Guided Road Trips

Destination Platanias Botanical Gardens

Botanical Gardens

Explore the magical Cretan nature! Follow us to the famous Botanical Gardens of Crete full of plants from all over the world! DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP Small traditional villages and fascinating mountain roads! This road trip is for you who love nature trails and green sceneries. The first part of our trip we will drive through orange farmers villages Patelari, Alikianos and Skines among the citrus, avocado and nut trees. When reaching up at an altitude of almost 500m in Karanou village the trees will change to apple and cherry trees. Mountainous views will take us to the foot of White Mountains where Botanical Garden was built 20 years ago to praise the unique microclimate of Crete. The garden introduces thousands of plants from all over the world along the 2,5 km walking path. By the small pond you will meet gooses, peacocks, donkeys and deers. Before return we will offer you local snack  in the park's own restaurant to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Route: Platanias - Patelari - Alikianos - Skines - Hliaro - Karanou - Lakki - Botanical Gardens - Fournes - Platanias Duration 4h

FromEUR 65
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Destination Platanias Country Road Trip with Brewery

Country Road Trip with Brewery

Small Cretan villages and incredible countryside views! Learn about the life beyond the busy turistic zone and visit a local brewery! DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP Our guided country tour will take you inland to the countryside of Platanias municipality. Enjoy the amazing green views and pittoresque small villages! You will also learn many interesting facts of everyday life in the countryside and the local's self-sufficient economy. There is always time for short stops for photos or simply just to breath deep fresh air and admire the incredible views. A longer stop will be at Charma Brewery in Zounaki village where you will join a guided tour around the brewery facilities and get a chance to know all about the brewing process and brewing ingredients. Tasting will include four fresh beer samples from brewery's own production and are accompained with beer snack (cold plate). Return trip close to the coast line will complete our country tour giving you lovely memories and convincing you of the versatility of Crete! Route: Platanias - Kyrtomados - Agia - Alikianos - Skines - Nea Roumata - Deres - Zounaki - Sirili - Vlacheronitissa - Kyparissos - Platanias Duration 4h

FromEUR 65
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Destination Platanias Country Road Trip with Winery

Country Road Trip with Winery

Have you ever wondered how it is behind the popular holiday area? Take a path thru Cretan lifestyle in the countryside and visit a winery! DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP Our guided country tour will take you inland to the countryside of Platanias municipality. Enjoy the amazing green views and pittoresque small villages! You will also learn many interesting facts of everyday life in the countryside and the local's self-sufficient economy. There is always time for short stops for photos or simply just to breath deep fresh air and admire the incredible views. A longer stop will be at Manousakis winery in Vatolakkos where you will have a tour at their premises and hear about the wine making process in Crete. Tasting will include five different wines from winery's own production and are paired with local Cretan rusks, olive oil and sea salt. Return trip through the orange valley will complete our country tour giving you lovely memories and convincing you of the versatility of Crete! Route: Platanias - Gerani - Loutraki - Manoliopoulo - Limni - Tomadiana - Skonizo - Vatolakos - Koufos - Patelari - Platanias Duration 4h  

FromEUR 65
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Destination Platanias Deliana Hike - BESTSELLER

Deliana Hike - BESTSELLER

Easy hike suitable for all ages in a beautiful small gorge with impressive steep cliffs. Ideal also for birdwatchers! Details of your trip   Located approx. 30km west from Platanias village, the Deliana gorge is enchanting with its steep cliffs and on the top of which you can often see vultures flying. The road at the bottom of the gorge is flat except for a few rocky parts. There are no steep climbs or falls during the trip. The walk starts from Deliana and ends at Mesavlia, where there is a short break at the small church of St. Paraskevi. We will walk the gorge back and forth, so the time spent walking is approx. 2h 15min and the total length of the hike is approx. 5km.  After the walk we will stop for refreshments and small snacks at village of Deliana to taste some local specialities. Route: Platanias - Kolymbari - Deliana - Kolymbari - Platanias Duration 4h

FromEUR 65
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Destination Platanias Elafonissi Road Trip

Elafonissi Road Trip

Be first at Elafonisi! This is when the beach is at its best - no crowds and a great opportunity to catch the best spots and a sunbed with umbrella! Direct Guided Road Trip to Elafonisi Beach with stops for lunch on the return.  DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP Located in the southwest corner of Crete, this magical beach captivates with its crystal clear waters and white pinkish sand...Early pick up from your hotel, a small participating group and a direct drive through western Crete to the southwest corner of Crete will guarantee that you will be among the first ones to reach the beautiful Elafonisi beach.  Relax and enjoy a slow-paced beach day with plenty of time to wade in the shallow water, swim and explore the unique surroundings. The clear water paradise beach of Elafonissi is also often called the Maldives of Crete. It is also a part of Natura 2000 which is a network of protected areas covering Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. On the way back we will stop for a late lunch in one of the local taverns along the way. Route: Platanias - Kaloudiana - Voulgaro - Topolia - Elos -  Elafonisi - Elos - Topolia - Voulgaro - Kaloudiana -Platanias  Duration 7h  

FromEUR 50
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Destination Platanias Honey and Cheese Tastings

Honey and Cheese Tastings

Join us for a unique tasting trip which you can only find with Destination Platanias! We will introduce you to the real Cretan tastes, honey and cheese, straight from the local producer. DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP Our trip begins by following the western coastline to the Kolymbari village where we will visit a beautiful Gonia monastery which has a significant history at the area. From Kolymbari we will continue to Rodopou peninsula and you will have a unique meeting with a local honey producer at Rodopou village. Did you know that there are different varieties of honey and the honey producers are actually producing much more than just honey? The bee keeper’s mother also makes famous Greek cheese, Graviera, and yoghurt which are both delicious combinations to pair with honey. On the way back we will have a small stop at the village of Ravdoucha where we will enjoy the incredible seaviews of the Kissamos bay.  Route: Platanias - Tavronitis - Kolymbari - Rodopou - Ravdoucha - Platanias Duration 4h

FromEUR 65
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Destination Platanias Mountain Road Trip

Mountain Road Trip

Mountain stories! Experience the beautiful White mountains of Crete and enjoy the amazing Cretan sceneries. DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP Our road trip will start with colourful sceneries through the orange valley and continue climbing up slowly to the west side of the mountains. After passing Meskla village we will have a short stop to visit a small Sarakina gorge where we will see the impressive rock walls of the gorge just a short walk away from the road. Curvy road will take us all the way up to Zourva where we will have a break with a simple snack with an incredible view. Breathtaking scenery will continue after the snack to the next village Therisso which played an important role in Crete's modern history. On the way back to Platanias we will drive along the Therisso gorge where you can admire the high vertical cliffs and the huge Plane trees. Route: Platanias - Patelari - Meskla - Zourva - Therisso - Varipetro - Agia - Drakiana - Platanias   Duration 4h  

FromEUR 65
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Destination Platanias Nature Road Trip

Nature Road Trip

Small traditional villages, fascinating mountain roads and a short walk among the nature's miracles. This full day road trip is for you who love nature trails, green sceneries and wish to feel it all!   DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP   As starting our trip from Platanias we will drive first through the orange farmers villages Patelari, Alikianos and Skines in the middle of the citrus, avocado and nut trees. When reaching up at an altitude of almost 500m in Karanou village the trees will change to apple and cherry trees. Mountainous views will take us to the foot of White Mountains where Botanical Park was built 20 years ago to praise the unique microclimate of Crete. The park introduces thousands of plants from all over the world along the 2,5 km walking path. By the small pond you will meet gooses, peacocks, donkeys and deers.  Our road trip will continue next climbing up slowly to the east side of the mountains. After passing Meskla village a curvy road will take us all the way up at Zourva where we will have a rich Cretan lunch with warm Cretan hospitality and an incredible view. Breathtaking sceneries will continue after the lunch to the next village Therisso which played an important role in Crete's modern history. On the way back to Platanias we will drive along the Therisso gorge where you can admire the high vertical cliffs and the huge Plane trees. Route: Platanias - Patelari - Alikianos - Skines - Hliaro - Karanou - Lakki - Botanical Gardens - Fournes - Meskla - Zourva - Therisso - Varipetro - Agia - Drakiana - Platanias Duration 7h

FromEUR 99
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Destination Platanias Olive oil and Honey Tastings

Olive oil and Honey Tastings

Unique landscapes and interesting small landmarks! Enjoy the pure Cretan tastes at the dynamic family business and get to know the world of the olive and the bee! DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP Feel the Crete with all your sences! This road trip will take you close to Kissamos-Kastelli where we will introduce you to one of the most bizzare and interesting landscapes in Crete, Komolithi, in village of Potamida. Following up the Tiflos river we will find an old three arched stone bridge from Venetian time which has remained undamaged incredibly well and later on a tiny waterfall in the heart of Makronas.  After a short drive through quiet settlements we will reach a dynamic family business and will have a tour at their premises. You will learn about olive harvest, olive oil pressing process as well as honey production. The tasting of olive oil and 8 different varieties of honey will be paired with rusks, bread sticks, cheese, olives and tomatoes - all these locally produced as well! Nothing can beat these pure tastes! On our departure we will pass by village of Rokka which was built partly on the relics of an ancient city on the southern slope of a spectacular high cliff, which dominates in the area. Route: Platanias - Kaloudiana - Potamida - Kamara - Houdaliana - Armenohori - Trialonia - Sfakopigadi - Pervolakia - Kera - Roka - Faleliana - Drapania - Platanias Duration 4h

FromEUR 65
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Destination Platanias Olive oil and Wine Tastings

Olive oil and Wine Tastings

Traditional and classic road trip with private guidning! Taste the green gold, the awarded Cretan olive oil, with us and give a hug to one of the oldest olive tree in the world! DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP We will take you to the heart of Western countryside and you will learn all about collecting the olives, the olive oil process and how we use olive oil here in Crete. Wine production has developed considerably in the area in recent years as well. Besides olive oil, you will have a great opportunity to taste local wine varieties and hear about the wine making process. Our stops in Kolymbari and Vouves will deepen your understanding of the importance of these fields in everyday life in Crete. Route: Platanias - Kolymbari - Vouves - Anoskeli - Platanias Duration 4h  

FromEUR 65
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Destination Platanias Two Beaches Road Trip with lunch included

Two Beaches Road Trip with lunch included

Combine two beautiful fine sanded beaches with chrystal clear waters, Elafonisi and Falassarna, on the same trip! DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP Explore the two popular beaches of Western Crete on the same day! Early pick up from your hotel, a small participating group and a direct drive through western Crete to the southwest corner of Crete will guarantee that you will be among the first ones to reach the beautiful Elafonisi beach. On the way we will have a short stop at a small stalactite cave Agia Sofia which has a significant archeolgical, historical and biological interest. In the morning Elafonisi is at its best - no crowds and a great opportunity to catch the best spots and a sunbed with umbrella! Enjoy the beach, take the day's first swim and explore the unique surroundings. From Elafonisi our road trip will continue to the monastery of Chrysoskalitissa and towards the west passing through small settlements and villages with amazing seaviews. In one of the villages it is time to have lunch before arriving to the second fine sanded beach, Falassarna, which is nowadays very popular among the locals. Have another swim at turquoise waters of Falassarna and relax before our departure through Kissamos and back to Platanias. Which one of the beaches you liked the best? Route: Platanias - Kaloudiana - Voulgaro - Topolia - Elos - Elafonisi - Livadia - Keramoti - Kambos - Sfinari - Platanos - Falassarna - Platanos - Kissamos - Platanias   Duration 8h

FromEUR 150
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Destination Platanias Women in Crete

Women in Crete

Meet strong and talented Cretan women and get to know their businesses in the craft sector! How it is to run a business as a woman and to combine work and everyday life in Crete? DETAILS OF YOUR TRIP At first we will meet a young ceramic artist in her workshop in Platanias. Alexandra is a new artist and has recently started to create her own collection. We will hear what led her to ceramics and the way she works clay into unique ceramic products. Next we will visit a soap factory which is the first of its kind on the whole island of Crete, using organic olive oil and all-natural recipes. Drawing inspiration from Greek nature, and the women in the family, the factory was founded by the mother-daughter duo, Filio and Maria. Hailing from a long tradition of homemaking of healing cosmetics, they were inspired in particular by the skincare benefits of organic olive oil, the ‘‘gold’’ of Crete.  The last meeting will be in Vatolakkos with Mrs. Despoina who is well-known in the area for her amazing cloth weaving skills. Over the years she has created fabrics for traditional Cretan wedding dresses, table cloths and bags. Apart from weaving, she also dyes the threads she uses with colors obtained from plants in the surrounding area.   Route: Platanias - Gerani - Loutraki - Psathogianos - Bapilos - Koufos - Vatolakos - Koufos - Patelari - Platanias Duration 4h

FromEUR 65
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