Top Crete Dining Experiences

Cruise from Crete to Dia Island aboard a luxury boat, for a lazy day of sea, sun, and swimming. While the capable crew take care of the boat, you’ll kick back on deck with freshly prepared Greek food and drinks, or just have fun in the water; snorkel gear, fishing rods, a stand-up paddleboard, and even an inflatable unicorn are among the toys for grown-ups and kids alike.

Sail with us to the exotic Dia Island on our large and comfortable sailing yachts. Our journey begins at the Heraklion Old venetian port. After 1 hour of sailing, we arrive to Dia where we anchor in the first bay of the island. There you can enjoy the crystal waters and water activities such as snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding and more. (Please request the equipment from the Crew) About 1 hour later our delicious menu is served and includes Greek salad and several appetizers, while the main course is shrimp pasta (we also offer vegetarian and gluten free versions of the menu upon request). You can also accompany your meal with the finest wine, beer, ice tea or soft drinks. Around 30 minutes later we sail to a different bay where you can enjoy the waters and our refreshing fruit salad. There you will have about 30-60 minutes before we sail back to Heraklion. *In case there is not enough time for a visit to the second bay there will be extra time in the first one.

Immerse yourself in Cretan cuisine with a cooking class near Chania. After a welcome refreshment of cookies and Greek coffee, learn about the Mediterranean menu and significance of different dishes. Afterwards, learn to make several traditional Cretan dishes, including starters, mains, and desserts, which you get to enjoy together afterwards with local wine.

Learn more about olive oil, wine, and traditional village life in Crete on this small-group tasting tour from Heraklion. Visit a family-owned olive oil factory, learn about olive oil production, and sample different olive oils. Afterwards, visit several traditional villages in the mountains before stopping for lunch (own expense) on the Lasithi Plateau. Spend the afternoon tasting local wines (extra expense) before returning to Heraklion.

Visit the family home of a local Cretan for an evening of cooking, eating, and cultural exchange. Begin your visit in the vegetable gardens, where you harvest ingredients to use in your recipes. Learn traditional dishes from your hosts, hear the stories behind each, and taste local cheeses. Enjoy views of the Aegean Sea and the mountains, then sit down to a meal you helped prepare, paired with local wine.

Getting to know the real Chania is difficult without a guide to show you behind the tourist sights. This small-group tour delivers: introducing you to its foods, customs, people, and wines in ways only a local can. Stroll around Chania’s lanes, churches, and monuments; meet townsfolk, visit authentic spots, and taste traditional cretan products as "koulouri", “kalitsounia”, “graviera”, “mizithra”, “Cretan salad”, “local olives”, “boureki”, “pastitsio”, fresh tomatoes, local Cretan honey and wine.. Hotel pickup and drop-off is included. Your Lunch time/food tasting, will take place at a restaurant.

Discover the culinary delights of Crete on a day tour from Heraklion that includes wine tasting, olive oil tasting, and learning about the island's terroir. Visit a boutique winery and family-owned olive oil producer to sample wine and oil with your group. You'll have lunch at a mezze restaurant and gain insight into a piece of Crete's culture from a guide.

Go to hidden-away corners of Crete few travelers get to see with this guided all-terrain vehicle tour. Follow your guide off-road to quiet tracks far from the traffic and crowded resorts. Explore the near-abandoned ghost village of Achlada, where only a few locals still live, and Fodele, the birthplace of El Greco.

Taste the bounty of ancient Cretan vineyards and olive groves on a delicious, full-day wine tour from Heraklion. Travel with an oenophile and chef guide through the island’s fertile heartland, visit a winery for a vineyard tour and tastings of different varietals. Sample some of the Mediterranean's finest olive oil at a family domain, and indulge in a gourmet chef’s lunch at a local restaurant, complete with plenty of wine! Tour size is limited to 8 for a more personalized, small-group experience.

Immerse yourself in Crete’s delectable, rustic cuisine—and leave the bustle of the city behind—when you sign up for this private, hands-on cooking class. Pick a time that works best for you, and meet your driver directly at your Heraklion hotel which then takes you to the village where you meet your guide. It’s a quick drive into the hills, where you’ll cook amidst the Mediterranean scenery. With your guide’s instruction, learn to prepare a number of traditional dishes, from dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves) to lamb with artichokes. Then, sit down to enjoy your multi-course meal, complete with wine.

Come with us on a journey along East Crete reveling in the endless luxuries of the Lassithi Plateau which is basked in allure forests & fertile land dotted with iconic windmills. From the comfort of a luxury chauffeured vehicle at your disposal, our knowledgeable local insider will ensure you experience the best of the whole itinerary. Discover quaint villages, local lifestyle, storied monuments, Byzantine Monasteries & Cretan art. Tuck into a culinary odyssey & savor genuine tastes loved by our legendary forefathers. It’s our job to hook you up with only the most authentic eateries. Amble in the footsteps of gods to the Cave of Zeus. Plunge into the mythical birthplace & sense the sanctity of this ancient site. When in Knossos Palace, luxuriate in the eternal magnificence of the Minoan ruins & frescoes. Succumb to the personalized service of a top history-archaeology guide & let us stimulate you with eclectic information by ensuring a stress-free pace in all archaeological areas.

Spend a day at Acqua Plus, the most popular water park on Crete. The park is divided into two sides, one for all ages and one for adults only. Facilities are clean, well-run, and safe, with multiple lifeguards on duty at all times. In addition to the many games, slides, and water rides inside the park, there is a beautiful garden in the center with Cretan flowers and trees, exotic flowers, weeping willows, palm trees, bougainvilleas,  French marigolds and more greenery, making for a nice escape form the heat and sun.

The Greek islands boast a rich history dating back to the days of antiquity, but exploring independently means missing the hidden secrets they hold. On this private tour of Crete, delve into the island’s colorful past with your guide—with round-trip transport from your Crete hotel or the port included. Travel back 4,000 years at the Palace of Knossos, and learn of ancient civilizations at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

Western Crete's rugged landscapes yield extraordinary produce, yet they're tough for ordinary vehicles to access. With a maximum of 6 guests per vehicle, get off the beaten track on this intimate 4WD safari experience. Taste extra virgin olive oil and five different wines at the Anoskeli Winery Olive Mill; touch an ancient olive tree; and enjoy a Cretan lunch with a round of drinks and dessert.

Immerse yourself in the Aegean Sea with this 3-hour guided snorkeling trip from Chania. All equipment is provided. Swim in the crystal blue waters in Almyrida Chania and explore reefs, caves and see the Elephant Cave of Crete.

Step aboard the 'Mikros Naftilos' for a private cruise to the islands of Gramvousa and the Balos Lagoon. With a well-established local operator as your skipper, you'll relax on a carefully planned route that showcases the area's coastal highlights. Enjoy a lunch of regional dishes and unlimited drinks as you cruise, and stop for cool-down dips in the sea along the way.

Say goodbye to the tourist trail and hello to a world of organic produce when you book this private door-to-door food tour of Crete’s less-visited interior. Your program is customizable, depending on date, but typically includes visits and tastings at a winery, an olive oil factory, small villages, a bakery, and a natural cosmetics store. Opt to include a delicious lunch at a local taverna.

The whole family will enjoy this fun snorkeling activity, which is both relaxing and adventurous. With a small group of no more than ten travelers you'll be taken on a boat ride to two different snorkeling spots. Experience the difference at the open ocean and sheltered spots, both with an abundance of sea life. Snorkeling gear will be provided so you don't need to bring your own.

Enjoy some of Crete’s most beautiful beaches without the self-drive hassles on this guided small-group tour. Travel direct from your door to Kissamos, where you board a boat for Balos Beach and Lagoon, then savor the soft white sands. Next, ride a boat to Gramvousa Island (own expense), swim in the clear waters, and opt to hike to the 16th-century fortress. Your guide will drop you directly to your door.

Balos Beach and Lagoon and Gramvousa Island hold some of Crete’s most dazzling beaches. But they can be fiddly to reach independently. Skip the self-drive hassles and relax on this small-group day trip, which includes door-to-door transfers from select hotels. Enjoy a couple of hours on the soft white sands at Balos then a slightly shorter stop on Gramvousa Island. Please note, the boat to Gramvousa is at your expense.

Discover the smells, tastes, and sights of Crete on a small-group tasting tour via 4x4 with up to 6 guests per vehicle and guide. Explore with a local driver/guide in a small group on this intimate full-day food-centered adventure from the Chania area. Visit the Olive Tree Museum of Vouves; sample wines and olive oils at Anoskeli Winery Olive Mill while learning more about the wine- and oil-making processes; savor lunch with dessert at the Milia Mountain Retreat; and view the Topolia Gorge.

Join our team from The Hellenic Odyssey, Greek home cooks with a proud heritage, as we come together to create a generous spread of food and to learn about the Mediterranean diet, its origins and its benefits. You will get to enjoy traditional authentic dishes that you won’t commonly find in a Greek restaurant. Instead, it is food that you would expect to eat in the kitchen of a Greek home. You take part in helping to prepare the dishes and then enjoy being served a feast of delicious Greek food. What you will learn: Learn about the Mediterranean based diet and its health benefits Learn to make traditional Greek food using authentic family recipes What you will get: Taste authentic Greek food Consume all the food that has been prepared for you Be guided by a Greek host demonstrating the recipes Gain hands on cooking experience A hands on cooking classes in a Greek home only 5-10 minutes from the town centre in a warm, cosy, inviting, welcoming and immaculately clean apartment

Spend a day sailing on the glimmering waters around Crete on this leisurely cruise to Spinalonga Island. Climb aboard your boat and sail across Mirabello Bay as you make your way to “the island of tears” known as Spinalonga where you take a guided tour and then enjoy free time to explore. Then, head to Kolokytha where you enjoy a delicious barbecue lunch and plenty of time to swim and sunbathe.