Full-Day 4x4 Self-Drive Safari in East Crete with Lunch

Drive your own Jeep through mountain villages and off-road Cretan countryside

A full-day 4x4 self-drive safari in East Crete where you pilot a four-seater all-terrain vehicle through a convoy route from Chersonissos through Avdou to the Dikti Mountains and Lassithi Plateau. You navigate off-road paths past olive groves and vineyards, stop for coffee in Aski, eat a BBQ lunch in the mountains, and descend through the plateau's windmills to end in Psichro village.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day 4x4 safari in East Crete

• Depart from Chersonissos
• Drive through Avdou village
• Stop for coffee break in Aski
• Drive off-road towards Dikti Mountains
• Pass olive groves and vineyards
• Enjoy BBQ lunch in nature
• Ascend to 1900 meters for views
• Descend to 900 meters on Lassithi Plateau
• Admire crops and windmills
• End tour in Psichro village

The experience

You start from your hotel in Chersonissos and drive your own Jeep, not ride in one. The convoy leaves together, which means you set the pace within the group route and have a guide ahead and behind you on the road. The first leg winds through the village of Avdou to Aski, where you stop for coffee before the terrain shifts to off-road tracks climbing toward the Dikti Mountains. This is where the "safari" part begins: you're steering through paths that pass vineyards and groves, ascending to 1,900 meters where the air clears and the Lassithi Plateau spreads below you.

Lunch happens at a BBQ setup in the mountains. You eat after the climb, not before. From there the route descends to 900 meters and crosses the plateau itself, where you'll see the traditional windmills that define this landscape. The day ends in Psichro village, and the drive back to your hotel completes the seven-hour loop. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport to the starting point.

A live guide travels with the convoy and speaks English, French or German. Children from age 3 can come along if an adult sits with them in the vehicle. The Jeeps are four-seaters, so a family of three or four books one vehicle. Larger groups split across multiple cars in the same convoy.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your accommodation.
• a live guide in English, French or German.
• BBQ lunch in the mountains.
• use of a four-seater all-terrain Jeep for the day.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 30 Oct

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cretan Holidays

Is this one for you?The route is seven hours of driving, with off-road sections that are bumpy but not technical. You're steering through mountain tracks, not rock climbing. Choose this if you want to be in control of the vehicle and navigate the Cretan countryside yourself rather than watch it from a passenger seat.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What's the road like on this 4x4 safari, is it all off-road, or do we drive on regular roads too?

The route mixes both. You start on paved roads from Chersonissos through Avdou and Aski, then shift to off-road tracks as you climb toward the Dikti Mountains and traverse the Lassithi Plateau. The off-road sections are where the terrain gets rough enough to need a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Do I need to have driven a Jeep or off-road vehicle before to do this?

No prior off-road driving experience is required. The convoy moves together at a manageable pace, and the guide leads the route. The Jeeps are four-seaters built for this terrain, and the day is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What does the BBQ lunch include, and where do we eat?

The lunch is a BBQ meal served in the mountains after you've climbed to 1,900 meters on the Dikti Mountains. The specific menu isn't detailed, but it's included in the day's cost and happens mid-route, giving you a break before the descent and plateau crossing.