Excursions - Local Activities in Crete

Browse Through Hand-picked Local Experiences

Unlock the secret treasures of Crete.

Its remarkable history is evident across the island, from the ruins of the Minoan Palace of Knossos to the Venetian fortresses of Rethymo; from old mosques and Byzantine monasteries to the cave that is the legendary birthplace of Zeus.

Experience Crete like a local with us.

Beach Experience

The stunning location of our resort offers proximity to Stalis Beach & Beach Club with our free shuttle service.


Enjoy free access to the beach, with your own reserved sun loungers & parasols and personalized beach bar service (charges upon consumption), in one of the best spots of Hersonissos.


Spend quality time in bliss by the breathtaking sea, enjoying delicious cocktails, lunch bites and great music.

CretAquarium

Cretaquarium or Thalassocosmos (Greek: “sea world”) is a public aquarium located near the town of Gournes in Crete, 15 km east of the city of Heraklion.
CretΑquarium is an expert in presenting species and ecosystems of the Mediterranean, a sea of unique biodiversity that gave birth to ancient civilizations and welcomes millions of visitors every year from all over the world.
Offering 60 tanks of different sizes, containing a total amount of 1,700,000 litres of sea water, it is home to 2000 sea animals, 200 different species found in the Mediterranean basin, and together with the appropriate scenery, it successfully represents the Cretan and Mediterranean sea beds. Additionally CretAquarium designs and implements educational programmes and other innovative services, treats injured animals and is constantly enriched with new marine species. Each visitor has the opportunity to see the sea inhabitants of the Mediterranean, to learn, be charmed by them and contribute towards its sustainable future. At CretAquarium, the attractions become knowledge and experiences raise questions.

Labyrinth Theme Park
A unique family entertainment destination of Crete. Enjoy an original, interactive and fun day for the whole family!
The Labyrinth Theme Park is a family destination park with numerous interactive activities and attractions. It is nestled in the scenic hills above the town of Hersonissos in an area of 15 hectares.
The main theme of the park is the Labyrinth, but there will be plenty of other things to do as well! Enjoy the variety of video viewings on the Minoan Civilization shown throughout the day in the projector room. Participate in a round of Mini-Golf, or allow the children a turn on the many quad bikes available! There is an Eco-Garden for nature lovers with Cretan aromatic herbs, local fruit and vegetables and many flowering plants, all labeled in many languages. Naturally, the Cretan Stone Labyrinth can also be enjoyed by the tiny tots.
After exercising your brain and legs, an impressive café, reminiscent of ancient Knossos, is there to serve and relax you! Refreshing drinks, a choice of mouthwatering and crisp salads and sandwiches and plenty of ice cream for the kids, will keep your hunger and thirst at bay!

Aqua Plus Water Park

Acqua plus is by far the most popular water park on the island of Crete, since for over twenty years now it offers great fun and good service to more than 100000 satisfied clients per year.

It is situated 5km from Hersonissos, right next to the Crete Golf Club and only 30km from the city of Heraklion.

The water park is split in to two sections that are connected to each other.

One section is for adults and includes a large number of extreme slides and the other one is for children.

Knossos The Minoan Palace




It is considered the monumental symbol of Minoan Civilization ( 2000-1350 BC. ), due to its construction, use of luxury materials, architectural plan, advanced building techniques and impressive size. In myth, the Palace of Knossos was the seat of the great King Minos and where Minotaur lived.

The Archeological Museum of Heraklion


The display rooms of the museum contain artifacts from the neolithic and the roman period, but the overwhelming focus points of its collection are Minoan pieces, like the “blue ladies” and “the prince with the lilies”.


It is worth combining your visit to the museum with a tour to the palace of Knossos and a lunch at the nearby traditional village, Archanes.

The island of Spinalonga

The rocky islet of Spinalonga , officially known as Kalydon, is located in the Gulf of Elounda in north-eastern Crete, in Lasithi, next to the town of Plaka.

Originally, Spinalonga was not an island – it was part of the island of Crete. Due to its strategic location during Venetian occupation, the island was carved out of the coast and was fortified for defence purposes and served a variety of roles and purposes over the centuries.
Spinalonga has a rather interesting story to tell, It is small and known as the island of the outcasts, since it has also been used as a leper colony. Today thousands of travelers visit Spinalonga by boat from Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and Plaka every summer as it is the most popular archaeological site in Crete after Knossos. Strolling around the island takes about an hour, but the serenity of the place and its recent history will certainly tempt you into spending much longer.

Vineyards

Of all achievements of ancient Greece, the Mediterranean diet is among the most widely admired today. Three of its pillars, ancient and modern, are olives, wine and honey. Today, as was thousands of years ago, Greece is a landscape of olive groves and vineyards.

Vineyards In Crete, wine-producing areas are in the northern part of the island and grapevines grow next to olive groves, protected from the warm winds of the Libyan Sea in the south.

Grapevines have been growing here for centuries and along with the wine-making process they are integrated in tradition and local customs present in everyday life, gastronomy and local hospitality.

Wine & winemaking

In Greek mythology it is Dionysos who is the god of all the fluid forces of nature and so the god of grape and wine.

Dionysos is frequently depicted on pots and drinking cups. Winemaking is as old as the vine in Greece. In ancient times, wine was always mixed with water. Grapes, both white and red, were dried for raisins and pressed for wine either by foot or using a press.

Cretan wineries & estates Visitors can enjoy tours at the cellar, the production area and the estate.
Get acquainted with Crete’s most iconic varieties, Plyto, Dafni, Vilana, Mandilari and Kotsifali. Savour them with delicious local cheeses, including Tirozouli, Anthotiros, Xynomizithra, Mizithra, and Gruyere – a gourmet immersion into the flavours and aromas of Crete.

The Resorts Itineraries

In addition the Resort offers a variety of organized excursions to the following landmarks and sites.

The Lassithi Plateau

The tranquil Lassithi Plateau, 900m above sea level, is an arrestingly beautiful expanse of green fields interspersed with almond trees and orchards, offering a sense of secluded rural Crete.

Some of the most characteristic features of the plateau are the 26 stone flour mills and the linear drainage works that were built by the Venetians.

Western Crete at a glance

Explore the west side of Crete by visiting the beautiful towns of Rethymno & Chania, featuring Venetian architecure. Visit the 16th century monastery of Arkadi or – for the most advenutrous – hike the Samaria gorge.

The town of chania
Stand next to the picture-perfect lighthouse at the port, a 16th century Venetian construction. Walk among the impressive buildings and attractions: the Küçük Hasan mosque, the renovated Grand Arsenal, the Splanzia ruins and the Kum Kapi at Miaouli Beach.

Lose yourself in the ambience of the aristocratic suburb of Halepa, with neoclassical buildings that once hosted the consulates of the Great Powers.

Samaria gorge


The gorge of Samaria is situated in the National park of Samaria, in the White Mountains in West Crete.


The gorge is 16 km long, starting at an altitude of 1,230m and taking you all the way down to the shores of the Libyan Sea in Aghia Roumeli (5-7 hours walk).


The very narrow passage near the end of the gorge is often called the "Iron Gates" and it's a breathtaking spot to be.

The town of Rethymnno

The old town of Rethymnon is one of the best-preserved towns of the Renaissance.


Lying in the heart of modern Rethymnon, it combines the oriental features of the Turkish period with renaissance-style Venetian architecture.


The seafront promenade with its myriad cafes and bustling restaurants with a view of the sea and sandy shore is a perfect choice.

Arkadi monastery

The Arkadi Monastery has a unique natural beauty and a prestigious history.


This large fortified complex, built during the end of the period of Venetian rule, is one of the best known monasteries of Crete due to the Holocaust of 1866.


This event is considered to be one of the most important in Cretan history and was the reason that Arkadi was designated by UNESCO as a European Freedom Monument.

Traditional Villages

This day of exploring begins at the town of Heraklion and its Archaeological Museum, the world’s premier museum of Minoan civilization and continues to the site of ancient Knossos, once the enter of the Minoan world. The end of the day will find you in the small village of Archanes.

This picturesque village built on the slopes of mount Giouhtas, 15 km. south of the town of Heraklion, is situated in the center of the most important wineproducing region of Crete. It has a 5,000 years of history, while excavations conducted in the last 50 years have brought to light a lot of sites dating back to the Minoan period.

The village is also very famous for its typical Cretan architecture. Most of the houses have been restored recently and Archanes has won the second award as “The Best Restored Village in Europe”.

The village of kritsa

Located 10 km from Aghios Nikolaos in Lassithi, this beautiful small village in the mountain foothills, with narrow winding lanes and plenty of character, is renowned for the skill of the local weavers and embroiderers.

Visit just to see the beautiful lacework, tablecloths and other clothing on display and for sale in the village.

Nearby you can find the ruin of the Dorian city of Lato, thought to have dominated in this area in the fifth and fourth century BC.

Nearby also lays the Kritsa Gorge and the Katharo Plateau leading through the Dikti Mountains to Lassithi Plateau.