Rethymno inland tour: Mountain hike & Arkadi Monastery visit

A full day inland reveals Crete's layers: monastery, cave hike, and a palm-fringed beach in one route.

A full-day tour from Rethymno that moves through Crete's interior landscape, combining history, nature and beach time across ten hours. You travel by private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver who provides route information. The driver does not enter archaeological sites or museums, so you'll arrange a professional guide separately for those stops. Pickup is included. Entrance fees and guide fees are booked outside this tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Rethymno Old Town1h
2. Arkadi Monastery1h
3. Preveli Palm Beach1h

Explore Rethymno and Crete's nature

• Stroll Rethymno Old City alleys
• Visit Margarites village and pottery
• Explore excavation site and museum
• Visit historic Arkadi Monastery
• Refresh at mountain spring in Spili
• Hike to St. Antonios Cave
• Drive through Kourtaliotiko gorge
• Enjoy Preveli Palm Beach views

The experience

The route starts in Rethymno Old Town, where you walk the narrow-paved alleys and stop at cafes before heading inland. From there the day moves through the village of Margarites, known for pottery still made by hand, then to an active archaeological excavation in the interior where findings are displayed in an on-site museum. The Arkadi Monastery sits in a lush landscape and marks a center of Cretan resistance. The drive to reach it passes through olive groves and mountain terrain.

A moderate hike to St. Antonios Cave is built into the day. Wear comfortable walking shoes. After that comes a drive south through the Kourtaliotiko gorge, which opens onto Preveli Palm Beach. The beach has a history as a hippie destination in the 1960s and 70s and sits where a river meets the sea, lined with palm trees. You'll have time to swim or rest there before the return to Rethymno. The vehicle is air-conditioned and stocked with bottled water and snacks throughout the ten hours.

Because the driver cannot enter museums, galleries or archaeological sites, you'll need to book a professional guide separately for those stops: the Arkadi Monastery visit and the museum at the excavation site. That guide is not part of this tour. Entrance fees to all sites are also separate. The tour suits anyone comfortable with a full day of mixed activity: some walking, some sitting, some time at the beach.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
• hotel pickup in Rethymno.
• English-speaking driver.
• bottled water and snacks throughout the day.
• all fees and taxes for the tour itself.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day74 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 16 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by CreteCab

Is this one for you?The private vehicle and driver suit anyone arriving in Rethymno with a free day and wanting to see the interior without renting a car or joining a large group. The ten-hour span fits a full day. If you prefer a shorter outing or want to linger at one site, this tour's fixed route may not suit you. Book a professional guide separately for the monastery and museum stops so you get the history and context the driver cannot provide inside those sites.

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Top questions

Can I do the hike to St. Antonios Cave if I'm not very fit?

The hike is described as moderate, so it suits a range of fitness levels. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water. The tour includes bottled water and snacks throughout the day. If you have concerns about a specific condition, contact the operator before booking.

What's the Arkadi Monastery and why is it important?

Arkadi Monastery is a historic site in a lush landscape and a center of Cretan resistance during the fight for freedom. The route to it is beautiful, and the monument itself has a solemn atmosphere. You'll need a professional guide to enter and learn its full history, as the driver cannot accompany you inside.

Do I need to arrange a guide for every stop?

A professional guide is needed for the archaeological excavation site and its museum, and for the Arkadi Monastery if you want detailed information inside. The driver provides route information and can point out landmarks, but cannot enter these sites. Other stops like Rethymno Old Town, Margarites village, Spili, and Preveli Beach do not require a separate guide.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour runs for ten hours total and includes hotel pickup in Rethymno. Exact start and end times depend on your pickup location. Confirm those details when you book.

Is there time to swim at Preveli Palm Beach?

Yes. Preveli Palm Beach is the final major stop of the day, and you'll have time to swim or rest there before returning to Rethymno. The beach has clear water and palm trees along the shore.