Crete Discovery - from end to end!
Crete, life-sized: an east to west road trip, between paradisiacal beaches, Minoan treasures and authentic villages.
Duration
10 days
From
€525/pers.
Ideal seasons
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Style
Self-drive tour
Comfort
budget
Travelers
Couple, Family, With friends, groupe, senior
The spirit of travel
Set off on a 10-day self-drive tour through Grèce, between spectacular landscapes, turquoise beaches and thousand-year-old heritage. Behind the wheel of your rental car, discover the island from east to west and north to south, through its historic sites, picturesque villages and magnificent coastlines.
From Héraklion and Knossos to Chania, then from Balos and Elafonissi to Réthymnon, Matala, Sitia and Ayios Nikolaos, this itinerary offers you a complete discovery of Grèce, all the way to Spinalonga and Elounda.
Thanks to the custom self-drive formula, you can adapt the itinerary, extend certain stages or group overnight stays according to your preferences.
The stages of your journey
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrival in Heraklion or Chania
Aéroport D'Héraklion Nikos Kazantzákis → Héraklion
Arrival at Heraklion airport, where you pick up your rental car before driving to your hotel.
Use this first step to get your first contact with Crete and start discovering the island at your own pace.
Overnight in the Heraklion region.
Knossos and discovery of Heraklion
Start the day with a visit to the Knossos site, located 6 km from the city center and accessible by line bus.
Continue with the discovery of the very beautiful archaeological museum before heading to meet the old town of Heraklion.
From Heraklion to Chania: Old Town and Venetian Port
Departure towards Chania, known in English as Chania. Upon arrival, discover the old town, the Venetian port and the archaeological museum.
You can also visit Ano Vouvès, located 9 km away, approximately 15 minutes south of Kolymvari, to discover the oldest olive tree in the world and the museum dedicated to it.
Then enjoy a swim before heading to your accommodation.
Night around Chania.
Gramvousa Peninsula, Falassarna and Balos
Discover the Gramvousa peninsula, then enjoy a swim in the turquoise waters of the beaches of Falassarna and Balos, considered the most beautiful in all of Crete.
Then continue your journey south towards Paleochora, where you will spend the night.
From Paleochora to Rethymno via Elafonissi Beach
Start the day with a visit to the small town of Paleóchora and its Venetian fortress.
Then continue towards the famous Elafonissi beach, renowned for its pink sand, where you enjoy a swim.
Finally, take the road towards Réthymnon, where you will spend the night.
Overnight stay in Réthymnon
The Wild South: From Phaistos to Sitia
Start your day with a visit to the Phaistos Archaeological Site, then enjoy a swim on the superb sandy beach surrounded by rock formations carved with numerous caves, which has hosted world-renowned hippie festivals.
Then head towards the eastern end of Crete, crossing through the centre of the island along the south coast and the Libyan Sea.
Along the way, stop in the small coastal town of Ierapetra, where the famous syrtaki scene from the film "Zorba the Greek" was filmed.
If you have time, continue on the interior road passing through the Lassithi plateau. At nearly 900 meters altitude, you will find relative coolness and orchards dotted with windmills with white sails.
Arrival in the late afternoon in the city of Sitía, where you will spend the night.
Vai: Europe's Forgotten Tropical Dream
Discover the Vaï peninsula, where you can admire Europe's only palm grove. Climb the nearby hill to enjoy a view of this unusual landscape.
Continue then towards Zakros, located about thirty kilometers further south. Visit the ruins of a Minoan palace, then take time to stroll through the protected natural setting and swim on its wild beach.
In late afternoon, departure towards Ayios Nikolaos.
Spinalonga: The Islet of Venetian Mystery
Start the day with a visit to the port city of Ayios Nikolaos, then head out on an excursion to the islet of Spinalonga and its Venetian fortress.
The island has also become famous thanks to the film of the same name.
You will also find beautiful beaches around Elounda, in the Gulf of Mirabello.
Return to Heraklion/Chania and visit to CretAquarium
Return towards Heraklion. On the way, stop in Gournes, 18 km before Heraklion, to visit the fascinating CretAquarium, a particularly interesting stop if you are traveling with children.
Héraklion → Aéroport D'Héraklion Nikos Kazantzákis
Then continue to Heraklion airport, where you return your car before taking your return flight.
(NB: the stay in Heraklion can be arranged at the beginning or end of the itinerary, depending on your flight times).
Price per person
Indicative price per person, based on double room. Each trip is customized according to your preferences.
This trip can be tailored to your preferences
This itinerary provides an excellent foundation for discovery, but it can be fully customized. Our local advisors build each trip tailored to your budget, dates and preferences.
Not included
- airline tickets, personal expenses, meals, beverages, entrance fees for sites and museums, fuel, tolls, optional insurance
- The climate resilience tax must be paid at your hotel reception. Amount per room and per night: 3-star hotels = €3 / 4-star hotels = €7 / 5-star hotels = €10
Included
- 9 nights in a double room - good-quality tourist category hotels according to itinerary
- buffet breakfast
- Car rental of a 1200 cc vehicle from day 1 to day 10 (unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance, VAT) from your arrival at the airport or port until departure (9 x 24 hours)
Practical Information
Registration is considered firm and final after payment of a deposit of 30% of the total price and acceptance of the specific terms of sale.
The balance must be paid no later than 45 days before the departure date.
See our specific terms of sale for full details.
In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following fees apply:
- Plus de 60 jours avant le départ : 40 % du prix total (acompte retenu)
- Entre 60 et 30 jours avant le départ : 50 % du prix total
- Moins de 30 jours avant le départ : 100 % du prix total
We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. See our specific terms of sale for full details.
The information below concerns travelers who are nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, and Canada traveling to Greece for a tourist stay. As entry rules may change, we recommend verifying the information with the official authorities before your departure.
Passport and ID card
Nationals of the European Economic Area can enter Greece with a valid passport or national ID card. The document must be in good condition (no damaged, torn, or altered pages).
Swiss and Canadian nationals must carry a valid passport. It is recommended that it be valid beyond your planned return date and have at least one blank page for immigration stamps.
Tourist stay without visa
Greece is a member of the Schengen area. Nationals of the European Economic Area benefit from freedom of movement and can stay without any time limit for a tourist stay.
Swiss and Canadian nationals benefit from a visa exemption for tourist stays in the Schengen area, up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This rule applies to all Schengen countries combined.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)
As of its entry into force, Swiss and Canadian nationals will need to obtain an ETIAS authorization before any trip to the Schengen area, including Greece.
This prior authorization, separate from a visa, must be requested online before departure. It will be linked to your passport and valid for multiple stays over a period of three years (or until the passport expires). The information to be provided will include in particular:
passport information,
personal contact details,
a few questions relating to security and travel history.
We recommend consulting the official ETIAS website to find out the date this system comes into effect before your departure.
Traveling with children
Minor nationals of the EEA can travel with their own ID card or passport. It is strongly recommended that each child has their own travel document.
In some European countries, when a minor travels without one of their parents, an exit authorization may be required according to the regulations of the country of residence.
Other nationalities
Entry conditions may vary depending on nationality. Affected travelers should inquire with the embassy or consulate of Greece in their country of residence.
To participate in our trips, it is strongly recommended to be insured for emergency repatriation and foreign medical expenses.
Your local agency encourages you to review the specific policy developed with our partners CHAPKA ASSURANCES and AXA ASSISTANCE.
To subscribe to insurance, learn about coverage and rates, follow the link below.
CAP EXPLORER: The complete insurance solution designed for a worry-free trip!
Choose the plan that suits you best:
Explorer'Multirisque
Explorer'Annulation
Explorer'Assistance
Explorer' Complémentaire Carte Bancaire
Specific to our trips, we strongly recommend subscribing to them.
If you choose to subscribe to one of these plans, the policy document detailing all coverage and claims procedures is available on the insurer's website.
Your local agency will be aware of it, but only the participant is responsible for complying with the claims declaration procedures. The participant must therefore keep this policy document with them throughout their trip.
Important notes:
- The order of the program, visits and nights is indicative and will be adapted to your arrival and departure location and time. The program can be modified, you can extend your stay at one place or another or remove a stage, according to your wishes and interests. The nights can be grouped in 3 or 4 different places from where you will explore, if you do not wish to change accommodation too often. We propose for example the following distribution:
2 nights near Heraklion
3 nights west of Chania (Kolymbari or Kissamos region)
1 night in Matala
3 nights on the north-east coast (Ayios Nikolaos or Sitia)
-For the July and August period, count on a "high season" supplement of 20%
The prices above are indicative and vary depending on the number of people, dates and hotels. Contact us for an offer tailored to your trip
Chapka — Cap Explorer
Our insurance partnerTravel with peace of mind with our partner Chapka. Cancellation, repatriation, medical expenses, baggage… All the coverage for a worry-free trip.
Travel with peace of mind — I'll handle the insuranceFrequently asked questions
To travel to Greece, you must have a valid identity card or passport. No special formalities are required upon arrival. The currency used is the euro. Before booking your trip, we recommend that you check the entry requirements applicable to your nationality with the Greek consular authorities.
Go to the My Trips section to find all your projects.
You can send a message to your host directly from the Tea Lounge.
For a tailor-made quality trip, plan between €180 and €300 per day per person, including accommodation, meals, internal transport and activities. International flights (€150-400 return) are additional. Santorini and Mykonos are considerably more expensive, especially in summer.
Your documents are accessible in the Documents tab of your trip.
Absolutely. We adapt each circuit to your travel profile. For families, we prioritize relaxed paces, family-friendly accommodations, fun and educational activities, and comfortable private transfers. Our English-speaking local guides know how to captivate children with age-appropriate anecdotes.
It's simple. You exchange with our local team to define your wishes, budget and dates. You receive a detailed itinerary proposal within 48 hours. You refine every detail together until you reach the perfect version. You confirm and travel with peace of mind. Your local agency remains available 7 days a week throughout your trip.
In case of emergency, contact your local agency immediately.
Payment is generally made in two installments.
Our agency is part of the Nomadays network, registered in France. You benefit from APST guarantee (Association Professionnelle de Solidarité du Tourisme) which covers 100% of your funds. Secure payment, repatriation insurance included, and English-speaking assistance 24/7 on site throughout your stay.
Let's talk about your adventure — Crete
Keeper of a sensitive and timeless Greece, based in Athènes
Greece is more than its postcards. What I love to share is its nuances, its light, its traditions and that unique emotion you feel when discovering it slowly.
— Martine
