Wild Life Tour – Lasithi Plateau and Eastern Crete

The Wild Life Tour heads east: to the mountain village of Kritsa, up onto the lonely Katharo plateau and on to the Lasithi plateau with its windmills. A tour made of village atmosphere, nature and history – with the chance to try your own hand at the potter’s wheel.

Kritsa – One of the Oldest Villages on Crete

Kritsa clings to a slope above Agios Nikolaos and is considered one of the oldest and most beautiful mountain villages on the island. The lanes are so narrow that no car fits through, hand-woven blankets hang on the walls, and the kafenia smell of coffee. Nearby stands the church of Panagia Kera with Byzantine frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries – the best preserved on the whole island.

Katharo Plateau – Silence at 1,100 Metres

A winding mountain road takes us up onto the Katharo plateau. Only a few shepherd families live up here in summer; in winter the plain is usually under snow and practically deserted. Fossil bones of dwarf elephants and dwarf hippopotamuses that lived on Crete thousands of years ago have been found on the plateau.

The Lasithi Plateau and Its Windmills

The Lasithi plateau is the largest high plain on Crete: a flat, fertile basin at 850 metres, framed by mountains on all sides. Thousands of white windmills once stood here, pumping groundwater onto the fields. Some have survived and still turn in the wind.

Pottery and Cretan Food

In a traditional pottery, children and adults alike may try the wheel themselves – the craft has been passed down here for generations. Afterwards there is a generous Cretan lunch before we bring you back to your ship on time.

Tour Highlights

• Kritsa, one of the oldest mountain villages on Crete
• Panagia Kera with the island’s best-preserved Byzantine frescoes
• The lonely Katharo plateau at 1,100 metres
• The Lasithi plateau and its surviving white windmills
• Hands-on session at a traditional potter’s wheel

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 Wild Life Tour

Tell us which ship you are on and how long you are in port, and we will fit the Wild Life Tour around your day ashore. You are under no obligation until everything is confirmed.

This tour is one of our shore excursions in Crete.