Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory in Heraklion, Greece
Heraklion, Greece

Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory

Outty Ranking 98 5.0 · 767 traveler reviews7.5 hoursFrom $13190+ Club
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Outty Ranking

98/100

Peak Performance. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 767 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory worth booking?

Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory is a 7.5-hour experience in Heraklion, Greece, from $131 per person. It scores 98 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Peak Performance”, based on a 5/5 rating across 767 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing. It sits in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.

Outty Ranking
98 / 100
Rating
5/5 (767)
Duration
7.5 hours
From
$131 per person

* Embark on this full day small group Tour or choose the Private Option so we can show you the real side of Crete . * Walk through the narrow streets of the old traditional villages , enjoy an iced coffee , mountain tea …… * Visit an olive oil factory , learn all about olive oil production and taste a few different ones . * Enjoy the ride with our comfortable air conditioned vehicles. * Taste a glass of Raki and some local wine while learning about local traditions, history, mythology and culture. * Visit The picturesque village of Krasi and the monumental Platanus tree . * Visit the Cave of Zeus , explore Lasithii Plateau, the Old Wind Mills and enjoy amazing views from the mountains. * Tasting a few local dishes is a must while in Crete .( OPTIONAL) * Experience the Greek Hospitality and create memories that will last a life time. * Pick up and drop off from your hotel or Heraklion cruise port .

What you get

    About this experience

    * Embark on this full day small group Tour or choose the Private Option so we can show you the real side of Crete . * Walk through the narrow streets of the old traditional villages , enjoy an iced coffee , mountain tea …… * Visit an olive oil factory , learn all about olive oil production and taste a few different ones . * Enjoy the ride with our comfortable air conditioned vehicles. * Taste a glass of Raki and some local wine while learning about local traditions, history, mythology and culture. * Visit The picturesque village of Krasi and the monumental Platanus tree . * Visit the Cave of Zeus , explore Lasithii Plateau, the Old Wind Mills and enjoy amazing views from the mountains. * Tasting a few local dishes is a must while in Crete .( OPTIONAL) * Experience the Greek Hospitality and create memories that will last a life time. * Pick up and drop off from your hotel or Heraklion cruise port .

    What's included

    Included

    • Liability insurance
    • Transport by comfortable air conditioned vehicles and free WiFi on board
    • Pick up and drop off from your hotel , port or meeting points .
    • English speaking knowledgeable local driver guide .
    • Bottled water , coffees , teas
    • Olive oil , and Raki tasting

    Not included

    • Lunch
    • Knossos Palace entrance fee 20euros per person, half price for up to 25 years old .
    • Private Guide inside Knossos Palace could be arranged for extra charge.
    • Entrance fees

    What you'll see and do

    1. Heraklion

      We start our tour from Heraklion.

      5 minutes here

    2. Gouves

      Pass by without stopping, or a possible picking up point.

      Pass by without stopping

    3. Hersonissos

      Pass by without stopping or it can be a location where we can pick you up .

      Pass by without stopping

    4. Malia

      Pass by without stopping or it can be a possible picking up location.

      Pass by without stopping

    5. Omalia Olive Press

      Visit olive oil factory to learn about how olive oil is made with the modern machinery and with the old machinery.

      35 minutes here

    6. Mochos

      We walk through the old narrow streets of the village, and enjoy a coffee or fresh juice at the main square .

      30 minutes here

    7. Windmills Of Lasithi Plateau

      We will see the old wind mills that used to pump the way from the underground to water the crops and the other windmills that used to grain wheat and corn to make flour.

      30 minutes here

    8. Kera Kardiotissa Monastery

      We pass by without stopping.

      Pass by without stopping

    9. Platanus Tree

      We visit the village of Krasi , walk around the stone narrow streets and old houses, of course have a few photos at the oldest and biggest Platanus tree in Crete.

      30 minutes here

    10. Stalis

      Pass by without stopping or a possible picking up location.

      Pass by without stopping

    11. Lasithi Mesa

      We stop at a family restaurant up on the mountain for lunch but this is OPTIONAL…..

      45 minutes here

    12. Aposelemis canyon

      We stop to enjoy the amazing views from above the aposelemi Dam and ofcourse it’s a good stop for the photo lovers……

      5 minutes here

    13. Dikteon Cave

      This is the cave where Zeus was born according to our mythology. For the moment the cave is closed and it will open end of April according to the authorities.

      60 minutes here · Admission not included

    14. The Palace of Knossos

      This is the last stop of our tour and it’s OPTIONAL….. After exploring Knossos we will drive you back to your hotel , if you don’t like to visit Knossos then let us know so we can drive you to your hotel before.

      60 minutes here · Admission not included

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Heraklion

    We can pick you up from the passengers station at Heraklion port if you are on a cruise ship.

    Meeting point

    Heraklion

    You can park your car for free and safe at the olive oil factory.

    Meeting point

    Heraklion

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.

    Ends at

    We can pick you up from the passengers station at Heraklion port if you are on a cruise ship.

    Ends at

    You can park your car for free and safe at the olive oil factory.

    Ends at

    Returns to the starting point

    Options you can book

    • PRIVATE TOUR

      PERFECT FOR FAMILIES-CRUISES : We can pick you up from Heraklion Region + Heraklion cruise port ,Rethimno Region,Elounda , Agios Nikolaous Region and port . Pickup included

    • SEMI PRIVATE

      We can pick you up from Heraklion Region and port , Hersonisos, Malia , Gouves, Annisara, Analipsi , Agia Pelagia . Pickup included

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    el, en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 30 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Explore Real Crete

    Know before you go

    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Specialized infant seats are available
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking.

    Photos

    Amassing views from the mountain…., Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory in HeraklionPaparazzi moment…, Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory in HeraklionOur ride ……, Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory in HeraklionZeus Cave, Zeus unfortunately nowhere to be found….., Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory in HeraklionOn the mountain…., Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory in HeraklionKnossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory in Heraklion, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 766 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    4 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    3 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Value for money

    3 mentions

    Travelers feel they got more than they paid for.

    Good for families

    3 mentions

    Reviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.

    Small groups

    3 mentions

    The group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.

    Traveler reviews

    766 verified traveler reviews for Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    758
    4 star
    7
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    1
    Sort
    Sharon_C · October 2026

    Honeymooners 1-Day Adventure with Stavros

    We can’t even describe how fantastic the tour was with Stavros, it was one of the highlights of our 3 week honeymoon (Santorini, Crete, Italy) and the tour was THAT amazing. Stavros was friendly, hilarious, super passionate and just makes the entire tour so fun. In fact reading the reviews was why we moved our tour date because Stavros wasn’t available on one of the days so we moved our tour to the day he was available. Perfect little tour all day for honeymooners that want a stress free, one full day of memorable adventures. Thank you Stavros, may we enjoy olive oil and bread the way you taught us always, yamas!

    via Viator

    86celiad · October 2026

    Fun, entertaining, interesting and great family tour

    Absolutely amazing tour even though the weather was terrible on the day . Stavros the tour man was funny and gave us alot of information throughout the tour . He encouraged the kids to take part in things and he made it fun and had us all laughing continuously. We were picked up at 8:00 and I cant remember the exact time we were dropped off , maybe round 15:00 . There was plenty of stops and lots of interesting things to see . Also being able to purchase items at the places we visited. I feel like this was an excellent tour for kids as well as myself as he made it fun, thanks to Stavros.

    via Tripadvisor

    T5368HZchrisg · October 2026

    2 fun days touring Crete with Stavros!

    Our party of 8 had 2 full day custom tours with Stavros..... he was amazing, He was knowledgeable, fun, and very punctual.... You won't be disappointed if you hire Stavros and his team!!!!!

    via Tripadvisor

    Darla_L · October 2026

    Perfect day!

    Stavros was the perfect Crete host. He was a wealth of knowledge and so accommodating to our every wish. He customized the whole day to our interests. It was perfect!

    via Viator

    Ingvild_L · October 2026

    So much fun!

    Amazing experience. Stavros was an incredible guide. We felt welcomed the instant he pulled in to the driveway of the hotel. The tour was perfectly planned with lots of stops. I took my 15 year old niece, who loved the tour (one of her interest are greek mythology). Seeing the cave was her highlight. This is worth every penny. When I return to Crete I will book a tour with this company again🤩

    Response from the operator: Thank you so much Ingvild for writing this great review, we are glad to hear that you really enjoyed the tour with us and yes we will be happy to meet you again in the future to explore together another part of our home island . Explore Real Crete Tours

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    7.5 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $131 to $600
    Hotel pickup
    Available for selected locations
    Booked in 30 days
    268
    Verdict
    Peak Performance

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Explore Real Crete, who run 7 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 72.5 and 1 in the 90+ Club.

    See everything Explore Real Crete runs

    Why this scores 98

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)99
    Review evidence (18% weight)100
    Booking momentum (14% weight)100
    Value for money (12% weight)100
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)99
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Heraklion.

    How much does Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory cost?

    +

    Prices start at $131 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Heraklion usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory take?

    +

    Plan for about 7.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Heraklion is not rushed.

    Is Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 98 out of 100, which we label "Peak Performance". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 767 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most highly reviewed in Heraklion, and how flexible the cancellation terms are. Scoring 90 or above puts it in the Outty 90+ Club, the top tier of everything we rank.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory?

    +

    Around 268 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Heraklion can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Heraklion and add a light layer if any part of the 7.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory start and how do I get there?

    +

    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Heraklion within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Heraklion?

    +

    On Outty we rank every Heraklion experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Knossos & Lasithi Plateau: Zeus Cave, Villages, Olive Oil Tour, Quad Safari: Off-Road Day Tour with Dinner & Transfers, Private Tour-Knossos Palace Zeus Cave Pottery Olive Mill & Wine. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Heraklion?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Heraklion?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory?

    +

    Included: Liability insurance; Transport by comfortable air conditioned vehicles and free WiFi on board; Pick up and drop off from your hotel , port or meeting points ; English speaking knowledgeable local driver guide ; and Bottled water , coffees , teas. Not included: Lunch; Knossos Palace entrance fee 20euros per person, half price for up to 25 years old ; Private Guide inside Knossos Palace could be arranged for extra charge; and Entrance fees. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory include hotel pickup?

    +

    Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 892 listed pickup locations in and around Heraklion. Be ready about 5 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory offered in?

    +

    It is offered in Greek and English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory?

    +

    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    The operator notes: Specialized infant seats are available; and Infant seats are available on request if advised at time of booking. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory if the weather is bad?

    +

    This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

    What do travelers say about Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory?

    +

    Across 767 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, value for money. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    What booking options are available for Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory?

    +

    There are 2 options to choose from, including PRIVATE TOUR, SEMI PRIVATE. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

    Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory.

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