Private Crete Tour: Knossos, Winery & Olive Oil Tasting

A day through Crete's archaeology, oil groves and wine country

A private tour of Heraklion and inland Crete that strings together Knossos Palace, an olive oil factory, old villages perched above sea level, and a winery tasting five local wines. Your group sets the pace and the stops. A local driver-guide handles the route and the commentary. Lunch and additional wine tastings are optional add-ons.

The experience

This is a private tour, so only your group travels together: no strangers on the bus, no fixed schedule you have to match. You start where you choose: Heraklion port, Malia, Hersonisos, Gouves, Anissara, Analipsi, Elounda, Rethimno, or Agios Nikolaos. The driver picks you up and takes you first to Knossos Palace if you want it (entry is optional and separate), timing the visit early to beat the crowds and heat.

From there you head inland to an olive oil factory where you learn how the oil is made, then taste several kinds of local olive oil straight. Next comes a climb to one of the old traditional villages set up to 1,000 feet above sea level. You walk the narrow streets, hear the history of the place and its customs, and stop for a glass of wine in the main square. The winery comes next: you taste five or more local wines and learn what grape varieties grow here and why they matter.

Lunch at a family restaurant is optional and paid separately. So is a second winery if you want to go deeper into the wines. The tour ends where it started. The driver knows the route back, and you know the island a different way than you did that morning. Bottled water, coffee and tea are included throughout.

What’s included

• Knowledgeable local driver-guide in English.
• olive oil and raki tasting at the factory.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• coffee and tea.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Under 9: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 26 pickup points.

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.

Paid on site€ 20

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Explore Real Crete

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if you want to set your own pace through villages and archaeological sites: stop longer at places that interest you, skip others entirely, and have a local driver navigate the back roads while you focus on experiencing rather than route-planning.

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Top questions

What is Knossos Palace and why visit it early in the day?

Knossos Palace is Crete's most famous archaeological site, the remains of a Bronze Age palace complex that ruled the island thousands of years ago. Starting there early avoids the afternoon crowds and the strongest heat, so you can walk the ruins and absorb the scale without fighting the lines.

What happens at the olive oil factory?

The factory shows you how local olives become oil (the pressing, the processing, the storage), and then you taste several kinds of fresh olive oil. It is a working facility, not a museum, so you see the actual production and taste the result.

How high are the old villages and what do you do there?

The villages sit up to 1,000 feet above sea level in the interior. You walk through the narrow streets, learn about the history and traditions of the place from your guide, and stop for a glass of wine in the main square: a real pause, not a photo stop.

How many wines do you taste at the winery?

You taste five or more local wines and learn about the grape varieties that grow in Crete and how they are made. A second winery visit is optional if you want to explore further.

Can I customize the stops or the order of the tour?

Yes. The tour is private to your group, so you can adjust it based on what interests you most. Knossos Palace, the second winery, and lunch are all optional, and the driver can reorder the day around your preferences.