Knossos & Lasithi Plateau tour: Zeus Cave, villages, olive oil

A 2,000-year-old plane tree, a cave where Zeus was born, and the oldest palace in Europe in one day.

A guided tour of Crete combining Knossos Palace, the Lasithi Plateau and Zeus Cave (Dikteon Cave) with stops at traditional villages, a family olive oil production facility and a monastery. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours with a local guide in English, Italian, French, German and other languages. Pickup is included from Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos or Elounda hotels. You choose between a private minivan, a private SUV or a small group of up to seven travelers, and can add a licensed guide for Knossos Palace at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Lassithi Plateau1h
2. Kera Kardiotissa Monasterypassing by
3. Palace of Knossos1h 30m

Explore Knossos, Lasithi Plateau, and Zeus Cave

• Visit Knossos Palace
• Stop for lunch at traditional tavern
• Discover olive oil production and tasting
• Visit village of Krasi and plane tree
• Explore Lasithi Plateau and windmills
• Visit Zeus Cave (Dikteon Andron)
• Pass by Kera Kardiotissa Monastery

The experience

The day starts at a four-generation olive oil production facility where you taste premium oil and learn how harvesting methods have evolved from ancient times to now. From there you head to Krasi village to see the famous plane tree (more than 2,000 years old), and sit at a local kafeneio with time for coffee and photos before the drive to the Lasithi Plateau.

The plateau itself sits ringed by the Dikti Mountains and carries the weight of mythology: this is where Rhea hid the infant Zeus to protect him from his father Cronos. You'll walk into Zeus Cave (Dikteon Cave), one of Crete's most important mythological sites, and explore the legendary birthplace of the king of the gods. On the way back down, you pass the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, a 14th-century Byzantine structure with frescoes and a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary. You'll see it from the road and hear its history without a formal stop.

The tour ends at Knossos Palace, the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization during the Bronze Age and the oldest city in Europe. If you've chosen the option with a licensed guide for Knossos, they'll walk you through the palace complex built for King Minos. Otherwise you explore on your own. Before heading back, there's a lunch stop at a traditional tavern overlooking the plateau, where the kitchen uses a wood-fired oven and serves local flavors. Transport is by air-conditioned minivan or SUV with free Wi-Fi on board.

What’s included

• The tour includes transport by air-conditioned minivan or SUV with free Wi-Fi.
• a local guide in English, Italian, French, German and other languages.
• bottled water, coffee and traditional snacks.
• pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos or Elounda.
• and liability insurance. A licensed guide for Knossos Palace is available on some options at checkout. Lunch at a traditional tavern overlooking the plateau is optional.

Options for this experience

6 options

Private minivanUp to 7 per booking · Guide in 6 languages · 08:30 and 09:30Pick-up areas: Agia Pelagia, Ammoudara, Heraklion, Kokkini, Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Duration: 8 hours. We can customize our program and duration to perfectly suit your needs, making it an ideal option for cruise ship passengers. Minivan: Private luxury minivan for up to 7 guests. Pick-up: services outside the designated areas are available upon request, subject to an additional fee. Pickup is included.

Small group, up to 7 people per groupUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English or Greek · 08:00, 08:05, 08:30 and 08:35Pick-up areas: available ONLY for Heraklion, Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia. Shared option: this option involves sharing the minivan with other guests. Duration: 8 hours. Pick-up: services outside the designated areas are available upon request, subject to an additional fee. Pickup is included.

Small group, up to 7 people per groupUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English · 07:55, 08:00, 08:25 and 08:30Pick-up areas: available ONLY for Heraklion, Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia. Shared option: this option involves sharing the minivan with other guests. Duration: 8 hours. Pick-up: services outside the designated areas are available upon request, subject to an additional fee. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Private minivan with Knossos guideUp to 7 per booking · Guide in 6 languages · 08:30 and 09:30Pick-up areas: Agia Pelagia, Ammoudara, Heraklion, Kokkini, Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Licensed guide at Knossos: with this option, you will have a private licensed guide at Knossos Palace to guide you through the site. Duration: 8 hours. We can customize our program and duration to perfectly suit your needs, making it an ideal option for cruise ship passengers. Minivan: private luxury minivan for up to 7 guests. Pick-up: services outside the designated areas are available upon request, subject to an additional fee. Pickup is included.

Private SUV, up to 3 people per groupUp to 3 per booking · Guide in 6 languages · 08:00 and 09:00Pick-up areas: Agia Pelagia, Ammoudara, Heraklion, Kokkini, Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Duration: 8 hours. We can customize our program and duration to perfectly suit your needs, making it an ideal option for cruise ship passengers. SUV: Enjoy premium comfort with our private SUV service, accommodating up to 3 passengers. Pick-up: services outside the designated areas are available upon request, subject to an additional fee. Pickup is included.

Private SUV with Knossos guideUp to 3 per booking · Guide in 6 languages · 08:00 and 09:00Pick-up areas: Agia Pelagia, Ammoudara, Heraklion, Kokkini, Gouves, Analipsi, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Stalida, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Licensed guide at Knossos: with this option, you will have a private licensed guide at Knossos Palace to guide you through the site. Duration: 8 hours. We can customize our program and duration to perfectly suit your needs, making it an ideal option for cruise ship passengers. SUV: Enjoy premium comfort with our private SUV service, accommodating up to 3 passengers. Pick-up: services outside the designated areas are available upon request, subject to an additional fee. Pickup is included.

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you check availability.

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

Before you book

Lasts 7h–8h, runs every day, 8 start times, from € 110 per person, with live guides in 6 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 07:55, the last at 09:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (under 14)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German, Italian, Dutch and Greek

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 35

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Unique Crete Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private minivan or SUV if you want the flexibility to set your own pace and skip the group stops. Pick the small group option if you'd rather share the cost and the drive with other travelers. Add the Knossos Palace guide if you want expert context on the palace layout and Minoan history. Skip it if you prefer to explore on your own or use a guidebook.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, with 8 departure times. In French, German, Italian and Dutch, at 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30. In Greek, with 6 departure times.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 14).

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 exactly is inside Zeus Cave?

Zeus Cave (Dikteon Cave) is a natural limestone cavern in the Lasithi Plateau where, according to ancient Greek mythology, the infant Zeus was hidden by his mother Rhea to protect him from his father Cronos. You walk into the cave itself as part of the tour and explore the site connected to this foundational myth of the Greek gods. The cave is closed on Tuesdays.

Do I need to book the Knossos Palace guide separately, or is it included?

A licensed guide for Knossos Palace is optional and depends on which tour option you select at checkout. Some options include the guide. Others do not. If your option doesn't include it, you can explore the palace on your own or add the guide when you book.

Where does the tour pick me up?

Pickup is included from your hotel in Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos or Elounda. If you're staying in the Rethymno or Chania regions, pickup is available upon request with an additional cost. The tour is not suitable for cruise passengers docking in Chania (Souda Port).

How long is the whole tour?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours from pickup to drop-off, including the stops at the olive oil facility, Krasi village, the Lasithi Plateau, Zeus Cave, the monastery, Knossos Palace and a lunch break at a traditional tavern.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes transport by air-conditioned minivan or SUV, a local guide in English, Italian, French, German and other languages, bottled water, coffee and traditional snacks, pickup and drop-off from your hotel, liability insurance and free Wi-Fi on board. Lunch at the tavern is optional. Entry to Zeus Cave is not included in the tour price.