Full-day Knossos Palace - Lasithi Plateau - Cave Of Zeus

Kostas was amazing. Very knowledgable! The length was perfect. We were lucky that admission fees were free our day, but to pay was planned. The overall experience was great. Kostas shared his culture. Thank you Momma Kostas! Plan on walking!

This tour was fantastic and greatly exceeded our expectations. Kostas was friendly, knowledgeable, and humorous which is what made the trip so great. We learned so much about Cretan culture, mythology, and the food! Kostas took us to the best restaurant we visited in our 11 days in Greece (which included Athens and Santorini). We highly recommend this tour!

Kostas was an amazing guide. The trip was custom tailored for myself, adding in a couple of stops as I had already been to an Olive Mill. Kostas knowledge and interesting conversation kept me entertained, whilst providing my appetite for a local perspective. The place and caves are interesting. The country side is stunning.

My husband and I booked this tour and even before we met Kostas we had been emailing him different questions and from the start, he was very responsive and very accommodating. Kostas informed us even before we got to Greece that the cave of Zeus was closed, but he would find other places we could go. All the places he took us were fantastic and his knowledge of Crete is impeccable. He not only provided us with lots of water, but delicious homemade treats along the way! Also stopped by a strawberry farm – enjoyed fresh non-pesticide strawberries with his family’s homemade honey- simply incredible! The restaurant he took us to was very delicious and very authentic Greek. We spent 10 hours with him, not only learning about Crete, but also getting to know him on a personal level, which made the day even more special. We would highly recommend this tour with Kostas as it was our highlight of our trip!

Kostas rolls out the red carpet for his guests! Having a luxurious Mercedes van with a table inside to leave our belongings in while we explored was so convenient. He took us to places we wouldn't have known about. We were able to drink fresh water from a local spring and eat the most amazing meal with a beautiful view. He also took us to an alternative cave, which my son really enjoyed, since Zeus was closed. He's a fantastic driver (how he maneuvers his van in such small spaces is a resume worthy skill) and he provides snacks at almost every stop! These aren't your average snacks either. They are homemade by his mom. In addition, he leaves you with parting thank you gifts of his families honey and some tea! I highly recommend his tour. It was fantastic!

A very interesting day covering a lot of local history with the sites visited added to by the knowledge of Kosas our guide and the wonderful sweet treats provided by his Mum.

Kostas is an exceptional host. He had expert level knowledge of the history and mythology of Crete, and all the other destinations under the Greek umbrella. He provided water and snacks throughout the day, and customized our trip to meet our “American” mealtime habit. He managed our time from airport pickup to drop off to perfection. Truly our best tour of trip.

Very worthwhile tour. Extremely knowledgeable guide and authentic stops for meals with wonderful food .

Very knowledgeable and proud tour guide. We were able to adjust our destinations Based on our interests.

Our tour with Kostas was the best part of our entire trip to Greece. His love for Crete showed in every aspect of the day. This was so much more than a tour of Crete. It was a culinary, cultural, and historical experience where you really got to learn so much about this amazing island. I cannot speak highly enough of our experience. We were able to select different to-dos throughout the day based on what was open or not and his recommendations. My husband and I will be talking about this tour with everyone until we come and do it again...that is how amazing it was!

Our expectation: a day filled with ancient history, mountain landscapes, and maybe a glimpse of Zeus. Things turned out a bit differently – and honestly, even better. Right on time, my daughter and I were picked up at our hotel by our guide Kostas, in his clean and comfortable car. After a quick round of friendly small talk, we revisited the planned route: the Cave of Zeus was unfortunately closed, and hundreds of cruise ship passengers were already heading toward Knossos that morning. No problem for Kostas – a true Cretan and someone who knows the island like the back of his hand. He quickly reshaped the day’s itinerary with skill and care, and what followed became one of the absolute highlights of our trip. Kostas is well-educated, polite, friendly, and thoughtful – and his knowledge of Cretan history and culture is impressive. But what made the day truly special were the open, personal conversations we had along the way – not just about ancient ruins, but about life, philosophy, and everything in between. Even though our original route changed, our expectations weren’t just met – they were exceeded. If you're looking for a private, insightful, and flexible tour with a local who truly cares, Kostas is the perfect guide!

Our tour of Crete with Kostas from Stagakis Grand Prestige was one of our favorite excursions that we did while on our cruise. Kostas was incredibly knowledgeable about Crete’s history and culture, and also just a great guy to spend the day with. He was funny, warm, and had a great sense of humor. He was constantly making us laugh. He showed us hidden spots we never would’ve found on our own, and he shared stories and history that made each stop feel more memorable. Along the way, he offered us all kinds of local snacks, mostly made by his own mother. We even got to try honey that he, his father and brother produce. He brought us to a fantastic little Greek restaurant for lunch where we devoured everything in sight. He surprised us at the end with a parting gift of local tea so that we could take a piece of Crete home. The vehicle was spotless and comfortable, and we always felt safe and well looked after. It felt like we were spending the day with a local friend who genuinely wanted us to fall in love with his island. We can’t recommend Kostas and Stagakis Grand Prestige enough, and we will definitely book a tour with him again next time we visit Crete!

Kostas is amazing and super knowledgeable about all things Greek, history and just random facts. We loved our day together and highly recommend his tour in Crete. Enjoy and truly one of the best places we have traveled to in the world. Friendly people with deep history of tradition and kindness/hospitality. Love it!! Definitely will see Kostas again. Best wishes to your future travels, Shail

This was the best tour we took while in Greece. If you visit Crete, definitely book a tour with Kostas. He was a wonderful guide. He tailored the tour to our interests and suggested stops based off of what we wanted. We went to the Palace of Knossos and learned a lot about how different archaeologists affect different sights. Then we went to the Plateau and had the best meal we had our whole trip. We saw the windmills and learned a lot about the agriculture in the area. Then, since the cave of Zeus was closed due to earthquakes, he took us to the cave of Kronos, which was amazing. Lastly, we stopped at an olive oil factory and learned how to distinguish good olive oil from lesser quality. Not to mention, along the way he fed us a large variety of Cretian snacks, some of which were homemade by his mother. We had conversations about mythology, politics, history, and religion. A truly fascinating man to talk to. This was the highlight of our trip.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Our tour guide was amazing and we saw and did incredible things. I highly recommend this tour.

We drove two hours to meet Kostos and it was worth every minute. He was informed, genuine and thoughtful. We experienced ancient sites, visited an olive oil manufacturer and climbed to the famous windmills. Every question was answered with knowledge and some amusement. At every stop he treated us with local specialties, some of which were made by his mother. If you want to learn more about Ancient Greece, Greek customs and food, book this tour.

I highly recommend this tour! Kostos is an amazing tour guide! He truly is a genuine person who cares about the quality of his tour experience and we were so lucky to spend Easter Sunday with him here in Crete!

Kostas provided us with a wonderful tour of the island of Crete. He was a very knowledgeable guide and thoroughly engaged us as we learned the history. The day was most enjoyable.

You will get plenty of historical information, but equally important, great local perspective (and some local treats) from Kostas, who was raised on Crete. This is an high-quality tour from a guide who is deeply invested in providing his clients a first-class experience.

Kostas has a wealth of knowledge, great personality. We enjoyed our day, though the government closed the Cave of Zeus other options were provided.

We had a full day tour with Lefteris who was absolutely the BEST! He took us around the island to see the sites listed on the tour, but added so much commentary and interesting information that the day was truly Amazing. We learned so much from him that we would highly recommend him for anyone who wants to learn about the country, the mythology and the people of the region!

Kostas took us on a fun journey through Cretan history from an unforgettable local perspective. We visited both the Knossos and Malia archeological sites, which was definitely worth it. The island is only more intriguing now!

We chose this tour for our one full day in Herkalion, so happy we did! Lefteris was a great guide , sharing history & mythology of beautiful Crete. The Cave of Zeus was such a unique place, loved the story of Zeus. The Windmills of Lasithi and the Olive Oil factory are interesting examples of how things were done before engines. We had an amazing lunch before heading to Palace of Knossos, an important archeological site on Crete. Lastly Lefteris took us around Crete to see the walls built centuries ago. Highly recommend this company, beautiful car with treats at every stop including delicious honey from his father, a beekeeper. Thank you for a great day!

Booked this private tour for our family during our cruise thru the Greek Islands. Kostas(tour operator) was very communicative thru email and we knew exactly where and when to meet upon disembarking from the ship. Maria was our tour guide for the day. She was very personable, knowledgeable and overall fun to be around. The tour was outstanding. She had a plan for the day but was flexible with the older people in the group. This was probably one of the best tours that anyone in my family had ever experienced in all of our travels. At the end of the tour Kostas introduced himself to us and we received gifts of fresh honey and teas to take with us. If you find yourself in Crete I would highly recommend this tour with Kostas and Maria

Fabulous tour!! We had a great day and made it back to our ship with plenty of time to spare. We were a group of 13 and were able to do more than on the cruise ship tour and paid WAY less. Private van and private tour! Highly recommend.

The only issue with this tour was there was a lot of driving between sites and given our Mediterranean cruise ports of call, the sites were just ok. The guide was extremely nice and knowledgeable, the issue was more with the sites selected.

Our Tour guide, Kostos, was the best! what a spectacular day he made sure we had. Not only was he excited to help us get to know the beauty and history of this Island, he was so knowledgeable and able to make it so interesting. He made it a priority to customize the tour to our interests and limitations. a couple of our group was less able to navigate as much walking and he worked around that to make sure we didnt miss anything. along with delicious and unexpected treats he also provided, he suggested we stop at a fabulous, beautiful open air restaurant which made our trip memorable and unforgettable. The food was delicious. At an olive factor, We got to see how olive oil is made and how to know quality. We learned of the mythology of Zeus. we saw the dramatic and breathtaking vista of the Lasithi Plateau and learned about the natural irrigation and water management of the island. In all, it was among the best tours we ever experienced. Thank you, Kostas!

This was an INCREDIBLE tour! We could not have asked for better than Costas! Want a taste and understanding of Crete, book this one and ask for Costas! You will not be disappointed by anything but Knossos and he lets you know that in advance (the excavator overdid his “re-creating” by a lot!). The Cave of Zeus, Lashiti Plain, and every moment in between gave a great glimpse into the past and present of Crete! You are in for a huge treat with Costas! Exceptional!!

Kostas was fantastic! Picked us up on time from our AirBNB that was west of downtown Herkalion and customized and modified our tour as he heard what our interests were. We could have spent more time on Museums etc but chose a Winery instead. He went beyond expectations and I'll likely see him again !

We booked a tour, and what truly made our experience exceptional was our tour guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable, sharing fascinating and important facts with us before entering each location. My husband and I traveled with our three children, and he was extremely kind and accommodating, acting as a wonderful teacher throughout the tour. Our guide took us to an authentic restaurant where the food was AMAZING! He recommended all the dishes, which were fantastic. Additionally, he provided us with homemade snacks made by his mother and ensured we always had plenty of water throughout the trip. He was attentive to every detail, making sure the air was cold before we entered the vehicle, which was a very clean and comfortable Mercedes bus. Our guide's attentiveness and expertise truly made our trip unforgettable. We highly recommend him!

Excellent knowledgeable driver with a good comfortable clean van He was very considerate and friendly throughout Great way to see the monuments at your own pace specially in the current hot weather it’s important to have a personal and not group schedule Liked the village, Zeus cave (be ready to trek and walk multiple steps) and the palace. You can download the app for the palace or get a guide (100 euro plus) Also like most Greek monuments the palace is in ruins and it’s an archeological site with history so be prepared to not see much Net net if in Heraklion this tour is a must do but manage your expectations by reading up in advance

Kostas not only met us at the Heraklion airport but actually tracked us down when we accidentally got on the wrong transport bus. After this he gave us a wonderful tour of the east side of Crete with entertaining and interesting facts about the island , the people and the history! We were taken to various sites with careful consideration of our wishes but we were also fed delicious local homemade treats throughout the tour. We booked our transport from the hotel to the ferry with this company because we could count on Kostas to pick us up reliably , in comfort and with careful attention to our needs!

Kostas was incredibly generous with his time, knowledge, humor, and hospitality. He really tailored the visit to our desires, and his energy during the 12+ hour day of driving his luxury van, sharing his vast knowledge, and keeping us laughing was astounding. We had such a fantastic time, truly a highlight of our 2-week trip, and we can’t wait to come back for another tour with Kostas! We were really blown away by the care he put into every detail of the experience and highly recommend his services to anyone traveling to Crete.

The tour operator was fantastic, helped guide us through the screwup with our cruise ship. Was able to find us a tour to accommodate 10 people to see all the sites that we were supposed to see originally.

We booked Kostas for 2.5 days of tours, including transfer from Heraklion to Hania. He is a careful driver and knowledgeable guide with a clean, comfortable and spacious vehicle. It even has a table! Kostas was always punctual, polite, and communicated well--in person and though texts--in fluent English (he taught English in a previous life). We would not hesitate to tour with Kostas again.

Kostas was the friendliest and most professional guide we have ever met. Would recommend this tour to all our friends traveling to Crete Greece.

What a fantastic day. The tour guide was very cool and funny. We explored so many sights, took lots of pictures and really enjoyed the historical knowledge conveyed by our tour guide.

This guy knew so much history and he was funny. Our travel group really enjoyed talking with him and seeing the cave of Zeus and the museum and all the various locations he showed us. Big thumbs up from my wife and i and our group from Los Angeles. Thank you so much.

This tour was the highlight of our entire trip. Kostas was great! Funny, witty and knowledgeable. We had a great time visiting the caves of Zeus, and enjoyed a wonderful authentic Greek lunch..The olive factory was good too and gave us a chance to purchase Some great olive oil products. Kostas was also kind enough to provide us with some treats along the way - real organic honey, small desserts and key chains. We only had 1 day in Heraklion, Crete and with Kostas we were able to maximize our day. I highly recommend this tour!

This tour was above and beyond expectations. Not only did our guide, Kostas, enlighten us about Greek mythology and history, we were taken to places that highlighted the amazing beauty of Crete. The quaint luncheon spot chosen by our guide was not only scenic, but the best food we had in all of Greece. My family still raves about it! We loved the tour, but more importantly we were thankful to have Kostas as our guide due to several unexpected circumstances. First, Kostas contacted me well in advance of our tour and was accommodating to pick us up early since our ship arrived before the normal time of the tour. He took our group to help rent cars (not part of the tour) and became I could not find my confirmation, he patiently drove around until we finally found our rental place. After our delightful day, Kostas returned us to pick the rental car. It had been hit by another car in the parking lot of the golf course where we had left it. After a long day, Kostas stayed with us to help handle a situation that could have been very difficult when it is not your native country. By the end of the day, we felt we had not only had a great tour, but now we had a great friend.

Crete was an unplanned trip and I booked this full day private tour at the last minute. It surpassed my expectation! Kostas was a knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide, and recommended a great restaurant for dinner. I had an amazing day!

This tour was way beyond our expectations! Kostos was Brilliant in every sense- his knowledge of Crete and insights into ,the history, culture, geology, agriculture , etc transcending anything you could read about. His understanding and passion about Crete and the Cretan people is amazing and fascinating. He embodies the heart, soul and mind of Crete. He is kind, generous, witty, intelligent and a lot of fun! The highlight of our trip to Crete- now a place we would love to return to.

You gotta get Kostas ! He is probably the best host/driver/tour guide my wife and I have ever had. Smart, funny, safe, hospitable, sociable, knowledgeable. We can’t say enough good things about him. He was very flexible on the trip too, we could go with the major stops or change it up. And he had plenty of excellent alternatives too. Plenty of water, drinks, snacks. Some from his own family ! My wife left a pair of sneakers in the van(which was like brand new) and he managed to have a cousin of his deliver them to our hotel on another island ! Don’t pass up in this trip. And GET KOSTAS !

Excellent tour! Kostas is a friendly, knowledgeable tour guide. He made a point to make our experience extra special with his stories and special Crete treats. Together we created a unique tour of the island. While driving, we saw packed safari jeeps and we were grateful to be traveling between the sites in a comfortable van. Definitely would recommend this tour!

Comfortable car and lovely treats. We had hoped for more information. We were dropped off at the temple of Knossos with no introduction. We were looking for a more informative experience.

TDLR; I cannot recommend this tour enough!! Not only was it affordable but the experience was amazing from beginning to end. I initially booked through the website and Kostas reached via iMessage to rebook through his associates instead of with him. I booked two private vans with him with payment to the drivers at the end of the tour. Upon arrival, Kostas explained that one of the associates had a health problem and his son (Yannis) was going fill in. Our second driver, Nikos, was a hoot! He had a breadth of knowledge and personality that provided entertainment to our tour. Throughout the trip, they provided us treats and cookies (which we didn’t expect!). The van was spacious and clean. We first stopped a viewpoint to see the Aposelemis dam. He gave us our first surprise of baked treats filled with stuff. Then drove to the Krasion Platanus Tree, a 2500-year-old tree known to promote fertility tree and took some raki (Cretan national drink) shots at a nearby local shop!! Then we were taken to see a local restored windmill next to Restaurant Tzanakis Michael where we ate lunch (which btw was phenomenal and affordable!) We treated the two drivers to lunch. Again, another surprise box of Greek cookies! We also went to the Zeus Caves (a moderate elevation hike up) on our own. Finally, we were dropped in the old town near the Knossos Palace (which I would recommend getting a separate guide to provide you history or download the app ahead of time for a self-guide. The plaques there don’t give much context). Due to time constraints, we missed the olive oil factory part which I wish we did. Thank you Kostas for a wonderful experience in Crete! Highly recommend.

We had an amazing tour. Kostas was the best...very personable, outstanding service, and really care about making sure we had a great time. It was as if you visited your favorite cousin who lives and Crete and he took off from work to tour you around. We learned a lot from him, more than just about the tour itself. The private tour is the best way to explore these important sites at your own pace, and having Kostas as your guide you will learn a lot about the culture and know where you will find the best food. We highly recommend this tour, worth every penny... Not to mention it's like a Michelin Star van tour because Kostas rolls around with a cooler full of Greek snacks/treats which was a pleasant surprise. Make sure he takes you to meet Popi, she was also one of our favorites 😍

Amazing experiences! Interesting historical and cultural perspectives. Vehicle was outstanding, clean, spacious, comfortable! A real personal touch to it. Also stopped at a pretty amazing restaurant by the windmills with delicious and highly affordable food. Would highly recommend.

The tour with Kostas was above and beyond our expectations. He was very personable, thoughtful, and really cared about making sure we had a great time. The trip was worth every penny. The best part was all the little Greek snacks and treats he gave us throughout the trip, which gave us a little taste of the Greek culture. He took the time in every stop and we didn't feel rushed at all. He was very knowledgeable, we learned a lot from him We highly recommend this tour.