Crete Alps Tour – Up to 1,800 Metres
The Crete Alps Tour takes you to the highest point on Crete that can be reached by vehicle: around 1,800 metres above sea level. Up there it is quiet, the air is clear, and in good weather you can see the sea in both directions – the Cretan Sea to the north, the Libyan Sea to the south. A shore excursion for everyone who expects more from Crete than beaches and old towns.
From the Harbour into the High Mountains
The contrast is what makes this tour. In the morning you are still in the port of Heraklion, two hours later on a plateau where snow can still lie in spring. The road screws its way upwards in hairpins, and with every metre of altitude the vegetation, the light and the temperature change. We stop at viewpoints several times along the way. Bring a light jacket – even at the height of summer it is noticeably cooler up there than down on the coast.
A Paradise of Herbs
The mountain region of Crete is considered one of the most species-rich herb areas in Europe. Diktamos, the famous Cretan dittany, grows here on rock faces, along with mountain tea, thyme, sage and oregano. Many of these plants are still used as household remedies on Crete today. Your guide shows you what grows at the roadside, what it is used for and how to recognise the plants. Smelling and tasting expressly permitted.
Visit to an Observatory
A highlight of the tour is the visit to an observatory in the mountains. The clear, dry mountain air and the distance from the lights of the coast make this one of the best observation sites in the eastern Mediterranean. The stop is worthwhile by day too: the facility, the technology and the setting above the clouds are impressive, and the view from up there is priceless anyway.
Traditional Mountain Lunch
After all that mountain air we call in at a mountain taverna. What comes to the table is whatever the region provides: lamb, mountain cheese, wild herbs, fresh bread and olive oil from their own harvest, with regional wine and a raki to finish.
Tour Highlights
- Crete’s highest drivable point at around 1,800 metres
- Views of both the Cretan and the Libyan Sea in clear weather
- Cretan dittany, mountain tea, thyme, sage and oregano along the route
- Visit to a mountain observatory above the clouds
- Mountain taverna lunch with lamb, mountain cheese and wild herbs
At a Glance
- Duration: approx. 7 hours
- Available: daily
- Type: private tour
- Guide: English-speaking
- Start: pick-up directly at the Heraklion cruise terminal
Good to Know
- Pick-up at the Heraklion cruise terminal once your ship is cleared; we agree the exact time with you in advance.
- We plan around your ship’s actual port time and bring you back in good time.
- Bring sturdy shoes, sun protection and a hat in summer, plus a jacket in the cooler months.
- There is little walking involved – the tours work well with small children or limited mobility. A walking aid or rollator is no problem, just tell us when booking.
- Vegetarian, vegan and allergy-friendly meals are available on request.
Booking the Crete Alps Tour
Tell us which ship you are on and how long you are in port, and we will fit the Crete Alps Tour around your day ashore. You are under no obligation until everything is confirmed.
This tour is one of our shore excursions in Crete.
