Ancient Palaces with Minoan Wine Routes & Iconic Matala Beach from Heraklion
Overview
Hop down to the heart of Central Crete, the beloved land of our ancestors, and let the wonders of the Minoan world collide on this luxurious passage of time.
From the comfort of a premium chauffeured vehicle & escorted by our top local insider revel in the endless luxuries of the ancient Messara plain where wine-red fertile soils treasure lavish vineyards & the oldest olive groves stretch perennially toward the horizon.
Visit a family award-winning winery set on the peak of allure panoramas & let our passionate winemakers immerse you into their intoxicating world. Luxuriate in ages unearthing the Bronze Age palaces of Phaistos & Gortyna along with storied villages & monasteries.
In the afternoon, tuck in the bohemian vibe of Matala that captivated Bob Dylan & Janis Joplin. Bask in the turquoise waters of the Libyan Sea & unwind in the charming village irresistible for its freshly caught grilled fish & finest ouzo.
To us, travel means putting fire in your soul with the best stories.
From the comfort of a premium chauffeured vehicle & escorted by our top local insider revel in the endless luxuries of the ancient Messara plain where wine-red fertile soils treasure lavish vineyards & the oldest olive groves stretch perennially toward the horizon.
Visit a family award-winning winery set on the peak of allure panoramas & let our passionate winemakers immerse you into their intoxicating world. Luxuriate in ages unearthing the Bronze Age palaces of Phaistos & Gortyna along with storied villages & monasteries.
In the afternoon, tuck in the bohemian vibe of Matala that captivated Bob Dylan & Janis Joplin. Bask in the turquoise waters of the Libyan Sea & unwind in the charming village irresistible for its freshly caught grilled fish & finest ouzo.
To us, travel means putting fire in your soul with the best stories.
Inclusions
- Personal pick-up & drop-off with a flexibly adjusted pick-up time
- Chauffeured premium vehicle at your disposal
- Vehicle comforts: mineral water, fresh fruit & snacks, Wi-Fi, USB sockets & hygiene amenities
- Private knowledgeable local insider guide
- Exclusive insider-access opportunities & tailored details of your personal interest
- Dine as locals do: restaurant & bar recommendations
- Full support from your travel planner before & during your day trip
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Heraklion Prefecture, Heraklion Prefecture, Crete
Plunge into the guide tour of the land of old-world splendor of Minoan Crete with our brilliant local guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Agios Myron, Agios Myron, Crete
Wander the picturesque village of Agios Myronas and step into the sacred cave of the Saint where still flows the holy water
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Agioi Deka, Gortyna Municipality, Crete 70012 Greece
Stroll the Gortyn archaeological site famous for the great Gortyn Code in Doric dialect that later became the Spartan Law
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Messara, Messara, Crete
Wallow in the central Crete vineyard tour along the emerald expanse of Messara valley and visit a boutique winery to taste luxuriant wine tasting Heraklion flavors
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Faistos, Greece
Embrace the legendary Faistos Palace, the seat of king Rhadamanthus, where the Phaistos disc hieroglyphic script was excavated
Duration: 25 minutes
Stop At: Odigitria Monastery, Heraklion, Crete Greece
Discover the Cretan sacred jewel of Odigitria monastery (Agiofarango) with a strong monastic tradition linked to Apostle Paul
Duration: 35 minutes
Stop At: Matala Beach, Matala, Crete Greece
Delight in scenes of the spectacular sunset fading behind the iconic Matala caves as you bath in the azure waters of the Libyan Sea
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Matala, Matala, Crete
Taste delicious seafood dishes from the fresh local catch of the Matala village fishermen by indulging in the culinary significance of South Crete
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Hersonissos, Hersonissos, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Anissaras, Anissaras, Hersonissos, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Analipsi Beach, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Crete 700 14 Greece
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Gouves 700 14, Greece
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Kokkini Hani, Kokkini Hani, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Agia Pelagia Beach, Agia Pelagia, Crete 71500 Greece
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Fodele Beach, Fodele, Crete 71500 Greece
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Bali, Bali, Rethymnon Prefecture, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Heraklion Prefecture, Heraklion Prefecture, Crete
Plunge into the guide tour of the land of old-world splendor of Minoan Crete with our brilliant local guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Agios Myron, Agios Myron, Crete
Wander the picturesque village of Agios Myronas and step into the sacred cave of the Saint where still flows the holy water
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Agioi Deka, Gortyna Municipality, Crete 70012 Greece
Stroll the Gortyn archaeological site famous for the great Gortyn Code in Doric dialect that later became the Spartan Law
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Messara, Messara, Crete
Wallow in the central Crete vineyard tour along the emerald expanse of Messara valley and visit a boutique winery to taste luxuriant wine tasting Heraklion flavors
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Faistos, Greece
Embrace the legendary Faistos Palace, the seat of king Rhadamanthus, where the Phaistos disc hieroglyphic script was excavated
Duration: 25 minutes
Stop At: Odigitria Monastery, Heraklion, Crete Greece
Discover the Cretan sacred jewel of Odigitria monastery (Agiofarango) with a strong monastic tradition linked to Apostle Paul
Duration: 35 minutes
Stop At: Matala Beach, Matala, Crete Greece
Delight in scenes of the spectacular sunset fading behind the iconic Matala caves as you bath in the azure waters of the Libyan Sea
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Matala, Matala, Crete
Taste delicious seafood dishes from the fresh local catch of the Matala village fishermen by indulging in the culinary significance of South Crete
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Hersonissos, Hersonissos, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Anissaras, Anissaras, Hersonissos, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Analipsi Beach, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Crete 700 14 Greece
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Gouves 700 14, Greece
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Kokkini Hani, Kokkini Hani, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Agia Pelagia Beach, Agia Pelagia, Crete 71500 Greece
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Fodele Beach, Fodele, Crete 71500 Greece
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Pass By: Bali, Bali, Rethymnon Prefecture, Crete
One of the potential regions of your personal pick up and drop off.
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
DoesntHaveOne
September 2021
I booked a private tour and it was a fabulous day. Alexander tailored the tour to my interests ensuring I saw everything I wanted to see and he stopped at some great locations for wonderful photo ops. Tasted some great wines while enjoying a beautiful view and the highlight of the trip was gett...
I booked a private tour and it was a fabulous day. Alexander tailored the tour to my interests ensuring I saw everything I wanted to see and he stopped at some great locations for wonderful photo ops. Tasted some great wines while enjoying a beautiful view and the highlight of the trip was getting to revisit the 1960s in Matala. What a cool town! Thanks for Alexander and Ioannis for an unforgettable day!!annpO7979KY
June 2023
Our private tour was outstanding! Stavroula and Hector are a great team- we learned so much about the history/culture of Crete and traveled in safety and comfort. By the end of our day trip it felt as if we were with long time friends or family. My friend and I now would like to visit Crete ag...
Our private tour was outstanding! Stavroula and Hector are a great team- we learned so much about the history/culture of Crete and traveled in safety and comfort. By the end of our day trip it felt as if we were with long time friends or family. My friend and I now would like to visit Crete again and spend a week or two.benmU1763QD
May 2022
We booked the private tour with a private guide and driver and we weren't disappointed. Whilst it is pricey, if you want to learn more about the history of Crete and visit sites that you wouldn't normally see or hear about then this is definitely worth considering. Irini was full of fascinating...
We booked the private tour with a private guide and driver and we weren't disappointed. Whilst it is pricey, if you want to learn more about the history of Crete and visit sites that you wouldn't normally see or hear about then this is definitely worth considering. Irini was full of fascinating facts and information and there was no question she couldn't answer. In terms of places we visited, we drove to Agios Minos, Gortys and Phaistos palaces, a working nunnery and finished with lunch in Matala. The car was an immaculate Mercedes with air conditioning (definitely needed in 30 degree heat) and the driver Dimitrios was brilliant (and hilarious). He claims he can't speak good English but don't be fooled as he can certainly speak much better English than he gives himself credit for. Both he and Irini made the day super special and we won't forget the effort they made in making it such a wonderful experience for both of us.Erpel1
April 2022
We spent a wonderful day with Nektarios - he knew so much about Greece, Greek history as well as mythology, took us to great viewing spots. Very interesting day to get to know Crete. Thanks a lot!
We spent a wonderful day with Nektarios - he knew so much about Greece, Greek history as well as mythology, took us to great viewing spots. Very interesting day to get to know Crete. Thanks a lot!DCO90
October 2020
An incredible day with Alexander. We did a private tour and he took a genuine interest in our personalties to make our experience bespoke and perfect! Was truly a 5 star experience.
An incredible day with Alexander. We did a private tour and he took a genuine interest in our personalties to make our experience bespoke and perfect! Was truly a 5 star experience.SophiaAslP
July 2020
My fiancee and I wanted to visit Matala by sunset. With snami travel we customized the experience to a greater extent. Dimitrios was the best insider we have ever met. Highly recommended.
My fiancee and I wanted to visit Matala by sunset. With snami travel we customized the experience to a greater extent. Dimitrios was the best insider we have ever met. Highly recommended.