Escorted Tours
Highlights of Crete Tour
This tour provides the opportunity to get a taste of a selection of the many highlights found on the beautiful and fascinating island of Crete.
Visits have been carefully chosen to combine a little of the island’s extensive history with wonderful scenery at every turn, not least of all the pretty lanes of the very attractive Venetian towns of Chania and Rethymnon, but also the island’s high mountains and its beautiful coastline.
Alongside these visits, you will learn about the island’s age-old and deeply rooted culture and traditions that still resonate today throughout Crete, and enjoy some tasty regional cuisine.
what’s included
At A Glance
itinerary & excursions
Your Itinerary
Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.
Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.
Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Heraklion
Transfer to the Atrion Hotel. Evening at leisure.
Day 2: Agios Nikolaos & Spinalonga Island
Our first highlight on the tour is a visit to Spinalonga Island positioned in the beautiful bay of Elounda and immortalised in Victoria Hislop’s very first novel ‘The Island’. Spinalonga was fortified in antiquity due to its strategic location protecting the bay. In the 16th century the Venetians added further fortifications in order to protect Crete and then, surprisingly, in the early 20th century, the island was established as a leper colony that remained in use until 1957.
We will have a short guided tour on the island and then free time for exploring in both Elounda and Agios Nikolaos. Welcome dinner at a local taverna.
Day 3: Heraklion Archaeological Museum & Knossos
We couldn’t leave Heraklion without a visit to the excellent Heraklion Archaeological Museum with its fantastic displays of Minoan artefacts that date back some 3500 years. The Minoans were a highly sophisticated and palace-centred civilisation with extremely skilled craftsmen, which is very evident in the many wonderful finds displayed in the museum.
Knossos is the most well-known of the Minoan Palaces found on the island and the only one we will visit on this tour. We will have a guided tour here, which will provide an insight into how important this civilisation was, then and even now because of the wonderful visible history they left behind. After our visits we will then transfer to our second hotel, the well-located Ideon Hotel, Rethymnon, situated right next to the wonderful old town. This evening, a group dinner will be arranged at a local taverna.
Day 4: Rethymnon Guided Tour
An opportunity to discover the lovely ‘old town’ of Rethymnon, which is situated just a few steps from our hotel. We will have a short, guided tour to discover some of its highlights, although any time you wander in these lovely old lanes is a highlight.
The rest of the day will be free for you to explore this delightful town further at your leisure or relax at the hotel.
Day 5: Mountains, Coast, Valleys, Villages, & Seascapes
It’s scenery all the way today as we get off the beaten track and discover another side of Crete, literally, as we will journey from the north coast to the south coast following an impressive road through the White Mountains that assures us of amazing views.
We will stop along the way for a ‘Sfakian pita’, peer into the dramatic Imbros gorge, discover an old castle by the sea, and return to the north via a very impressive ravine. Lunch included today.
Day 6: Therriso Gorge & Chania
Our day today is divided between two very special places, both in the west of the island: Therriso Gorge, which is a short but incredibly beautiful natural gorge, and Venetian Chania, the most beautiful town on the island.
At Chania, after a short orientation walk, there will be plenty of free time for you to do as you wish, perhaps enjoy lunch on the lovely harbour front, explore the attractive narrow lanes, which are a photographer’s paradise, or perhaps do a little shopping at one of the many enticing shops found here.
Day 7: Margaritas, Arkadi & Amari Valley
Today is all about rural life, both as it is today and how it was in the past. Our visits start at the attractive village of Margaritas, which, traditionally and still today, has always been a pottery village. We are privileged to be able to visit one of the potters who will tell us a little about how important this art has always been for his village.
On our way from Margaritas to the rural and very beautiful region of Amari we will have a brief stop at the historic monastery of Arkadi that was strategically important in finally ridding Crete of the Ottoman yoke. We will enjoy a lunch of typical Cretan fare in a taverna in Amari that affords exceptional views once again.
Day 8: Return flight to London Gatwick
This morning after breakfast you will transfer to the airport to catch your return flight home.
our guests say
Recent reviews
“I especially enjoyed the visit to the monastery and the leper colony. Everything was up to your usual high standard, as always.”
Mrs P, October 2025
“I loved the visit to Spinalonga, it was very different from what I had imagined. When our flights looked as though they might be cancelled, Travel Editions arranged for us to travel a day early at no extra cost, which was greatly appreciated.”
Mrs M, October 2025
“The scenic mountain drives and leisurely group lunches in village tavernas were highlights for me. It was a very enjoyable and well-organised trip.”
Mrs O, October 2025
“A wonderful introduction to Crete: Jane Freeman was superb, and Constantina was a delightful local guide. The lunches were excellent, and the itinerary offered a lovely variety. Despite crowds at Knossos and delays at the museum, the tour ran very smoothly, especially with the last-minute arrangements to bring us out a day early. “
Mrs K, October 2025
Availability
Choose Your Departure
HOTELS
Tour Accommodation
Atrion Hotel, Heraklion
Modern three-star hotel centrally located in Heraklion and within a short walk of a host of restaurants, cafés and bars. Facilities here include bar, restaurant, and comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities.
Atrion Hotel Website
Ideon Hotel, Rethymnon
The Ideon Hotel is a three-star hotel well located right next to the lovely Venetian harbour and just a 2-minute walk brings you to the heart of the atmospheric back streets of the old town that characterise this town and where you will find an excellent choice of tavernas, cafes and interesting small shops. The hotel offers comfortable air-conditioned rooms with private balcony, bath/shower, TV and telephone. The hotel facilities include a pool, outdoor cafe, lounge bar and restaurant.
Ideon Hotel Website
our regular tours
Mobility Information
A fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits and exploration. You can expect more time on your feet, including walking between sites, longer periods of standing and some uneven surfaces, cobbles, steps or gentle inclines.
Some days may include several visits, longer coach journeys or walking from a drop-off point to an attraction. A reasonable level of fitness and the ability to keep pace with the group throughout the day will help you enjoy the experience fully.
Your questions answered
Tour FAQ
If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.
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