What to do and see in Sissi, Crete: The Best Tours

Explore with a guided group, the monastery of Kera Kardiotissa and the Dikteon Cave followed by a visit to Psychro village to meet a potter in action. Enjoy the panoramic views from Seli Ambelou Lasithi Plateau and complete your tour to the Minoan Palace of Knossos where civilization history began 4000 years ago.

Inclusions: Pickup and Drop off from hotels and designated meeting points, Transport by air-conditioned coach or minivan, Professional Guide

Exclusions: Admission fee to Dikti Cave 6 EUR per adult - People up to the age of 25, from EU member states free, Adsmission fee to Kera 2 EUR per adult - People up to the age of 25, from EU member states free, Admission fee to Knossos 15 EUR per adult - People up to the age of 25, from EU member states free, Food & Drink

The 18 km hike starts in Xyloskalo. You will discover a wide variety of fauna and flora, much of which is unique and found exclusively on this island, and you see the Kri-Kri, the wild Cretan goat. The ever-changing view and the wonderful scent of pinewood and Cretan Herbs make this walk, which is rocky at some points, a wonderful experience and make all the effort worthwhile. The isolated, deserted village of Samaria makes the ideal place for a rest before you continue to the 'Iron Gates', the point where the canyon walls are so close that they almost touch each other. Enjoy the fantastic rock formations and take advantage of this unique chance to taste the fresh , cold spring water. The walk ends at the small fishing village of Ayia Roumeli, with plenty of tavernas for you to enjoy a tasty meal and that well-earned drink. Relax on the beach and cool off in the turquoise waters of the Libyan Sea.

Inclusions: Pick up / drop off (Sissi till Georgopolis), Gasoline, Insurance, Escort, Transport by air-conditioned coach, Sandwich, croissant, juice, water, fruit

Exclusions: Breakfast, Dinner, Entrance Samaria (5 euro per adult, free under 15 year), Boat (11 euro per adult, 6 euro per child)

Whatever you do on Chrissi island, one thing is for sure: you'll live a Robinson Crusoe's life for a day ! "Paradise Lost" At the picturesque port of Ierapetra we will catch the boat that will carry us over the ever-changing colors of the crystal clear waters of the Libyan Seas to the little island of Chrissi. If we are lucky during the 8 km trip we will be accompanied by dolphins who swim and leap in to the air just a few meters away from the boat. Suddenly there it is the last land before the African coast, the golden Isle (Chrissi). The semi-tropical paradise has fantastic beaches, consisting of millions of multicolored crushed seashells, sparkling under the sun. Walking through a beautiful cedar tree forest, probably the last existing in Europe, is a real pleasure. The island is now protected as an "area of Intense Natural Beauty" as it looks like the last paradise on Earth! A perfect day for swimming , snorkeling, sunbathing and relaxation away from the busy modern resorts...

Inclusions: Lunch: warm buffet and water, Pick up / drop off (Ammoudara till Agios Nikolaos), Gasoline, Insurance, Air-conditioned coach, Boat, Escort on coach and boat

Exclusions: Drinks on board, Drinks and food on the island, Environmental Tax: 1 euro pp to pay on the day on the coach to your escort., Optional: (the sunbeds and -umbrellas are not always available) 2 sunbeds, 1 umbrella: 10 euro

Our first stop is the Monastery of Kera. It is dedicated to Virgin Mary; it is run by nuns and is locally known as Little Lourdes. Then we drive south and reach the Plateau of Lassithi. The Plateau is a wonderfully cool and fertile area where you will see small towns and a very warm welcome. After the lunch break in one of the local villages in Lassithi, we will visit the Dicti Cave where Zeus, the father of Greek Gods, was born. While crossing the villages of the Plateau, we pay a short visit at a traditional pottery factory, seeing an ancient ceramic art, which completes today more than 8.000 years of history. Last but not least we will visit the most famous and popular of all the attractions in Crete, the Palace of Knossos. Join your expert guide on a journey back of 5000 years into myths and legends and learn secrets of the oldest civilization in Europe, the Minoan. Enjoy a guided tour of the historical site with 1.300 rooms, hear all about the legendary labyrinth and the Minotaur.

Inclusions: Pick up / drop off (Sissi till Ammoudara), Gasoline, Professional guide, Insurance, Transport by air-conditioned coach, Visit pottery

Exclusions: Entrance Kera: 3 euro pp to pay on the day on the coach to your Guide., Lunch, Entrance Cave of Zeus: 6 euro pp to pay on the day on the coach to your Guide., Entrance Knossos: 16 € pp (Reduced admission 8 € pp) to pay on the day on the coach to your Guide.

Starting early, heading west and after a short breakfast stop near Rethymnon, driving past Chania, we reach the port of Kissamos. Here we take our boat for approximately a one hour pleasant sail along the coastline. Arriving in the port of the ex­-pirate island of Gramvousa we hear how, during the Turkish occupation, the residents of the island started looting passing boats thus giving the island its pirate reputation. It is a protected biotope and is host to more than 400 plant species and over 100 birds species. Don’t miss out on a visit to the Venetian castle on top of a steep rock as this is one of the most impressive castles in Greece. There is plenty of time for swimming or lunch on board. Our boat then departs for the Blue Lagoon of Balos, a shallow and warm water lagoon which brings to mind similar lagoons in the Caribbean. Here the crystal­ clear, azure coloured sea water in combination with the white sand makes this place unique.

Inclusions: Pick up / drop off (Sissi till Georgopolis), Gasoline, Escort on coach and boat, Insurance, Transport by air-conditioned coach, Boat Gramvousa and Balos, Lunch: sandwich, croissant, juice, water, fruit

Exclusions: Environmental Tax: 1 euro pp to pay on the day on the coach to your escort., Drinks on board, Extra drinks during lunch, Drinks and food at the beach

By visiting the open market in Heraklion you will get the feeling of market life in Crete. The buzz on the market will bring you back in time and you will see how the locals try to present and sell their products. Apart from souvenirs and clothes you can also find food and bio-Cretan products. On the market you will have the opportunity to taste the traditional “suvlaki” or on the many small posts selling food and drinks. Later, enjoy some free time to explore the bustling town, its pedestrian zones with shops like Marks & Spencer, Zara, Benetton etc... Or, do as the Greeks do, and enjoy your café frappé (iced coffee) in one of the many stylish sidewalk cafés. The big open air street market in Heraklion is the main event of the day. As well as fruit and vegetables, you can find shoes, clothes, fabrics and local products at very low prices. The atmosphere feels like an oriental bazaar -full of noise and the cries of the vendors selling their goods.

Inclusions: Pick up / drop off (Sissi till Gournes), Gasoline, Escort, Insurance, Transport by air-conditioned coach

Exclusions: Lunch

Our first stop will be a visit to Chania, Crete’s second largest city into the old town within the venetian city walls which is an attractive maze of narrow streets, old mansions and arcades, with mosques and minarets bearing witness to the turkish influence and the carefully laid out new town which is considered to be one of the most beautiful towns in Greece. The lake of Kournas lies in a valley, in a beautiful area between the hills and the surrounding mountains and is reminiscent of a lake in the Alps. Here you can enjoy your lunch, walk around the lake. Our last stop will be a short visit to Rethymnon. Shop for antiques and knick-knacks in the narrow street of the old town, to graze up at the turkish minarets and to stroll along the Venetian port down to the fortress and along the golden sandy beach stretching into the distance. You’ll never believe one island could have such contrasting sights and colors.

Inclusions: Pick up / drop off (Sissi till Georgopolis), Gasoline, Professional guide, Insurance, Transport by air-conditioned coach

Exclusions: Lunch

This is where European civilization began during the era ruled over by the powerful King Minos. This is a place that simply and strangely disappeared, only to be discovered again by the English archaeologist SirArthur Evans. Now partly reconstructed, the blood-red coloured columns and gigantic doubIe-headed axes are a vivid reminder of this forgotten and Iong-Iost race. Visit to the archaeological museum of Heraklion with artefacts from all periods of Cretan prehistory and history. The singularly important Minoan collection contains unique examples of Minoan art, many of them true masterpieces. The Heraklion Museum is rightly considered to be the museum of Minoan culture par excellence worldwide. The final attraction of the day is a walk with your guide to explore the streets of the town of Heraklion itself. You will have free time for shopping in the vast array of shops and market or having lunch in one of the local restaurants.

Inclusions: Pick up / drop off (Sissi till Ammoudara), Gasoline, Professional guide, Insurance, Transport by air-conditioned coach, Professional guided tour in Knossos, Professional guided tour in Heraklion

Exclusions: Entrance Knossos&Museum: 20 € pp (Reduced admission 10€ pp) to pay on the coach to your guide., Lunch

From Elounda you take the boat and cruise along the bay to the island of Spinalonga (sometimes called the island of Tears). The guided tour on Spinalonga will both fascinate and haunt you as you learn the tragic history of this island which was once a Venetian fortress and was then the isolated home of many lepers up to 1957 when it was cleared by the Health Authorities, leaving the place uninhabited. The Venetians constructed a very impressive fortress with forty cannons which has been guarding the strategic bay of Mirabello since the 15th century. We get on board again and head for the sandy bay of Kolokitha. Here you will have time for resting or swimming and have lunch. The boat will take you back to Elounda to take the coach. Agios Nikolaos is famous for its picturesque ‘bottomless lake’. You will have some time to discover this pretty little town on your own, to stroll around the shops or just relax in one of the popular cafes and watch the world go by.

Inclusions: Professional guided tour on Spinalonga, Pick up / drop off (Sissi till Ammoudara), Gasoline, Professional guide, Insurance, Transport by air-conditioned coach, Lunch: croissant + sandwich + juice + water + fruit, Professional guide on the coach, Boat

Exclusions: Entrance Spinalonga: 8 € pp (Reduced admission 4 € pp) to pay on the day on the coach to your Guide., Extra drinks during lunch, Drinks and food on board

It’s the best way to celebrate Greek Style. In a mountain village we meet friendly Cretan folk who invite us to taste a glass of the local Cretan firewater “ Raki “. A stroll around the lovely village will allow you to catch a glimp of the rural life of a Cretan village and, at the same time, put you in the mood for the evening ahead. Once we get to the taverna, where the wine flows free and unlimited, you will enjoy a tasty Cretan meal accompanied by the melodies if the Lyra and the Bouzouki. You will see the many the many different traditional costumes and witness the grace of the Cretan dancers performing a variety of Cretan and Greek folklore dances. It might sound unbelievable , but this is really your chance to watch “Zorba the Greek” dancing on the top of a wineglass, on top of a bottle. As you get in the mood why not join in and learn a few of the Greek steps? By the end of the evening you’ll think you are as good as “Zorba”.

Inclusions: Pick up / drop off (Sissi till Ammoudara), Gasoline, Insurance, Transport by air-conditioned coach, Festival, Dinner adult: chicken,lamb or pork,potatoes,Greek salad,tzatziki,fava,fruit,wine,water,raki, Dinner adult: vegi=stuffed tomato&paprika,potatoes,Greek salad,tzatziki,fava,fruit,wine,water,raki, Dinner child: meatballs,hamburgers or souvlaki,Greek salad,tzatziki,fava,fruit,1 softdrink,water, Dinner child: vegi: stuffed tomato and paprika,Greek salad,tzatziki,fava,fruit,1 softdrink,water

Exclusions: Extra drinks