Private Tour
Discover Rethymno, Lake Kournas & the Secrets of Cretan Olive Oil
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
Our journey begins in Rethymno, a charming coastal city full of character, where Venetian elegance meets Eastern influence. Stroll through its picturesque alleys, admire the grand Fortezza Castle, and discover hidden gems like ancient churches, mosques, arches, and the old lighthouse. The cobblestone streets of the old town are waiting to be explored!
Next, we’ll take you to the stunning Lake Kournas — the only freshwater lake in Crete. Surrounded by lush hills and offering breathtaking views of the White Mountains, this peaceful spot is perfect for a relaxing walk or a refreshing drink by the water.
We end our tour at a local olive oil factory in a traditional village, where you’ll experience the heart of Cretan olive oil production. From the olive harvest to cold-pressing and bottling, you'll see every step of the process. Of course, a guided olive oil tasting is included — a perfect way to discover the rich flavor and health benefits of authentic extra virgin Cretan olive oil.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Rethymnon Old Town
Rethymno is situated at the northern coast of Crete about in the middle between the two large cities Chania (58 km West) and Heraklion (79 km East). It is the only town on the island, which is built on a cape. There are two sides of Rethymno offering two styles of visit: the endless big beach and the old town with its mix of architecture and history. The large Venetian castle “Fortezza”, which dominates the city, countless orthodox and catholic churches, mosques, the old lighthouse, majestic mansions of Venetian architecture, arches and cobbled paths, which create a magical atmosphere, have inspired thousands of visitors to pause and take a picture.
Lake Kournas
Kournas Lake is the only physical freshwater lake in Crete. It is relatively large, with a perimeter of 3.5 km. According to a legend, it has no bottom, which is not true and was based on its dark color. There are also theories about strange electromagnetic fields near the lake, making some people uneasy while others feel a very good energy. Its unique beauty preserves until today the legend about the nymph who lives into the lake of Kournas. Lake Kournas is an important wetland area with a variety of flora and fauna, and so it is included in the Natura 2000 protection program.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
USB charging ports in van
Local tour leader (English and German speaking)
Public liability insurance
WiFi on board
Cold soft drinks, beer, bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Guided olive oil tour & olive oil tasting
Audiovisual presentation of Cretan customs on the van
Guided tour in Rethymno city
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Private Group 13-15 people
Duration: 6 hours
Soft drinks & bottled water
19 seater minibus
Private tour 13-15 people
Pickup included
Private Group 1-6 people
Duration: 6 hours
Soft drinks & bottled water
8 seater minivan
Private tour 1-6 people
Pickup included
Private Group 7-12 people
Duration: 6 hours
Soft drinks & bottled water
19 seater minibus
Private tour 7-12 people
Pickup included
Reviews
10 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Best Crete Tour
Holls22,,May 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Christine and her driver took amazing care of us. They arranged a tour of olive oil farm, lake visit, wine tour Gave us an information and recommendations for restaurants, a Greek lesson, and history of Crete. They took their time and were over the top professional and easy going.
A fabulous day trip!
V1845VFlorrainek,,May 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Crete (Chania): Christina and Thanos treated us like family from the time they met us at the port until the moment they dropped us back off. The van was air conditioned and they provided water, beer and soft drinks, as well as phone chargers. The drive to the olive oil mill was scenic and Christina provided us with a wonderful history of Crete. The olive oil mill tour was wonderful, complete with an explanation of how they harvest the olives and turn it into oil using machinery. We got to try several of their olive oils, olive paste, and balsamic vinegar. Everything was incredible. Next we went to Kournas Lake, where we were treated to Greek coffee drinks as well as sampling the local delicacy, sfakianes. Beautiful scenery and overall a lovely stop. Made friends with a calico cat. “Who’s hungry” works yet again! From there we went to Rethymno and took a beautiful walk around the old city which offers many cafes, restaurants and shops. We stopped and had lunch and then continued our walk along the harbor. A wonderful tour. 10 out of 10.
Fabulous Tour off the beaten path
LorraineKohagen,,May 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Christina and Thanos treated us like family from the time they met us at the port until the moment they dropped us back off. The van is air conditioned and they provide water, beer and soft drinks, as well as phone chargers. The drive to the olive oil mill was scenic and Christina provided us with a wonderful history of Crete. The olive oil mill tour was wonderful, complete with an explanation of how they harvest the olives and turn it into oil using machinery. We got to try several of their olive oils, olive paste, and balsamic vinegar. Everything was incredible. Next we went to Kournas Lake, where we were treated to Greek coffee drinks as well as sampling the local delicacy, sfakianes. Beautiful scenery and overall a lovely stop. From there we went to Rethymno and took a beautiful walk around the old city which offers many cafes, restaurants and shops. We stopped and had lunch and then continued our walk along the harbor. A wonderful tour. 10 out of 10.
Christina and Thanos were...
Martin K,,Apr 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Christina and Thanos were very pleasant and informative. They were also happy to vary the program as we had already visited the olive factory a couple of days earlier, taking us to the botanical gardens instead. We had a very good time.
Super attentive, relaxing and organised!
466urvij,,Aug 9, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This trip was so much fun! Our guides were amazing and sorted virtually everything for us, so all we had to do was relax and have fun! They ensured we had free time around rethymno and once we reached the lake they had everything ready for us (like the pedalo)! Super attentive, would definitely recommend!
Multigenerational must!
182kaylinl,,Mar 16, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our favorite tour thus far on our Mediterranean cruise! We are a multigenerational family group traveling on a cruise that was rerouted to Crete. I read the reviews and selected this tour which far exceeded our expectations. Comfortable vehicle with every detail thought of! They even provided boosters for my kids and charging cables for our phones. Anything we expressed interest in or asked questions about was responded to! The kids, parents, and grandparents all enjoyed our experience! Christine and Thanos were so very hospitable and enjoyable to be with. Thank you! We hope to return to Crete and try another of their tours!
Excellent snapshot
Costa P,,Aug 28, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00We had an excellent trip to Kournas Lake and Rethymno. A great snapshot of the area. Christina and Thanisis were perfect tour guides on a perfect day. Bravo sas 😎
Excellent well orginized trip with extremely nice & friendly tour guides!
vivnen,,Jun 29, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our experience on this tour was well beyond our expectations. First we visited the beautiful lake Kournas, the drive there from Platanias where we were picked up took maybe a bit under an hour, which went very nicely and quickly when the lovely tour guide Christine told us things about Crete, Cretans and showed us interesting photos & videos from the screen on the minivan. (very nice & comfy minivan by the way! ) She also made sure all the time that we were fine, I was travelling with my grandparents, she certainly made sure that they were okay at all times and told us that there was no hurry whatsoever, which was very nice and brought a very nice & relaxing atmosphere, just what you'd like to have on a holiday! The drive from the lake to the city of Rethymno went very well while enjoying the great lunch we were offered. We all had our own lunchboxes with delicious sandwiches and other great local delicacies. Also we had drinks, ice cold water, soft drinks etc.. All included in the price! Overall this was an excellent experience, if you want to have a private tour at a reasonable price, and really nice and friendly people, you should definitely choose Seabybus! You could see how greatful they were to us for choosing them, and we certainly will again when we return to Crete next year! They have tours to other interesting places too. Thank you for the nice day we got to spend with you!
A wonderful day trip
Sharon P,,May 16, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We thoroughly enjoyed our tour, guided by friendly and informative Christina. Everything was so well organized. Drinks and lovely lunch boxes were packed for us to enjoy, when we reached the beach at Plakias. Rethymno was beautiful to wander around the narrow streets and check out the sights. Our final stop was at Kournas lake, which was beautiful. I can highly recommend this tour.
Awesome half day trip
sjonisa,,Aug 21, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide was extremely sweet and well oriented just like our bus driver. We really enjoyed ourselves and we have to admit it was a well planned trip. Our lunch and drinks were also packed for us and given in small cooling bags. We would 100% opt for SeaByBus again!
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