Discover Crete, the largest and most populous island in Greece: explore Knossos, swim in Bali and Matala, sail across Mirabello Bay, and relax on the pink sands of Elafonissi. All of it paired with pita, tzatziki, and feta – could you ask for more?

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Party and nightlife
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Nature and adventure
City and cultures
Monuments and history
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Itinerary

Is a trip to Greece one of your summer priorities? Then you can't help but think about vacationing in Crete, the largest and most populous island in Greece. There's a lot to do and discover, and we have a good 8 days to enjoy its (stunning) sea, its food with Greek and Turkish influences and the east coast with Mirabella Bay, the largest gulf of the Greek islands.

We start with Knossos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe and the cradle of myths and legends. Then the call of the sea takes over: from Bali to Matala, on to Agios Nikolaos and a relaxing cruise in the bay, then Kissamos Cave and its crystal-clear waters for some snorkeling. You can't miss Elafonissi, the 'pink beach': yes, the sand really is pink! Leaving will be hard, but Greece has so many other islands.

Travel itinerary map of the island of Crete with marked route lines and stops across the region.
An ornate stone monastery with a bell tower sits in a courtyard, viewed through a weathered stone arch under a partly cloudy sky.

Check-in: our adventure starts in Stalida!

We check into our accommodation near Stalida and meet for the welcome meeting. We're on the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, with one week to discover it slowly.

  • First taste of Crete: tonight we start with its flavors, a typical cuisine with Greek and Turkish influences.

  • Dakos and hortas: top of the list of Cretan specialities are dakos, a kind of local bruschetta, and hortas, wild herbs that grow in these parts, served with a drizzle of oil. A delicacy!

A person wearing a hat photographs the ancient stone ruins of a palace with red columns under a partly cloudy sky.

History, myths and the old town

Our first day in Crete begins with a morning at the site of Knossos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe.

  • In the city of King Minos: according to legend, this is where the labyrinth that imprisoned the Minotaur was located, and we walk right inside the books of literature, among the places of King Minos, Ariadne, Daedalus and Icarus.

  • Free time in Heraklion: after lunch the rest of the day is ours, with no set agenda: we follow the flow through the old town of Heraklion, with its squares, cafes and picturesque markets.

View from a cave of a busy beach with people swimming in turquoise water next to a hillside village.

Libyan Sea and prehistoric caves

A free day on the south coast, in the province of Heraklion, by the crystal-clear waters of the Libyan Sea.

  • Exploring Matala: a picturesque, unspoiled village on Messara Bay, where a cliff dotted with prehistoric-era caves rises above the beach. What a sight!

Aerial view of a historic fortified island with stone ruins, with several boats docked in the surrounding turquoise water.

Beaches, sun and fun

We continue discovering the largest of the Greek islands and its heavenly beaches, heading to the eastern part of the island.

  • First stop, Agios Nikolaos: a charming fishing village famous for its incredible beaches and its thousand-year history. Why not enjoy a good glass of red wine here?

  • Cruising Mirabella Bay: later we move to Mirabella Bay, the largest gulf of the Greek islands and fifth largest in the Mediterranean, and embark on a relaxing cruise, letting the waves wash over us as the sun disappears behind the horizon.

A tall stone lighthouse stands on a seawall in a harbor, with a city and mountains visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

From Heraklion to Rethymno, via Bali Beach

This morning we set out along the northern coast from Heraklion to Rethymnon, where our hotel for the next few days awaits.

  • Taking it slow: there's no rush, so we take our time to visit Rethymno and enjoy the sights along the way.

  • Swim and lunch at Bali Beach: another refreshing dip and a well-deserved lunch break on Bali Beach (no, we haven't ended up in Indonesia, we're still in Crete!), with emerald-green, crystal-clear waters and sandy coves.

  • Fancy another dip? Every beach or cove along the way is an excellent excuse to stop and dive into the waters of this part of the island.

A small boat is anchored in clear turquoise water in a bay with a white-washed village at the base of a mountain.

A day in the water!

The alarm has already rung: we head to Kissamos for yet another dip, welcomed by white sand, turquoise water, hidden coves and the shade of juniper trees. The morning is ours to plan:

  • Fancy some snorkeling? We can spend the morning snorkeling to enjoy the sea life, swimming along the coast to a natural rock pool.

  • In the mood to unwind? Or we can simply relax on the beach: the choice is ours.

  • Snack break: after swimming back to shore and drying off, it's snack time.

  • Afternoon in Chania: we slow down and take some free time to explore Chania, the Venice of the East and the second largest city on the island of Crete.

A shoreline with distinctive pink sand meets clear, shallow turquoise water, with dark rocks and distant hills under a solid blue sky.

The sand is... pink!

We wake up early: we want to reach the pink beach of Elafonissi well ahead of everyone else, so we can enjoy it in all its splendour.

It's a tongue of sand with a thousand shades of pink and also a protected area: caretta-caretta turtles come here to lay their eggs, so some areas of the beach are cordoned off to protect the hatchlings.

  • Morning at Elafonissi: we enjoy the peace of the early morning (if we manage to get out of bed!), spread our towels and answer the call of the sea: the water is an otherworldly colour, impossible to resist.

  • Stop at Falassarna: on the way back we stop at Falassarna Beach, another of the most beautiful beaches on the island.

  • Sunset dinner or back to Rethymno? For our last evening we can stay here for dinner at sunset (did someone say pita gyros?) or return to Rethymno.

Check-out and goodbyes

Time to say goodbye! See you soon for another WeRoad adventure!

What's included

What's not included

Roundtrip flight to/from destination
  • Food and beverages unless specified

  • Gas/petrol, parking, toll fees 

  • All souvenirs and extras that you wish to buy and will be able to squeeze in your backpack  

  • Anything not mentioned in the "What's included" section

Optional activities

Please note, some extra optional activities will be available for this trip. Your Group Leader will be happy to assist with organizing these activities for the group once the trip starts. Availability may vary depending on location and group preferences.

Please note these activities are provided by third party suppliers and liability rests exclusively with these third party suppliers.

  • Traditional food tour - approx. USD55

  • Knossos palace archeological site – guided tour - approx. USD32

  • Balos beach boat trip approx. USD68

Additional info

Learn more about accommodation, transport, and other useful travel information.
  • Accomodation

    Hotels or local apartments.

    Private Room Option is not available for this trip.

  • Transport

    Rental car or local buses

  • Staff

    Our trips are led by a Group Leader who has been specifically trained by us to lead group travels to ensure you have the best time. A WhatsApp group with all travel participants will be created two weeks prior to departure by your Group Leader.

  • Luggage

    Backpacks are mandatory to allow easy transfers - we recommend a 45L backpack for our trips.

  • Info on private roomsShow all details

Why WeRoad

  • Small groups, on average 11 people

  • Move or change your trip for free up to 31 days before departure

  • Book with $ 0. Pay the $ 100 deposit only once the trip is confirmed

The Group Leaders

Our Group Leaders are chosen because they’re people just like you: passionate travelers who share the experience authentically, while having the skills to take care of the organisation, and help you get the most out of every moment of the trip.

Find your flight

For this trip, we recommend arriving and departing from these airports.

ArrivalHeraklion (HER)
ReturnHeraklion (HER)
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FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

About this trip

About WeRoad

About Crete

From
$ 1,680
Book with $ 0
•Free trip change
•0% interest installments