Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
Embark on a captivating journey that begins in the cosmopolitan town of Agios Nikolaos and leads to the traditional village of Kritsa, rich in history, myths, and Byzantine charm. Wander through its picturesque alleys and visit an olive oil factory where you’ll enjoy a guided tour, learn about the production process, and taste local olive varieties. Continue through the serene landscapes of holm oaks and the ancient Cypress Forest of Minos as we ascend to the Katharo Plateau at 1250m, a place of natural beauty and home to fossils of the extinct Cretan dwarf hippopotamus. Next, explore the breathtaking Lassithi Plateau, said to be the birthplace of Zeus, once home to over 10,000 windmills and one of Europe’s earliest wind farms. Discover the region’s ancient pottery traditions by crafting your own clay creation to take home. Our final stop is the peaceful village of Krasi, where we admire the monumental 2,400-year-old plane tree beloved by Cretan author Nikos Kazantzakis.
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Kritsa
The traditional village of Kritsa, a historic village rich in legends, gorges, archeological and religious monuments and monuments.
Katharo Plataeu
The Lower Plateau (altitude 1250m), a plateau famous for the Cretan dwarf hippopotamus fossils found in the area. The plateau has a wonderful landscape surrounded by many legends and stories dating back to the Ottoman era.
Options
Cave Of Zeus
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Lunch
Air-conditioned vehicle
sightseeing entrance fee
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
40 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Brilliant day out exploring Lasithi Plateau
suz62878,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An incredible day out! We booked a private tour for 4 adults (family) to explore a bit more of Crete. We got picked up at 9.30 from our hotel in Elounda by Nikos and didn’t get back until after 4.30pm. Our guide and driver for the day, Nikos, was extremely knowledgeable & passionate about Cretan culture, history, food and nature and we thoroughly enjoyed his company! First stop was the Physis olive oil manufacturers to taste olives, olive oil and paste which were all great quality & delicious (and not expensive by UK standards) and to start smelling some of the herbs, trees and flowers! After that we drove to the pretty village of Kristi for a quick walk and then up through the hills to Katharo Plateau and then more fertile Lassithi plateau! Plenty of stops for photos on the way! We got to the Taverna about 1pm to climb (about a 1km) to the magnificent Cave of Zeus! Definitely worth the climb and the extra 15 euros per person! By the time we got back to the Taverna we were famished (the climb was steep in parts) and really enjoyed the lunch included in the tour price! After lunch, we picked cherries by the roadside, and continued back through Krasi village (very pretty) and past some old windmills! Incredible day and would highly recommend! Wear trainers and bring lots of water!
Fantastic authentic Crete!
P9483WLsuej,Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely blown away by this tour! Highly recommend it! So often ‘traditional villages’ are staged but this tour was authentic from start to finish! Brilliantly guided by the fabulous Panos.
Lasithi Plateau is worth seeing
171meikeh,Sep 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We were traveling with Niko (our guide) and another person. Hotel pickup flawless, as arrangement by SMS. Niko is very gifted in language and told us a lot about the flora in the highlands. Overall an informative and varied tour.
Beautiful villages and views
richarddX3373WS,Sep 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide (Panos) really knows the hidden gems on the Cretan mountain plateaus. Not where they are, but knows also a lot about them Very recommendably
A good way to see Kritsa, Lasithi and Krasi
Journey68114655367,Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful landscapes, interesting places and Panos was a very good guide. This six hour trip is good way to see Kritsa, Lasithi and Krasi.
Fantastic day trip
Odyssey15343919408,Sep 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything is perfectly organized. We have seen a lot of Crete. Our driver Georg reported so much interesting information about his home island during the trip and answered all questions in German and English entertainingly and informatively. Clear recommendation!
Great trip
W6963EDrafa m,Aug 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour of Crete! Mr. Nikos is a wonderful guide with extensive knowledge (he speaks 8 languages!) about the island. Highly recommend.
Lasithi and Toplu
rodicat499,Jul 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went to 2 tours, one with Georgos at Lasitki Plateau and one with Nikos, at Vai Beach & Toplu Monastery. Both were nice escapes when i had occasion to discover multicultural layers of Greek nature, geography and traditions. I like Giorgios for his rnthusiasm and pasion about life style, animals, outdoor trips. While Nikos fascinated us with his wide knowledge about bothanics, history, fluency in many languages and curiosity to learn from us but also share his valuable insights. So i had very agreable trips with nice, kind and educated guides. 🤗
One day in the mountains of Crete on off-road trip
Piotrkis,Jul 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We hesitated whether to go on the jeep safari with safari.gr but lucky we went. We started from Agios Nicolaos and went directly high to the mountains. We stopped at the tiny village of Krista. Real, cozy, quiet Greek village. W have tasted a real Greek coffee nothing like in the hotels of the seaside. Than higher and higher following off road steep trail. Our driver and the guide Geoff the Englishman on permanent residence in Crete did a great job – thank you Geoff for a safe ride and interesting stories of the history and culture of Crete. He showed as a completely different Crete – high mountain region, and this was exactly what we expected. Beautiful highland nature, unique culture and views. We stopped on Lassiti plateau for a lunch with Greek cuisine. Altogether a nice day and unforgettable experience. Thank you safari.gr !
Tour
NorthStar28463851834,Jul 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Georgios was a fantastic guide, had a brilliant day! He was very entertaining, kind, and shared interesting facts about Greece with us.
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Operated by Safari Crete Experience