Rethymno 4x4 Safari: Winery, Olive Oil & Cheese Tasting

Off-road into Cretan villages, wineries and a working cheese hut

A semi-private 4x4 safari from Rethymno combines off-road mountain driving with tastings at a family winery and olive oil mill, a visit to a traditional shepherd's hut where cheese is made by hand, and lunch in the mountain village of Axos. Groups of up to 6 or 8 travel in a single vehicle with a multilingual driver-guide, stopping at hidden villages, a monastery with panoramic views, and photo points in the Axos Gorge.

Step-by-step itinerary

4x4 Safari with Tastings and Views

• Depart from Rethymno
• Drive to Klados Winery
• Winery tour and tasting
• Drive to Melidoni Olive Oil Mill
• Olive oil tour and tasting
• Drive to Halepa Monastery
• Visit Halepa Monastery
• Drive to Axos Gorge photo stop (off-road)
• Axos Gorge vultures photo stop
• Drive to Shepherd’s Hut
• Watch cheese-making at Shepherd’s Hut
• Drive to Axos Village
• Lunch at family-run tavern

Stops and time spent at each 7 stops

1. Rethymnon passing by
2. Klados Winery Entry included 1h 5m
3. Paraschakis Olive Oil - Crete Entry included 50m
4. Axos 1h 45m
5. Axos 1h 45m
6. Axos 30m
7. Rethymnon passing by

What’s included

• All entrance fees and tastings at Klados Winery and Melidoni olive oil mill.
• visit to the working shepherd's hut and live cheese-making demonstration.
• lunch with traditional Cretan platters in Axos village.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Rethymno.
• liability insurance and local taxes.

Times

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Next departure: 1 Apr 2027

Information

Semi-private 4x4 safari from Rethymno through mountain villages with winery and olive mill tastings, a working shepherd's hut visit.

Group Up to 24 · max 8 per booking

Live guide English and German Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. See the pickup points

Book up to 12h before

Ages Adult (13 and older) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.44 ★★★★★ Very good 9 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

The day starts at Klados Winery in Panormos, where the owner walks you through the vines and cellars before pouring local indigenous varieties. From there the route climbs to Melidoni olive oil mill to watch stone presses and modern methods work side by side, then taste fresh, peppery oil straight from production. The Halepa Monastery sits high enough to frame the whole landscape (mountains, valleys, and the Psiloritis peak), and carries the story of Cretan rebels who hid there during occupation.

The real shift happens when the pavement ends and the 4x4 heads into the mountains. The Axos Gorge photo stops come first, where you can watch for vultures and wild Cretan ibex against the peaks. Then the vehicle drops you at a traditional mitato: the stone shepherd's hut where local cheese is still made by hand. You watch the shepherds work, hear the rhythms of mountain life, and taste cheese that came together in front of you. The whole stop runs about an hour and a quarter.

Lunch lands in the village of Axos itself, at a family-run tavern serving authentic Cretan platters made from local ingredients. The drive back to Rethymno takes the same mountain roads, and hotel pickup and drop-off bracket the whole day. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total, with travel time built in. Multilingual driver-guides (English and German) handle the vehicle and the route, and all entrance fees, tastings, and the cheese-making visit are covered.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 12 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

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 is the Klados Winery stop like?

Klados Winery in Panormos is an award-winning producer where the owner personally guides you through the vineyard and cellars, explaining Cretan winemaking before a tasting of the estate's indigenous varieties. The stop runs about 50 minutes.

Can you see wildlife on the off-road part of the drive?

The Axos Gorge photo stops are where you have the best chance to spot wild Cretan ibex (kri-kri) and soaring eagles against the mountain backdrop. The gorge itself is a designated photo point, and the off-road section gives you access to terrain where these animals roam.

What happens at the shepherd's hut?

At the mitato, a traditional stone hut high in the mountains, you watch shepherds make local cheese by hand and hear stories of mountain life. The visit runs about an hour and a quarter, and you taste the cheese they've made. This is a working hut, not a tourist setup.

Is hotel pickup included in the price?

Yes, free hotel pickup and drop-off in Rethymno are included. The driver-guide collects you and returns you at the end of the day.

How many people fit in one vehicle?

Groups travel in a semi-private 4x4 vehicle with either 6 or 8 seats, depending on the vehicle type. A minimum of 4 passengers is required for the tour to run.

Operated by "Uncharted Escapes". Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated yesterday