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Rethymno Tours
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Lake Kournas and the hills of western Crete on a clear summer day

Rethymno, Crete

See Crete the way people who live here see it

Private guided days from Rethymno — gorges, mountain villages, food and beaches. Small groups, hotel pickup, and free cancellation up to 48 hours.

  • Free cancellation
  • Small group
  • Hotel pickup
  • Photoshoot included

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A private Crete day on a map: pick a feeling, add Preveli or Spili, and watch the hours and price move.

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Why book direct

Why book with us

  • Local hosts who grew up on Crete — not a call centre abroad

  • Maximum 8 guests per van, and most days end up private

  • Hotel pickup across the Rethymno area on almost every tour

  • A professional photographer on most experiences, at no extra cost

  • Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup

  • You book direct with the operator, so there is no agency markup

Independent reviews on Google and TripAdvisor

What our guests say

“We had a wonderful food tasting experience in Crete with Way to Crete. The tour focused on two of the island’s most important local products: honey and olive oil. We tasted three different varieties of Cretan honey — carob, pine and thyme honey — and it was fascinating to discover how different their aromas and flavours were. We also had the opportunity to taste Koroneiki olive oil through a food pairing experience, trying it with different local foods and learning how to appreciate its flavour, aroma and characteristics. Ernesto was our guide and made the experience very interesting, relaxed and enjoyable. He shared a lot of knowledge about Cretan traditions, olive oil production and local gastronomy. A fantastic experience for anyone who wants to discover the authentic flavours of Crete beyond the usual tourist attractions.”
Andi Muca · Google
“Ernest is a nice, respectful and lovely driver. We had a great time there in Crete and could easily travel to other places thanks to him. Pick up times were easy to organize. He even brought us water every time. I would definetly recommend him to others!”
D Edg · Google
“Die South Crete Highlights Tour mit Way to Crete war ein wunderschöner Tag und definitiv eines der Highlights unseres Kreta-Urlaubs. Wir haben das beeindruckende Kourtaliotiko-Schlucht, das historische Kloster von Preveli und den berühmten Preveli Beach besucht. Die Landschaft im Süden Kretas war unglaublich schön und die gesamte Tour war sehr gut organisiert. Unser Fahrer war freundlich, professionell und hat uns viele interessante Informationen über die Region gegeben. Eine perfekte Möglichkeit, den authentischen Süden Kretas abseits der üblichen Touristenrouten kennenzulernen. Absolute Empfehlung für eine private Tour ab Rethymno!”
Helga Geißer · Google

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Guides from people who live here

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Things to Do in Crete

The best things to do in Crete, Greece are a day in Chania's Venetian harbour, a beach day at Elafonisi, Balos or a quiet south-coast cove, a gorge walk at Samaria or Imbros, Knossos with the Heraklion museum, Rethymno old town, Preveli and Kourtaliotiko, Spinalonga, a mountain village, and a Cretan meal built on olive oil and raki. The trips people actually remember also leave room for the things that never appear on a ticket: getting lost between two streets, an empty cove, a village taverna, a conversation, and the last hour of light.

Things to Do in Crete When It Rains

A wet day in Crete is a good day for the parts of the island that have nothing to do with the beach: the caves at Melidoni, Zoniana and Psychro, which are underground and unaffected by weather; monasteries such as Arkadi; the archaeological and folklore museums in Rethymno, Chania and Heraklion; wineries and olive mills, which are working indoor spaces with tastings attached; the pottery workshops at Margarites; and a cooking class, which is the single best use of a wet afternoon. The old towns of Rethymno and Chania also work in rain - the lanes are narrow, roofed cafes are everywhere, and the stone looks better wet. With around 300 sunny days a year, rain is mostly a November-to-March problem, and even then it tends to pass within a few hours.

How Many Days Do You Need in Crete?

Seven days is the minimum for a proper Crete holiday and ten is where the island stops feeling like a series of long drives. Three days is a city break confined to one base; five days adds one gorge and one beach day; seven covers western and central Crete from a single hotel, including Samaria or Imbros, Knossos and the south coast; ten lets you split your stay and add Spinalonga, Elounda and the Lasithi plateau; fourteen is a full island loop taking in Vai, Kato Zakros and the roadless south-west villages of Loutro and Agia Roumeli. The island is 260 km end to end, so the constraint is always driving time, not opening hours.

Good to know

Good to know

Where do your tours start?+

Most tours include hotel pickup from anywhere in the Rethymno area, at a time we confirm the day before. Walking tours and the boat trip meet in Rethymno town — we send the exact meeting pin when your booking is confirmed.

How big are the groups?+

Land tours run in an air-conditioned minivan with a maximum of 8 guests, and most bookings end up private. The boat trip takes up to 19.

What is your cancellation policy?+

Free cancellation with a full refund up to 48 hours before pickup on every tour that lists a price. Inside 48 hours we will always try to move your date rather than charge you.

Do I pay when I book?+

No. You send a request with your date and group size, and we confirm availability first. Payment details follow once the day is held — nothing is charged on this site.

Which airport should I fly into for Rethymno?+

Chania (CHQ) and Heraklion (HER) are both about an hour from Rethymno by road, so either works. We run private transfers from both.

Do the prices change with group size?+

On several tours, yes. Imbros Gorge for example is €44 per person in a full van of 8, rising to €145 per person for a couple, because the van and guide cost the same either way.