Tour of western Crete with winery and olive oil estate
Photography

Tour of western Crete with winery and olive oil estate

4.3/5

Excellent
140 reviews
from
£59.00
Free cancellation
Language: English
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: more than 8 hours

Based on our commitment to sustainable tourism, all National Geographic Day Tours meet the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria, and a portion of the proceeds from these tours goes back to the National Geographic Society to fund research and sustainable programs around the world.

Why you’ll love this…
  • You'll get to taste wines and local delicacies at a highly regarded family-run winery
  • Learning about organic olive oil production is brought to life on an olive oil estate tour
  • A chance to soak up the sun on Falassarna beach, voted one of Europe's best beaches
  • There's time to enjoy a traditional lunch made with local produce at a seaside restaurant
  • Your expert local guide has an unrivalled knowledge of Crete and its gastronomy
What to expect

From quality local produce to postcard-perfect beaches, western Crete has it all. This full day tour showcases the area's best bits, with wine tasting at Karavitakis Winery, sampling organic olive oil at the Biolea Estate and relaxing on Falassarna beach. Vasso, one of our expert local guides, says: ‘This is one of my favourite excursions, as it gives a good taste of many aspects of Cretan scenery, lifestyle and monuments. You get to visit an olive oil factory and a winery that produces some of the best wines in Crete'.

The day starts with some viticulture on a guided tour of the family-run Karavitakis Winery. Delight your taste buds by sampling local wine and tasty snacks at the state-of-the-art visitor centre. Next, you'll head for lunch to a traditional Cretan restaurant by the sea, where food is prepared using locally sourced products. Plus, you'll have some time to relax on the blond sands of blissful Falassarna beach, which, says Vasso, ‘has been voted as one of the best beaches in Europe several times'.

You'll then be taken to the Biolea Estate, a family-owned olive oil factory that specialises in the artisan production of organic olive oil. Find out everything you need to know about olive oil production, from how the olives are grown to how the oil is pressed and then bottled. What's more, your visit contributes to a local business and helps the wider island economy.

Read more
What's included
  • check Transport
  • check Lunch
  • check Wine tasting
  • check Local delicacy tasting
  • check Escort
What to remember
  • Bring bathing gear and sunblock
Read more
Provider
TUI Hellas Travel, Tourism and Airlines SA, with Tax Number 094469778 and Travel License Number 0261Ε60000126100
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

Excellent

4.3 /5

Based on 140 reviews from verified customers


Review categories

Service

4.6/5

Safety

4.6/5

Value for money

4.5/5

Staff

4.6/5


46%
44%
10%
1%
0%

Sort by:

  • M

    M.d cunningham

    Verified booking

    4.2

    10 October 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    Nothing against the restaurant, food and service was excellent, but I personally didn't like the seating, all to close together.

  • S

    Shashi

    Verified booking

    4.6

    5 October 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    Very well put together. Kept to timing - very knowledgeable guide and experienced driver.

  • S

    Stephanie ringwood

    Verified booking

    4.2

    28 September 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    The tour was really good, however more time at the monastery and less time at the olive tree or the beach would have been better also when having lunch sitting at a long table was not very comfortable

  • L

    Linda

    Verified booking

    4.2

    21 September 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    Pick up and tour guide excellent. Surprise trip to a beautiful monastery was lovely, as was driving through western Crete. Expected more discussion of the wines we were sampling by the host. He explained about each wine's grape variety but then left us to sample without any input on what we were tasting. Beach had plenty of facilities. Then had lunch overlooking the sands. Biolea olive oil guide spoke very fast, and the acoustics inside the factory made it very hard to catch what she was saying.

  • S

    S Morrison

    Verified booking

    4.6

    21 September 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    Enjoyed all the places we visited. Our guide was very clear as to what to expect at each place plus emphasized how long we had and when to get back to the coach. The guide at the Olive factory although spoke perfect English talked so fast that we couldn't understand her, disappointed as I particularly wanted to hear about it. Although the video after clarified some of what she spoke about

  • B

    Blushka

    Verified booking

    4.6

    12 September 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    The pace of the trip was good, timing at venue was ample

You might also like

Nat Geo Day Tour: The Millenary History of Olive Oil
Gastronomy & Wine

Nat Geo Day Tour: The Millenary History of Olive Oil

Approximate itinerary and duration of activitiesIntroduction - 15 minutesWalking tour through the olive trees - 30 minutesPause for questions and raki drink - 15 minutesOlive oil factory tour - 40 minutesOlive oil tasting and questions - 55 minutesCooking demonstration and tastings - 30 minutesPlease note the order of activities may vary at your guide's discretion With millennia of experience behind them, it's no wonder the people of Crete produce some of the finest olive oil in the world. You will appreciate the timeless bond between Cretans and their revered olive trees as you trace the long heritage of olive cultivation on the island. Just outside Kritsa village in the hills of eastern Crete, you'll follow Nikos Plevritakis on a brief walk to his olive groves where some trees are 600-800 years old, and learn about olive cultivation from a true specialist. In the shade of the olive trees, you can try local raki known as ‘tsikoudia' with olives to nibble on while discussing the cultural and societal significance of olive cultivation in Crete. Then it's time to visit a local cooperative factory, to see up close how olives are processed into world-class olive oil. Back on the Olive Path, seize the chance to taste fresh figs, almonds, and grapes, see what the locals are growing, and find out all about the Cretan lifestyle and diet. Then, at an olive farm, you can sample olives, fresh tomatoes, and raki before your olive oil tasting session begins – a great opportunity to learn how to taste oils like a professional and compare the flavor profiles of different varieties. Finish off the day with a cooking lesson on various ways to use olive oil in Cretan cuisine. Authentic dishes, such as tzatziki and Greek salad will feature, and you'll find out why the traditional Cretan diet is so beneficial to health and longevity.

free cancellation
Available in:

de, en 

Nat Geo Day Tour: Discover Cretan Farm Life
People & Culture

Nat Geo Day Tour: Discover Cretan Farm Life

Small-scale, family-run farms are integral to the Mediterranean diet that Crete is so famous for. A local family will welcome you to their Mitato, a small farmhouse, where you'll be greeted with the genuine warmth of Cretan hospitality. Listen to the local farmer tell the intriguing tale of King Minoas who watched from his observatory, and alerted locals to incoming pirates. Greetings over, it's time for a hands-on bread-making lesson, learning the techniques for typical Cretan bread, made with wheat and barley flour. Then, witness their cheese-making skills using goat's milk from the farm. Next, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in, helping out with daily farm tasks like feeding the goats, pigs, chickens, and rabbits, and tending to the gardens. The adventure continues with a snail hunt over the mountainside, exclusive to National Geographic travellers, peeking under rocks, and among shrubs and flowers. As the day unfolds, your collected treasures, including snails, eggs, fruit, and vegetables, become the ingredients for lunch. Alongside the family, you'll prepare a feast of local delicacies, all made from the products of your day's work. Finish off the experience with a taste of Crete's spirit, Raki, and why not sing along to their traditional Cretan ‘Mantinades,' - traditional Cretan couplets that express sentiments about Cretan daily life.

free cancellation
Available in:

de, en