
Review provided by Viator
Sonin_j
Jul 4, 2025
Interesting excursion - Make sure to bring swimming goggles or snorkeling equipment or you will miss out on the chance to see all the fish at Matala beach. It is also recommended to bring footwear as the sand can get very hot.
Review provided by Viator
Romanv484
Jun 22, 2025
Matala village - Matala ☮️ I was trying to find the last pieces of the hippie community, peace, love, freedom ... not so easy, but lovely place. This place has a Spirit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joao_c
May 17, 2025
Great day at the beach and amazing archeological site - Very well organized. Very good guide. We had an excellent time. The beach and the lanscape are beautiful. Beach has very nice accomodations. Recommend it
Review provided by Viator
Arohatomaru4
May 5, 2025
Beautiful beach - Village simply beautiful, its setting with the beach and caves makes it a really cozy place. I recommend coming at least once
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Josep_c
May 5, 2025
Excelent. - The tour and transportation were very good. The guide was excelent. The time in both places was enough to know everything. I should do it again.
Review provided by Viator
Sandraro6382ck
Oct 2, 2024
Matala worth seeing - A great trip, organizationally everything was very good . Matala is definitely worth a visit. The guide explained everything great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Celines56
Oct 27, 2024
Nice excursion - Very nice places, the ride was perfect. Only downside the guide who was very nice but her French was not top despite all her goodwill. Otherwise for the Gortys site, we could only see the paying part of the archaeological site. We wouldn't have had enough time to see the rest anyway. The beach of Matala is beautiful, a real postcard landscape and moreover the weather was beautiful. We had a great day. If one can give advice, one should include a time to do the outside (the free part) of Gortys because apparently according to the reviews it is even better than the paying part. At the level of the archaeological site, indications or a guide would be needed to explain. Otherwise it's tops.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $50
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).