Lassithi Plateau, Monastery Kera & Palace of Knossos

Join us on a full-day tour through the mountains of Crete and enjoy a mix of beautiful nature, traditional villages, and ancient stories. We end the day with a visit to the famous Knossos Palace, one of the most important places in Crete. Our first stop is the Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa. This quiet and peaceful place is home to nuns who take care of it. Inside, you will see a famous icon of the Virgin Mary, which many believe is miraculous. You can also admire old wall paintings and religious art from the 14th century. We then travel to the Lasithi Plateau, a green valley high in the mountains. It is 850 meters above sea level and surrounded by the Dikti Mountains. The area has 18 small villages where people still live in the traditional Cretan way. You will see white windmills and old stone channels, called Venetian ditches, which were used for farming. Next, we visit the village of Psychro. This is where the Dicteon Cave is located – a place where, according to Greek mythology, the god Zeus was born. Inside the cave, you can see amazing rock shapes hanging from the ceiling and rising from the ground. (*If the cave is closed for maintenance, this stop will be skipped, and we will spend more time at other locations.*) Psychro is also known for its pottery. You will visit a local workshop and see how beautiful ceramic items are made by hand, using old methods. After that, we stop at Tzermiado, the largest village on the Lasithi Plateau. It’s a quiet village with stone houses and great mountain views. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a tasty Cretan lunch in a local taverna. The last and most exciting stop is the Knossos Palace. This was the center of the Minoan civilization – the first in Europe. You will take a guided tour of the palace ruins and hear stories about King Minos, the Minotaur, and the famous Labyrinth. The design of the palace, its history, and the myths behind it make Knossos Palace one of the top sights in Crete.