Chania old Town and Cretan Landscape Tour (price per group of 6)

Overview

This is a private tour with a 7-seater van for a maximum 6 guests (price is for 6 persons).
In this unique tour we will explore Chania town, combined with a drive through a gorge, alongside with the beautiful countryside and the mountains, and an amazing gastronomical experience. Our guides are fluent in English, locals, and know the island well.
In this tour we will drive around the city for 2 hours and visit various sites, and for 1 hour you could wander around the picturesque alleys of Chania old town on your own. Will talk about history, traditions and culture that shaped Crete today. We are not allowed to walk or guide in the old town with you, because the license is for a driving tour.
We will then drive through the gorge, and eat lunch at an amazing restaurant for 3 hours. Will drive through picturesque landscapes and talk about Cretan culture and nature. Will have lunch at a restaurant where everything is cooked in the wood oven. Cost of lunch is not included in this tour.

Itinerary

1. Chania Old Town

   Will drop you off at Talos square on the west side of Chania old town, which is more authentic and unspoiled. You will have around an hour available to walk around in the picturesque alleys on your own, explore the town or shop.

   1 hour
2. Lighthouse of Chania

   Chania lighthouse is the oldest light house in the Mediterranean, built in 1864. The lighthouse is the main landmark of Chania. The tower is 21m high and is built on a stone base, located at the end of the old harbour's pier opposite to the fortress of Firkas. Visitors are not allowed to enter the lighthouse. Chania lighthouse was first constructed by the Venetians around 1600, destroyed in the siege of Chania and it took its final form, in the shape of a minaret, during the Egyptian occupation. It was restored in 1996.

   5 minutes
3. Firkas Fortress

   The fortress of Firkas on the northwest side of the port of Chania was constructed between 1610 and 1645 to protect the Venetian harbour entrance from raiders. after the fall of the city of Chania in the hands of the Turks in 1645, the fort was renamed “Firka”, which in Turkish means “barrack”. On the northern side of the Firka fortress were six consecutive domes, that sheltered the large cannons, so that they would face the entrance of the harbour and face any possible attacker. The Firka Fortress was used as a prison since then and up to the Greek civil war of the 20th century. During the Ottoman rule, the Firka Fortress constituted the seat of the military governor of the city. It is the place where the Greek flag was raised, in 1913, the year of the reunion of Crete with Greece. Today, at the entrance of the Fortress is situated the Maritime Museum.

   10 minutes

4. Chania is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. The Minoan civilisation dates before 3000BC and it somehow violently ended in 1250BC when there was a destructive earthquake and Tsunami. Many researches believe that the Minoan civilisation was destroyed after the eruption of Santorini volcano. At Kasteli hill archaeological excavations the foundations of buildings, streets and sewage networks can be seen. The excavations are ongoing. Kydonia was the name of Chania during the Minoan era.

   10 minutes
5. Gorges of Theriso

   Drive for one hour through Therisso gorge and make stops inside, at a church and some panoramic viewpoints.

   1 hour

6. Eat at an amazing restaurant for 2 hours. Lunch around 20 euro per person, not included.

   1 hour
7. Malaxa

   Return to Chania or Souda in an hour through a road with panoramic view.

   30 minutes
8. Chania Town

   Will drive around Chania old and new town

   20 minutes
9. Souda Bay War Cemetery

   At the end of May 1941 there was a fierce battle between German paratroopers and the British, new Zealand and Australian defenders. it was the first airborne only operation in history. The cemetery has panoramic views of Souda bay and the White Mountains.

   20 minutes
10. Venizelos Graves

    Venizelos graves is actually a park, that boasts panoramic views of Chania new and old town.

    20 minutes

Meeting and pickup

Pick up and drop off at Souda port, your accommodation or any other convenient location in the greater Chania area. Please contact us regarding your pick up place for further information.

Good to know

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Total duration time varies in the travel time.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.