Half-Day Trip to Arkadi Monastery and Melidoni Cave

Overview

Available languages

German

English

6 hours

Mobile ticket

Immerse yourself in authentic Crete on a guided tour from Rethymno. Discover Melidoni Cave, Margarites Village, and the Arkadi Monastery, and discover how traditional handmade pottery is made. Explore the northeastern part of Crete on a guided half-day trip from Rethymno. Encounter sights like the Fragma Potamon Dam as you soak up the local atmosphere. Climb onboard the bus and start your trip by heading east to your first stop at iconic Melidoni Cave. Visit the fascinating site and perhaps enjoy a coffee (own expense) while admiring a magnificent view of the valley of Melidoni village. Then, move south to Margarites village and make a stop at a pottery workshop. Have the opportunity to observe how traditional handmade pottery is made. Next, move on to the famous Arkadi Monastery, where you have time for coffee or lunch (own expense). Finally, stop at a vantage point with a magnificent view of the well-known Fragma Potamon Dam for photos. Return to your hotel in the early afternoon.

Additional Info

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

The remaining time will be for the travel time to and from each attraction.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Melidoni Cave

Climb onboard the bus and start your trip by heading east to your first stop at iconic Melidoni Cave. Visit the fascinating site and perhaps enjoy a coffee (own expense) while admiring a magnificent view of the valley of Melidoni village.

2 hours • Admission Not Included

Margarites

Move south to Margarites village and make a stop at a pottery workshop. Have the opportunity to observe how traditional handmade pottery is made.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Professional Tour Guide English and German

Liability insurance

Pickup and drop-off from Panormo, Scaleta, Adele, Missiria, Rethymno town and Atsipopoulo

Private tours are with minivan or minibus and is only Arkadi 3 or 4 hours any extra time is charged

Tour and Transfers with air-conditioned luxurious buses and bus tickets 3-4 h with mercedes minivan

Pottery workshop

Attraction entry

Personal Expenses

Entrance ticket to Arkadi monastery and Melidoni Cave (€4 + €3 can be paid onsite)

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

4 hours Private tour to Arkadi

4 hours Private tour to Arkadi
Pickup included

From Adele, Pigianos Kampos,

From Adele, Pigianos Kampos,
Pickup included

From Rethymno Town, Perivolia,

From Rethymno Town, Perivolia,
Pickup included

From Panormo, Lavris, Scaleta

From Panormo, Lavris, Scaleta
Pickup included

3 hours to Arkadi Private Trip

3 hours to Arkadi monastery
Pickup included

Reviews

4.50

4 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Amazing cave and monastery tour
Nicholas M,,Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I was very satisfied with this tour, it was very educational and at a good pace. Not rushed at all, and made it through in the expected time. The monastery was very peaceful and full of history. The small town was very tranquil to walk around in with very pleasant people. Finally the cave was very amazing to view, it is very surreal to be inside a cave like this one with many stalagmites and also with so much history. Demetrius was a very excellent guide, and I would absolutely recommend this tour!
Can do better
Sophie L,,Jun 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00
Luxury bus? Minivan mercedes? The joke was a double-decker bus filled with 40/50 people. The guide gave explanations on the bus but did not go to the sites gave us information on what we see concretely. I chose the tour in English, I didn’t understand that it would be in English and German! It is not very nice to hear the same information in 2 languages. I'm not wearing pottery so I would have personally dispensed with this stopover. The cave was nice and easy to access as long as you fit on its 2 legs, so the elderly and children can access it. The monastery was really good. I think the description is embellished. It remains a good value for money, but it would be to do it again I will do it myself by renting a car.
Great value trip with an amazing guide and a pottery highlight!
Nomad62909005528,,Jun 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We absolutely loved this half-day tour! For just £21 for both of us, it was such great value. Our guide was fantastic – full of energy, stories, and humour that made the journey fly by. He really brought the history to life and kept us entertained throughout. The Melidoni Cave was incredible – spacious and dramatic, and thankfully not too tight or claustrophobic. The Arkadi Monastery was peaceful and beautiful, but our favourite part by far was the pottery stop. The woman who demonstrated how quickly she could shape a vase was absolutely amazing – so skilled and engaging to watch. All in all, this tour was a real highlight of our trip. We’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. 5/5!
Great Tour and beautiful sights and views
r0sam0nds,,May 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour views amazing and the cave was exceptional. Our driver Dimitri was very informative and told us all we needed to know about the history of the Monastery and explained what we were seeing along the way. Really enjoyable and nice day.