Minoan Route Safari: Mountain Villages, Cheese & Trails

Eight hours on mountain dirt tracks: olive oil tasting, goat feeding, fresh cheese, and a shepherd's working dairy

A full-day Land Rover safari through central Crete that follows ancient Minoan trails into the mountains, stopping at working farms and traditional villages. You visit an olive oil producer and taste raki in Kastamonitsa, feed goats at a shepherd's dairy while watching cheese being made the old way, stand at a panoramic viewpoint over the Lassithi Plateau, and finish in Krasi at its famous 2,000-year-old plane tree. Lunch with local wine is included, and a live guide in English, French or German leads the route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore central Crete and Minoan route

• Depart from hotel
• Visit Aposelemis basin reservoir
• See ancient Roman aqueduct
• Visit Kastamonitsa village
• Enjoy Cretan breakfast and raki tasting
• Drive dirt tracks on Minoan path
• Stop at shepherd's Mitato to feed goats
• Taste traditional fresh cheese
• View Lassithi plateau and North coast
• Visit Diction cave (optional entry)
• Have traditional lunch with local wine
• Visit Lassinthos Eco park
• Explore Lassithi plateau and see donkeys
• Photo stop at Seli village
• Visit Krassi village and 2,000-year-old plane tree
• Return past olive farms and coastline

The experience

The day starts from your hotel and climbs into the mountains through the Aposelemi basin, where you'll see the partially submerged village of Sfendili at the dam before stopping in Kastamonitsa for a Cretan breakfast and your first taste of raki. From there the route turns onto dirt tracks following the ancient Minoan paths that cut through the high passes. This is where the Land Rover earns its place, navigating terrain that opens onto unfiltered views of the plateaus, wildlife, and the deep blue sea beyond the mountains.

The heart of the day is the shepherd's mitato, a working dairy high in the mountains where you feed the goats while watching the shepherd make cheese using methods that have barely changed in centuries, then taste the fresh result. A panoramic stop overlooks the entire Lassithi Plateau and the North Coast, a moment built for photographs. The route continues toward the Diction Cave (entry 4 euros, separate), then descends to a local tavern for lunch (traditional Cretan starters and mains with unlimited local wine and a vegetarian option) before visiting the Lassinthos Eco Park to see traditional handicrafts and the working life of the plateau itself.

The final stretch takes you through Lassithi's farming villages, where donkeys still work the fields, and into Krasi, the village built around a natural spring and a plane tree that has stood for two thousand years. The drive back down the mountain passes olive tree farms and opens onto the coastline again, a full loop through the island's interior and back to your hotel after eight hours.

What’s included

• Full-day Land Rover or Mercedes Vito transport with a live guide in your chosen language (English, French or German).
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• lunch with traditional Cretan starters, mains and unlimited local wine at a tavern.
• tastings of olive oil and raki.
• access to the shepherd's dairy to feed goats and taste fresh cheese.
• a panoramic stop overlooking the Lassithi Plateau and North Coast.
• and a visit to Krasi village and its 2,000-year-old plane tree.

Options for this experience

3 options

In English09:00Lasts 7 hours, includes lunch and a Land Rover; pickup is included

In German09:00Lasts 7 hours, includes lunch and a Land Rover; pickup is included

In French09:00Seven-hour outing with lunch in a Land Rover; includes pickup

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

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 13 Nov

Book up to1d before

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

GroupUp to 15

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.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cretan Holidays

Is this one for you?The eight-hour full day and the dirt-track mountain sections suit travelers with a morning free and a tolerance for rough terrain. If you prefer paved roads and a shorter outing, a different Crete tour may fit better. The Mercedes Vito option keeps the same stops and itinerary on smoother roads, so choose it if you want the villages, food and history without the off-road experience.

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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 exactly is a Minoan trail and why does this tour follow them?

The Minoan trails are ancient pathways used by the civilization that flourished on Crete thousands of years ago. This tour traces those routes through the mountains, letting you walk and drive the same high passes that connected the island's interior settlements and sacred sites, giving the day its historical frame.

Can I actually feed the goats and watch cheese being made at the shepherd's stop?

Yes. At the shepherd's mitato (dairy) high in the mountains, you feed the goats while the shepherd produces cheese using traditional methods, and you taste the fresh cheese immediately after it's made. This is a working farm, not a demonstration.

Is the Diction Cave included, or do I pay extra to enter?

The Diction Cave is on the route, but entry costs 4 euros per person and is not included in the tour price. It is the legendary birthplace of Zeus and worth the stop if you want to go inside. Walking shoes are recommended if you do.

What's included in the lunch, and are there vegetarian options?

Lunch is at a local tavern and includes a selection of traditional Cretan starters and main courses with unlimited local wine. A vegetarian option is available, so let your guide know when you book if you need it.

Why is the village of Krasi the final stop before heading back?

Krasi is home to a 2,000-year-old plane tree and a natural spring that has supplied the village for centuries. It's a living landmark and one of the most distinctive villages on the Lassithi Plateau, offering a quiet moment before the drive back down to the coast.

What's the difference between booking the Land Rover and the Mercedes Vito option?

Both follow the same route and stops. The Land Rover is built for the mountain dirt tracks and gives a more rugged experience. The Mercedes Vito is a luxury minibus for travelers who prefer a smoother, more comfortable ride on the same itinerary. Choose at checkout based on your preference.