Apokoronas Countryside Day Trip with Tastings & Lunch, Chania

4.7 (3 reviews)
Get a taste of traditional Cretan life as you explore tiny villages and unexplored rural countryside with an expert guide.

Overview

Venture off the beaten path with a scenic day trip into the rural countryside of Apokoronas, home to traditional villages, ancient farmland, and warm hospitality. With the help of an expert guide, you'll pause in sleepy villages to sip coffee in tiny kafeneia (cafés), take a peaceful nature walk among citrus and olive groves, stop by family-run bakeries and cheesemakers to taste local treats, and end with a relaxed lunch in an authentic taverna. This enriching full-day excursion is perfect for those looking to experience rural Crete's authentic culture and daily traditions firsthand.

Highlights

  • Venture off the beaten path to discover the rural countryside and traditional villages of Apokoronas
  • Snack on fresh-picked fruit as you stroll through olive and citrus groves with a local guide
  • Get a taste of the region's history with stops at Byzantine chapels and Ottoman fortresses
  • Experience Cretan hospitality (and delicious samples) at family-run bakeries and cheesemakers
  • Dine alongside locals as you end the day with a relaxed lunch at a village taverna

Know before you go

Duration
8h
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group, 15 people or less
Food & Drink
Lunch Included. Greek coffee, cheese tastings, baked bread and olive oil, and a traditional Cretan lunch

What you'll do

This full-day excursion begins in Chania, where you'll meet your local driver/guide and the rest of your small group. Grab a seat in a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan, and set off on a scenic drive southeast of the city and into Apokoronas, a fertile region of rolling vineyards, centuries-old olive groves, and tiny villages (some with fewer than 50 inhabitants). Your itinerary can vary based on the season and your group's interests, but you'll likely start with a stop at a 19th-century Ottoman fortress—the perfect spot to get your bearings with panoramic views over the Bay of Souda and the Cretan countryside.

As you continue south, your deeply knowledgeable guide will share charming stories of rural life and the region's fascinating history. Wind your way through traditional villages, stop to admire ancient Byzantine chapels, and get an intimate view of local life when you pause in a kafenion (café) for homemade pastries and a cup of strong Greek coffee or mint tea. When you're ready to stretch your legs, set off on a gentle, 30-minute walk through groves of olive, avocado, and citrus trees, listening as your guide explains Apokoronas' ancient farming practices and picks fresh fruit and wild herbs for you to taste.

Other highlights of the day include visits to a family-owned cheese factory, where you'll taste homemade Greek yoghurt and island cheeses drizzled with honey, and a stop at a village bakery, where you'll get a warm welcome from the baker and his son as they share warm bread and olive oil (and give you a peek at their traditional ovens and makeshift raki distillery). The day winds down at a small tavern, where you'll rub shoulders with residents as you sit down to a simple, authentic lunch of mezethes (shared plates), featuring salads, dips, and roast chicken and potatoes, all paired with local wines and lively conversation.

Start times

  • Monday
    8:00 am, 9:00 am
  • Tuesday
    Not available
  • Wednesday
    Not available
  • Thursday
    8:00 am, 9:00 am
  • Friday
    Not available
  • Saturday
    8:00 am, 9:00 am
  • Sunday
    Not available

What's included

  • Roundtrip air-conditioned transportation from Chania
  • Local English-speaking driver-guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Food tastings (cheese, baked goods, etc.)
  • Traditional Cretan lunch with wine
  • Bottled water

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Traveler reviews

3 total ratings, 3 with reviews
4.7
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.7
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.7
Transport
4.7
L
Laura C.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on May 20, 2025
Enjoyable day, learned a lot about Cretan history. Read more

Enjoyable day, learned a lot about Cretan history.

Tips for future travelers

Be prepared for the tour to go well past its stated end time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Anu
Anu M.
San Francisco, CA | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2025
This was quite a charming experience. I don't think the tour description does it justice. We were able to visit different villages, see local life, eat some good food. We did not visit any museums. Read more

This was quite a charming experience. I don't think the tour description does it justice. We were able to visit different villages, see local life, eat some good food. We did not visit any museums.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
D
Dianne V.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Oct 24, 2024
It was a very interesting excursion where we learned about the local way of producing olive oil, Raki etc. The countryside was beautiful which we would not have seen if we had not gone on the excursion. Read more

It was a very interesting excursion where we learned about the local way of producing olive oil, Raki etc. The countryside was beautiful which we would not have seen if we had not gone on the excursion.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver/guide Niko’s was excellent.
Transport

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Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

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Itineraries with Apokoronas Countryside Day Trip with Tastings & Lunch