Chania Private Tour: Monastery, Gorge & Mountain Village

Walk through a working monastery, then stop inside a gorge to photograph towering cliffs.

A private tour from Chania takes you to either the Monastery of Metamorfosi or the Monastery of Odigitria (whichever is open that day), then drives through Therisso Gorge with photo stops along the way. You'll stop in Therisso village to see the stone square and the monument of Eleutherios Venizelos, and can add lunch at a family-run taverna in the mountains. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours with an English-speaking driver, air-conditioned vehicle, and refreshments throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Monastery visit and scenic gorge drive

• Visit historic monastery
• Drive through Therisso Gorge
• Stop for photos in gorge
• Explore Therisso village square
• Visit old church and monument
• Lunch at family-run taverna
• Optional stop at Meskla village

The experience

The day starts inside one of two historic monasteries (Metamorfosi or Odigitria), where you walk through serene courtyards, see ancient icons, and stand in the spiritual atmosphere that marks these sites as central to Crete's religious heritage. Which monastery opens depends on the day. Both offer the same quiet, traditional architecture and insight into the island's history. From there, the drive to Therisso village takes you through the gorge itself, and that's where the landscape takes over: towering cliffs rise on both sides, the road winds through the stone, and the driver stops so you can photograph the scale of it. On a clear day, flocks of goats and sheep move across the slopes.

Therisso village sits at the gorge's end, built around a shaded stone square with an old church and a monument to Eleutherios Venizelos, a figure central to the Cretan revolution. The village is known locally as a place to eat well. If you've chosen the all-inclusive option, lunch happens at a family-run taverna where the grandmother cooks using recipes passed down through generations, and the tables overlook both sea and mountains. Without lunch, you stop here to walk and take in the square. On the return to Chania, there's an optional stop at Meskla village to see one of Crete's smallest gorges. This adds time, so the tour starts at 9:00am if you want it included.

Your driver speaks English and the vehicle is air-conditioned. Bottled water and Cretan snacks travel with you throughout the day, and all fees and taxes are covered in the price. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and the vehicle can accommodate strollers and service animals.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional English-speaking driver.
• bottled water and Cretan snacks throughout the day.
• all fees and taxes.
• optional lunch at a family-run taverna in the mountains (included in the all-inclusive option only).

Options for this experience

2 options

Private Chania Tour: Monastery, Scenic Gorge and Mountain ViewsGuide in English · Available from 1 Apr 2027Lasts 3 hours, meal not included. Pickup is included.

Fully inclusive tour that comes with lunchGuide in English · Available from 1 Apr 2027Traditional lunch: Take part in an all-inclusive outing with a tasty meal at a traditional, family-run restaurant in the mountains! Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Apr 2027

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by IMable Travel - Private Tours in Crete

Is this one for you?Choose the all-inclusive option if you want the full day without stopping to arrange food. The taverna lunch is cooked by the family and surrounded by mountain and sea views. Pick the monastery-and-gorge option if you prefer to eat on your own or want a shorter commitment: both versions include the monastery visit and the Therisso Gorge drive with photo stops.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's actually inside the Monastery of Metamorfosi or Odigitria?

Both monasteries hold ancient icons and traditional religious architecture that reflects Crete's spiritual heritage. You walk through serene courtyards and spend time in the peaceful atmosphere of the monastery grounds, seeing the spaces where monks have lived and worshipped for centuries. The specific monastery depends on which one is open on your chosen day.

How much time do you spend driving through Therisso Gorge?

The gorge is part of the route to Therisso village, and the driver stops several times along the way so you can step out, photograph the towering cliffs, and take in the landscape. The full tour runs 4 to 5 hours from start to finish, with the gorge drive being a central part of that time.

What happens in Therisso village?

Therisso village centers on a stone square shaded by trees, where you'll see an old church and a monument to Eleutherios Venizelos. If you've booked the all-inclusive option, you eat lunch at a family-run taverna there. Otherwise, you walk the square and explore the village. The village is a known destination for traditional Cretan food.

Is lunch included, or do I choose it separately?

Lunch is optional and depends on which option you select at checkout. The all-inclusive tour includes a meal cooked by the family at their taverna in the mountains. The other option does not include lunch, though you can still visit the village and eat on your own if you wish.

Can I visit both monasteries on the same tour?

No, the tour visits one monastery per day (either Metamorfosi or Odigitria) depending on which one is open. Both offer the same authentic experience of Cretan religious architecture and heritage. The choice is made based on the day's schedule.