- Discover an ancient worship place - a mystic village nowadays, rich with legends. Explore its tombs and sanctuaries, just like Cretan Indiana Jones
- Meet the Cretan donkeys at donkey sanctuary - each has its own story. As sad as the story might be it has a happy end - because they all are in the sanctuary taken care.
- Read the inscription on the walls of Gortyn - the ancient Cretan capital, also legendary birthplace of Minoan kings.
- Hippie paradise - Mattala with its sandstone-carved caves, amazing read beach, fish taverns and blueness of Libyan sea - is a dessert of the trip! We have done it - the Crete is crossed!
Off we go and, as we leave Hearklion, in about 40 min we reach the mystic village of Agios Thomas - the very navel of Crete, well hidden and frequented only by incidental visitors. Step in the shoes of Cretan Indiana Jones as you explore numerous tombs, forgotten sanctuaries carved in the soft rock, hidden chapels and ancient inscriptions overgrown by grapevine. Agios Thomas, an important worship place in the past, is like Pandora box of ancient myths and legends - once you discover it and open, it doesn't stop surprising you.
We continue! Meet the Cretan donkeys at donkey sanctuary - each one has its name and its own life story. They have come from all across the island. As sad as their life-story might be, it has a truly happy end - they all have arrived here in sanctuary, sheltered, fed and taken care by wonderful people. Right after we can grab a fav Cretan street food on our way - a souvlaki, just to pull through till Matala - a truly great location to enjoy a Cretan cuisine.
But wait! We've got to explore one more fascinating place - a legendary birthplace of Minoan kings, also a first Roman capital of Crete - Gortyna. Read the inscription on the walls of this ancient city - the very first code of law, explore the 7th-century BC Temple of Apollo and more.
And finally we reach the other end of Crete - Matala a hippie paradise, right on the coast of Libyan sea. With its sandstone-carved caves, amazing read beach, fish taverns and blueness of Libyan sea - it is just like a dessert of the whole tour! We have done it - the Crete is crossed! Let's reward ourselves with a swim and fish!
This tour has the adventure element kids love and educational ingredients you as parents always seek to be bring in any tour.
If you are not put off by whirlwind mountain roads crossing the island and spending good 3 hours in a car for a roundtrip to see, do and experience all the tour has to offer, than yes - this tour is for you and definitely for your kids! We mind you - reaching anywhere in Crete, especially the other side of the island is a lengthy business.
It is a full day tour (8 hours at least ) from Heraklion (about 3 hrs driving time, roundtrip).
