Crete · CRETAN MONASTERY TOURS
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 cretan monastery tours worth the drive, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Crete bus tour to Kera Monastery, Zeus cave, Lassithi Plateau windmills, and Psychro pottery. Mountain villages and Cretan lunch options.
“Excellent - very well organised. Guides were knowledgeable, caves were immense and the lunch was so authentically Greek !!”
Half-day bus trip from Rethymno to Melidoni Cave and Arkadi Monastery, plus a Margarites pottery workshop and Dam views.
“The visit to Arkadi is definitely worthwhile, so I would recommend it if you can't get there yourself by public KTEL bus. Melidoni was also nice. The inland landscape on route was impressive, and nothing like the coastal roads. The guide talks about Cretan culture and history, which makes the trip interesting. I think this is a good day out to get away from the beach and see something else of Crete. Be aware though, you are not stopping in Margaritas village - just a nearby pottery workshop.”
South Crete day trip from Heraklion with Matala beach time, a guided Gortys stop, and Odigitria Monastery, plus comfy transfers.
“Great day adventuring , Great to have a nice amount of time in Matala. Have done a few tours with the same company recently and they have all been lovely. I particularly like the happy driver who collected is from bus at the end of day.”
E-bike day trip from Rethymno to Arkadi Monastery with village climbs, big Mediterranean views, and a full Cretan taverna lunch.
“Wat een inspirerende gids. Verteld veel over Kreta en Griekenland in het algemeen. Prachtige tour, fietsen met goede ondersteuning. Lunch was heerlijk. De leukste tour op Kreta!”
Hike from Chania to Katholiko Bay for cliff views, caves, St John the Hermit, and a swim, with private transport and snacks.
“It was cancelled without any communication. We have had wonderful experiences via Viator until this one. Fortunately, after a few emails, our money was refunded. We did not ever get a reason this was canceled.”
A no-driving Crete day of pottery in Margarites, Arkadi Monastery, and the gorge of Patsos with a picnic lunch and raki.
“Excellent and varied tour to the countryside (village, monastery and Amari valley) At Patsos gorge, nice hike along the river: depending on your ability, you can have an easy walk to the st anthony cave only or walk further out. Had an excellent lunch at a countryside taverna, excellent meatballs in a fragrant tomato sauce, goat and local cheese pastry with mint and honey desert! I recommend for a day out of the city!”
A 6.5-hour private Chania tour mixing Old Town walks, Agia Triada Monastery wine tasting, and a swim at Marathi Beach.
“Chania is a beautiful place and during this tour we explored 100 perfect of it. Tour was well organized, guide was super super caring with our time to see everything.”
Chania private tour with Varipetro monastery, a Therisso Gorge drive, mountain villages, and a family tavern lunch. Pickup included.
“I cannot say enough good things about Maria and our tour. She took us to a beautiful monastery where the nuns have built and decorated everything by hand. They are truly artists and artisans. There is a gift shop with exquisite homemade items. Maria supplied delicious homemade snacks, and took us to a local restaurant in a quaint village in the mountains. She is very knowledgeable about her island, and worked well within our hours to show us everything. She also has a great sense of humor.”
Full-day guided trip from Heraklion to Lassithi Plateau, Panagia Kera, Dictean Cave, and a ceramics stop, with pickup and Wi-Fi.
“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”
Agios Nikolaos day trip to Toplou Monastery and Vai Palm Forest, with lunch, optional wine tasting, and time to swim and watch sunset.
“A Perfect Day at Kai Beach with George – Absolutely Unforgettable! 🌞🌊”
Private Chania day from Seitan Limania to monasteries, Zorba Beach and Venizelos views, with tastings and door-to-door pickup for up to 4.
“We booked a private Akrotiri tour while visiting Crete from our cruise ship, and it ended up being the highlight of our trip. Our guide met us right at the port, super friendly and knowledgeable, and tailored the day perfectly to our pace. We explored beautiful viewpoints, quiet local spots, and even stopped at a seaside taverna for one of the best meals of our cruise. The car was comfortable, the timing worked perfectly with our ship schedule, and we never felt rushed. It felt personal, authentic, and perfectly balanced between sightseeing and relaxation. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Crete!”
Chania day trip to Chrysoskalitissa Monastery, Elafonissi pink-sand beach, and a quick Cretan wine tasting, with pickup and air-con.
“Loved this tour - the two stops were great and Elafonissi is incredible. It was quite busy, so we didn’t bother to try for a sun-bed and went straight across to the island. We found a bit of shade but if you’ve got an umbrella to bring, that would be ideal. Our guide, Diana, and driver, Marcos, were fantastic.”
Private day trip from Chania area to Elafonisi pink-sand beach, Chrysoskalitissa Monastery, and the village of Elos.
“We went on a tour to Elafonisi Beach with S&T and it was fantastic. We were a group of 11 people, all 19 years old, I don't know how they put up with us. The vans were very new and comfortable, they even brought us snacks and water for the trip, and Nick also put up with two hours of Italian music, we are very grateful, they were very thoughtful!!!!!! I recommend everyone to go with them.”
E-bike tour from Rethymno to Arkadi Monastery with a live guide, safety gear, village stops, and a soft-drink break in about 4 hours.
“Yiannis is a great guide, I booked the private tour and he showed me a lovely monastry run by a nun who takes care of about 20 sweet streetcats as well. We then went to a small village for some refreshments, to the military museum and then to a tiny old village that is just ruins now (beautiful scenery and a nice walk) and told me about it’s history. The bikeride itself was at times quite challenging, but the scenery is beautiful, you are thankful for the ebike during the climbs and Yiannis keeps a close eye on you to make sure you are alright and having fun. I had…”
Private 5.5-hour Chania shore escape with village coffee, Saint George monastery, Kanakis olive oil tasting, and Chania Old Town.
“We would like to thank our amazing tour guide, Alexander, from Cherry Travel for showing us around Crete. From the moment, we got in touch with the company about 6 months ago, until we were picked up from our hotel, we had the best communication and outstanding services. We were helped to choose the best option for our individual preferences and got to enjoy this trip fully.”
Every kind of day on the island, and the best of each.
