Crete · MATALA BEACH TRIPS
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 matala beach trips worth the drive, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Full-day bus tour from Rethymno to Spili, Matala caves and beach, then Agia Galini, with guided stops and scenic drives.
“We loved our tour to Matala! A special thanks to Anastasia and Kostas for making both tours interesting and fun! Bodine and Annabel from the Netherlands :).”
8-hour day trip from Heraklion to Matala hippie beach and caves, with guided myth talk, swimming time, and optional cave entry.
“het plaatsje Matala, erg leuk. ook erg toeristisch maar dat mag. we hebben lekker gezwommen en gesnorkeld. de grotten was veel van hetzelfde. je kon alleen steeds van buitenaf de grot in, dus niet echt doorlopen. maar binnen toe. reisleidster heeft veel verteld in de bus. was ook leuk. en informatief. goeie buschauffeur”
South Crete day trip to Matala Beach and hippie caves, plus Red Beach walking. Includes pickup, guide, and 4 hours on site.
“Non abbiamo trovato la guida che ci spiegava in italiano come arrivare alla Red Beach. Inoltre, non è stato eseguito alcuna guida di tracking assistito e per quanto riguarda la valutazione generale non è stato positivo, perché i turisti sono stati lasciati in autonomia”
Private 4WD jeep safari from Crete to Agiofarago Gorge beach, Sivas lunch, and Matala. Pickup and lunch included.
“The whole tour was wonderful. It was great seeing a remote area of Crete. Andreas was a fantastic guide, very personable, energetic, and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend this tour”
Full-day south Crete tour from Heraklion with winery stop, Messara views, Matala beach and caves, BBQ lunch with wine.
“It is a very long day. It was fun though. We enjoyed many things along the way. Andre was an awesome guide!”
Full-day South Crete trip from Heraklion with a winery tasting, Messara Valley stops, Matala caves, beach swim time, lunch with local wine.
“L’excursion était géniale ! Notre guide Dimitri a été formidable tout au long de la journée. Les paysages sont à couper le souffle et le repas en taverne était délicieux. Nous recommandons !”
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.”
Relax at Matala Beach, swim in clear water, explore cliffside caves tied to Rome and 60s hippies, with smooth Heraklion pickup.
“l'état du bus pourrait être amélioré sinon le reste parfait!”
Private South Crete day from Heraklion with Preveli palms, Agia Pelagia coffee, old villages, and olive oil and wine stops near Matala.
“Very personal attention the entire day! Spiros connected us to Crete in such a wonderful way. We loved having experiences like locals. The lunch was incredible and in a beautiful location! We thoroughly enjoyed the olive oil factory, and learning about the old and new ways of making it. We loved the stop for local coffee and meeting the owners. The drive was spectacular, and learning about the building of the dam and changes the dam has brought to the country was interesting. The generous personality of our guide Spiros made it extra special. His stops to pick thyme, sage, fennel and other crops was a highlight—and the sharing of…”
Private day trip from Heraklion with Phaistos Palace, Matala beach and caves, plus Zaros Lake. Private van, pickup, and tastings.
“George was an excellent guide with much knowledge and love of Crete. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with him and you will too. We highly recommend booking with him and he will tailor the tour to your preferences with a smile. Scott & Brenda”
Full-day trip from northern Crete to Matala for caves, beach time, and free festival vibes, with pickup and flexible free exploration.
“Loved exploring the caves! The shops were nice and had reasonably priced items. The food spots were so good and the beach was very pretty. It was a perfect amount of time to do everything we wanted there.”
Private south Crete day trip from Heraklion with Minoan palaces, Messara wine tasting, monastery visits, and Matala sunset sea views.
“The whole tour was a very pleasant experience! Our guide Alexander (@crete.tour) adjusted the tour according to our interests and to minimize the high temperatures during our stay in Crete. We recommend the tour and the guide.”
South Crete day trip from Heraklion to Gortyn and Matala Beach, private-group feel, guided history, caves, and swim time from $54.
“Great tour guides. Made this trip more enjoyable. The trip was slightly more religious than I thought it would be, however, the sightings were beautiful and worthwhile because of it. I would recommend a longer stop at the final destination of Matala. 1 hr 30 mins was not enough.”
Wind-driven 7-hour sailing in south Crete with swim stops, possible Paximadia islets, and pickup from Matala and Agia Galini for up to 8 people.
“Lovely sailing trip to Paximadia islands. Captain and co captain were super friendly. Great locations for swimming and looking at all the fish. Very exclusive locations with no other boats.”
Heraklion to Phaistos, Matala caves, and Zaros Lake Votomos. 8.5-hour guided trip with time to swim and walk, from $76.
“our tour guide Magda was just amazing, so welcoming and informative. both Magda and our driver made the whole experience very personal, we felt very lucky to be the only ones on the tour. the lake at Zaros was beautiful and very peaceful as we arrived early before it got busy, all the staff in the cafe were friendly and the coffee was great. we then travelled to Phaistos, well worth a visit if you enjoy archeology in it's pure form. Then on to Matala where we browsed the many fabulous shops and enjoyed lunch at The Petra & Votsalo recommended by our driver, food was amazing. Big thank you…”
Every kind of day on the island, and the best of each.
