Matala Beach & Caves Tour from Heraklion: Hippie History

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Free cancellation

1/42

Duration7h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · DE +1

PickupAt your hotel

Swim in the caves where the hippies lived, then climb the rocks to see inside them.

A half-day tour from Heraklion to Matala beach combines swimming and lunch by the sea with exploration of the prehistoric caves that once sheltered Roman tombs and later became a 1960s hippie colony. A professional guide in English, French or German leads the day, with hotel pickup included from Heraklion, Malia, Stalis, Hersonisos, Anissaras, Gouves, Ammoudara or Agia Pelagia. The caves are carved directly into the steep rocks above the beach, accessible on foot.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Matala Beach and Caves

Travel to Matala Beach
Enjoy crystal waters and sun
Have lunch by the sea
Explore prehistoric caves

The Experience

The tour starts with a drive to Matala, a small beach town on Crete's south coast with a layered history. The Romans used it as a harbor and carved tombs into the cliff face; centuries later, those same caves became home to a colony of hippies in the late 1960s and 1970s, drawn by the cheap rent and the sea. You'll spend the morning and early afternoon swimming in the clear water and having lunch by the shore, with time to settle into the pace of the place before the afternoon shift to the caves.

The caves themselves are the main draw — carved directly into the steep rocks that rise from the beach, they're accessible by climbing the stone steps built into the cliff. You can walk through them and see where people actually lived, the openings framing the sea beyond. The guide explains the site's history, from its use as a Roman burial ground through its transformation into a bohemian refuge. The caves are open to explore, and the walk up and down the rocks is moderate but steady.

The tour runs about seven hours total, including the drive from your hotel and back. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up from your accommodation in one of several towns along the north coast — Heraklion, Malia, Stalis, Hersonisos, Anissaras, Gouves, Ammoudara or Agia Pelagia — and returns you at the end of the day. The guide speaks English, French or German, and lunch is your own arrangement at one of the tavernas along the beach.

What’s included

Air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in Heraklion, Malia, Stalis, Hersonisos, Anissaras, Gouves, Ammoudara or Agia Pelagia; professional guide in English, French or German.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by PLATANOS TOURS

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to combine beach time with a walk through actual caves rather than a guided hike — you set the pace at Matala, swim when you choose, and explore the rocks on your own terms with the guide available to explain the history.