The olive road · CRETE OLIVE OIL TOURS
Crete presses more oil than most countries and does it within an hour of both main ports. These 15 cover the Kolymvari plants, the Lasithi village mills and the estate lunches, with prices and where each pickup starts.
Drive a quad from Peninsula Resort with guide Stan or his multilingual team, following off-road routes above Agia Pelagia to an olive mill, the abandoned village of Achlada, and Fodele, El Greco’s birthplace. The $93 price covers one quad for up to two people, fuel, insurance, helmets, instruction, and olive oil tasting.
“Mr Sexy was amazing. A great experience. a must do”
Spend seven hours in rural Crete with a local English-speaking guide, often Linda or Electra. Visit the ancient Olive Tree of Vouves, a bakery, cheese maker, honey and olive-oil producer, and family winery. Tastings include Cretan breads, cheeses, honey, olive oil, local delicacies, and up to 20 wines.
“Our guide was amazing. She truly loves her job. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable”
Ride into Crete’s Lassithi Plateau with a multilingual guide, visiting Vidiani Monastery, Psychro Cave, Krasi village, and the Lyrakis olive farm. Expect mountain roads, a steep walk to Zeus Cave, local tastings, and an optional Cretan lunch. Guides such as Soula, Tania, and Eirini are praised for clear stories in English, French, and German.
“We enjoyed the variety of site visits - monastery, cave, village and Olive mill along with explanations throughout the day. There was an appropriate amount of time at each destination. Lunch at the Olive mill was delicious and a great way to end the tour. Faih, the bus driver, was amazing how she navigated the bus around the hair pin bends on the mountains and through narrow village streets. The perfect way to see a special part of Crete without the stress of driving!”
Leave Chania for the Kissamos hills with an English-speaking guide such as Andreas, Alex, or Kostas. Visit family-run wineries, taste Vidiano, Muscat of Spina, and international grapes, tour an olive oil factory, see a 3,000-year-old olive tree, and enjoy Cretan snacks during this six-hour outing.
“Incredible tour! Myself and my mum were fortunate enough to have an unintentional private tour as it was just the two of us. Our driver Alex was invaluable, so friendly and knowledgeable and couldn’t do more for us. The tour stops themselves were amazing and Alex checking up on how we were was so lovely. I would recommend anyone who comes to Crete to book the wine tour through this company as it fully exceeded our expectations!”
At Terra Creta in Kamisiana, near Kolymvari, an English-speaking guide leads you through olive harvesting, modern processing, grading, and bottling. You then taste three oils with bread and Greek accompaniments, learn how to store and use them, and browse travel-safe bottles, olives, and balsamic vinegar in the shop.
“Clear explanation of e growing and harvesting. Good explanation of production process. Nice tastings.”
Spend eight hours exploring Crete with guides such as George and Antonis. Visit an olive mill, organic winery, raki distillery, village taverna, and pottery studio. Taste olive oil, five wines, raki, local foods, and a generous lunch in a group limited to eight people.
“george our tour guide was such a cool guy who had a lot of knowledge about everything on the tour. it really was an amazing experience and all the food and wines/spirits were delicious. i would totally recommend it to everyone who likes good cretan/greek food and good wines and raki”
At Koronekes Olive Mill in Epano Archanes, you’ll walk among olive trees, see the machinery behind first cold pressing and cold extraction, and learn how to taste extra virgin olive oil. The private, English-language visit lasts about an hour and ends with tastings of three oils, two flavored oils, sweet vinegar, and petimezi.
“What an amazing experience, such wonderful and knowledgeable owners/hosts who obviously put their hearts and souls into making the best olive oil using the much more labor intensive method of hand sorting olives and pressing and not the much faster commercial centrifuge methods. We learned so much about what determines good and high quality olive oil.”
Spend seven hours exploring eastern Crete by orange Land Rover Discovery. Hike 20 to 30 minutes through Richtis Gorge, swim beneath the waterfall, eat at a cliffside taverna, and taste local olive oil. Guides such as Mikel, George, Michael, and Gaetan add history, mythology, and humor to this small-group trip.
“Our trip with Gaetan was amazing! Funny and informative guide! Amazing food at Panarama Taverna as part of the trip. Would go on another trip if we weren’t leaving the next day!”
At Cretan Vibes near Moires, Marianna and her mother, Mama Stella, guide you through a hands-on Cretan meal in an outdoor kitchen among olive trees. You will prepare several traditional dishes, taste premium family olive oil, drink local wine, collect recipes by email, and take leftovers home. Groups are limited to 12.
“Stella and Marianna were so lovely and the class was such a great experience. One of the people in our party had a dietary restriction and not only was it incredibly respected but also caringly accommodated for.”
Travel from Rethymnon to Kournas Lake, Argyroupolis, its cool springs, and a local olive mill. You get time for a pedalo, swimming, tavern lunch, olive oil tasting, and guided transport in English or German. Guides such as Yannis, Kostas, and Lazaros have helped make this a warm, informative day out.
“Simply amazing!!!!! Amazing guide, amazing driver, amazing locations. Extremely friends and helpful especially with the pick up and drop off... Highly recommended!”
Spend 6 to 7 hours exploring Crete’s food and craft traditions with a small group of up to eight. Visit an olive mill in Skalani, taste five wines at a family winery in Meleses, enjoy lunch and raki at a distillery in Stironas, and try pottery in Thrapsano when the optional stop is available. Guides George and Anthony have been praised for their warmth and local insight.
“The entire tour was memorable. Every stop we made we meet the nicest and informative people. The last stop at the Raki was ver special and great food. We would highly recommend this tour. We were picked up from our cruise ship and returned with no problems. Anthony was gracious host.”
Join Marianna and her mother, Mama Stella, at their family olive farm near Moires for a four-hour, hands-on Cretan cooking class. Pick farm ingredients, prepare a three-course meal, taste premium olive oil, watch a harvest video, and eat with local wine. Recipes and photographs arrive by email, and leftovers go home with you.
“Absolutely amazing! The sweetest mother daughter duo taught us all about Crete culture and we made the best meals. And they were able to accommodate food allergies and allow all guests to still have amazing meals!!!”
Spend 7 to 8 hours touring Crete with an English-speaking local guide such as Mike or Stavros. Visit an olive press, Lasithi Plateau villages, old windmills, Zeus’s Cave, and Knossos, with a traditional lunch stop. Hotel and port pickup is available, but cave and Knossos admission cost extra.
“Our driver was super friendly and he made sure that we enjoyed our time. You can't go wrong by choosing this excursion.”
Spend a full day with a local driver-guide such as Nikos, Marinos, or Angie, visiting Knossos, an olive press, Zeus Cave, the Lasithi Plateau, Krasi, and Mochos. Expect a comfortable minivan, village stops, local snacks, optional lunch, and plenty of Cretan stories. Zeus Cave access must be checked before booking.
“Tour was good. Nico is professional guide and helping alot and very friendly person. The car (van) was comfortable.”
At Idiosmos in Pervolakia, hosts including Mariana, Marianna, and Nancy introduce you to Cretan beekeeping and cold-pressed olive oil made from the family’s own trees. In about an hour, you’ll see the production process, watch a short film, and taste eight honeys, olive oil, bread, cheese, tomatoes, olives, and yogurt.
“It was great to learn about the olive making process and also about beekeeping. Lots of tasty snacks at the end too!”
By what you do, not by what is nearest.
