Tour reviews · FOOD TOURS IN CRETE
All 9 food tours in Crete on one page, with the price, the running time and the verdict on each. The first entry is the one most people should book.
Start at Peninsula Resort in Agia Pelagia with a quad-driving lesson and practice run. Then follow quiet mountain paths to Achlada, an abandoned village, and a family olive oil mill for tastings of oil, olives, and honey. The sunset route ends above the bay, with English, French, German, or Greek guidance.
Drive a two-person quad from Agia Pelagia into the hills of Achlada with guides including Stan and Vangelis. You’ll visit an olive mill, taste oil and honey, walk through an abandoned village, and stop in Fodele, the birthplace of El Greco. The 3.5-hour tour suits licensed drivers aged 18 and older.
“Really nice tour to the mountains, good guidance from our guide Vangelis during the tour.”
Spend eight hours with guides such as George or Antonis visiting an olive mill, organic winery, raki distillery, village taverna, and pottery studio. Taste five wines, fresh olive oil, raki, and Cretan food, then try pottery yourself. Pickup, lunch, transport, and tastings are included for groups of up to eight.
“Antonis was an excellent guide. My wife and I had so much fun on the tour. We were looking for an authentic and unique experience and this was exactly that! All of the places that Antonis brought us, were run by families and they were all very welcoming. Definitely a highlight of our trip to Crete!”
At Koronekes Olive Mill in Epano Archanes, you’ll tour the courtyard and production room, learn about organic olive farming and cold-pressing methods, then taste three extra virgin olive oils, two flavored oils, sweet vinegar, and petimezi. This private, English-language visit lasts about an hour.
“L’enthousiasme et la connaissance du produit par la propriétaire ! Un dépaysement total Merci beaucoup”
Ride from your hotel in a small 4x4 group to Richtis Gorge, then walk about 30 minutes through shady woodland to a waterfall pool. You can swim, enjoy a generous Cretan lunch with wine, and visit a 3,250-year-old olive tree. Guides such as George, Mihai, Alba, and Enrico add local stories in several languages.
“Great day out with George as our guide. Loved the gorge walk to the waterfall. Lunch was lovely and the olive oil tasting and tour was also very good. Overall excellent day”
At Cretan Vibes near Moires, Marianna and her mother, Mama Stella, guide you through a hands-on three-course meal using farm ingredients. You will pick some vegetables, learn how extra virgin olive oil is made, watch a harvest video, taste your cooking with local wine, and take home recipes and leftovers.
“Sooooo incredible! What a wonderful way to see the other side of Crete! A day full of coming, eating, stories/history/culture of Crete. Mariann and Stella were the most gracious hosts and instructors and our meal was unique and delicious! We were able to purchase olive oil, honey and spices from their farm so will be able to continue enjoying the treats of Cretan Vibes for much longer! This is a wonderful way to enjoy an intimate and fun day in Crete!”
Spend 1.5 hours at Arkadianos Farm near Rethymno, meeting goats, sheep, cows, peacocks, and other animals. You can try hand and machine milking, help make traditional Cretan cheese, then taste feta, graviera, goat cheese, yogurt, desserts, wine, and raki. Families get a playground, gardens, and a calm farm setting.
“Simply fantastic. We learnt a lot about farm life in Greece, got to try milking some goats and I cuddled a baby sheep. It’s difficult to pick one highlight of the experience - the taste testing was fantastic and I’m gutted that I can’t buy the produce from Germany! A fantastic family owned business, the tour was done with warmth and humour and the cheese was simply outstanding. Well worth the money!”
Meet chemist and winemaker Andreas in Fres village, 25 minutes from Chania, for a 90-minute private tasting of six Cretan wines. You will try Vidiano, Muscat of Spina, Retsina, Liatiko, Romeiko and Fokiano dessert wine, with cheese, rusks and olives in the village square.
“Very nice village and very knowledgeable host. No vineyard or facility tour (our family tends not to be bothered with that part anyway) but lovely wines, snacks and plenty of cold water. Small shop where you can buy some of the wines, gifts and home made soaps.”
Spend seven hours with a local guide such as Antonis, Georgios, George, or Rodoula, visiting an olive mill and two family wineries near Heraklion. Taste Cretan olive oil and up to 10 wines, meet winemakers, enjoy a wine-paired platter, and finish with a traditional village lunch.
“We had an amazing day with Georgios. If anything to complain about, than too much excellent food ;-). It was hard to stop eating. Everything tasted so great: the Olive oil, the wine, the cheese, the tomatoes. Simply fantastic! Everyone was so lovely at all places and we learned a lot about Oilmaking, Winemaking, Cretan culture and history. All ended with a superb lunch in a local cafe. Efcharistos Georgios , for this outstanding experience! Strongly recommended when you visit Crete.”
A port, a ruin or a mountain road.
