Zeus Cave & Lassithi Plateau (Safari Adventure Offroad Excursion)

Safari jeep trip

Our guides Gaetan and Michael were entertaining and knowledgeable, with Michael knowing a great deal about Greek mythology and Cretan past and present. The jeeps were comfy, we were supplied with as much water as we needed, and lunch was excellent. The Cave of Zeus, is remarkable, but be prepared for a very long steep path, to get there. I’d highly recommend the whole trip. The views from the mountains are spectacular and Gaetan, is a great driver and nothing is too much trouble.

Terrible! Would not recommend

Would not recommend. The port where cruise ships come in here is extremely rocky so the day was windy and our ship was unable to get into port. At first we were going to tender but the water was too rough for that as well. I had purchased a private tour and was in communication with them updating them to the situation. Once we determined the ship wasn’t stopping the company first said they would give me a partial refund then refused all refund. Even though I’m sure they took other bookings for the day. We are out $550 for a tour we didn’t get to take. That just doesn’t seem right when I’m sure they could take other people.

Well worth the money, it was breathtaking.

Let me start by saying the excursion itself was absolutely flawless. My guide was Panagiotis I believe and I can not say enough good things. There was a hick up with their main office when booking the trip, ie I was told the date was changed less them 24 hours before the time of the excursion so I could not get a refund and had to instead choose another date. There were further mix up with the date, which was a bit upsetting though the person on the phone recognized their mistake and apologized. I was apprehensive but our guide was wonderful and my doubts quickly evaporated. He was knowledgable about anything and everything, really took us off the off beaten path and was hospitable. As a solo traveler I felt very included. For anyone older or with mobility issues the trek to the cave is rough! Everything else on the tour is doable because you are being driven but the climb to the cave is demanding. I am in my 30s and regularly exercise and I was quickly tired. All in all, the excursion was perfection. Our guide took care of us, checking in often that we were ok. Truly for those who want to get away from the city and see more of nature.

Zeus Cave and Sights of Crete

Great tour ! Small group which I prefer ! Our guide was friendly and very professional, knowledgeable and I learned a lot of the history of Crete and some fun Greek mythology stories . The stop at the Olive press company was also very informative and I love the tastings that they offered us . The Zeus cave was awesome ! And the lunch we had at a beautiful Taverna was amazing and delicious! Great adventure ! I definitely recommend taking this tour 🇬🇷🪬❤️

Great tour

The tour guide picked us up From our hotel Agios Nikolaos and we drove to 4-5 different spots including Zeus Cave. After we had a nice lunch with wine and Raki. Would recommend to anyone who wants to explore the area without driving and likes Greek mythology.

VIP Experience

Excellent tour guide. World class VIP experience. P went above and beyond for my wife and I, as well as another couple that got married the same day as us. He gave us an experience that we wouldn’t otherwise have gotten from other guides.

Fantastic Tour

Excellent tour would highly recommend, Petra was knowledgable and engaging throughout! The walk up to Zeus cave is definitely a little intense but totally worth it when you get there.

Our tour guide Petra made...

Our tour guide Petra made this day one of the most interesting on our visit to Greece We went high up in the mountains, saw amazing nature, listened to the stories about history, mythology, agriculture, flora and fauna. We met local people and got to know their life stories. It was a small group of six, Petra made everybody very comfortable, she is very professional in a good informal way. I would highly recommend this tour to travelers interested in nature and history of Eastern Crete.

Great way to see a huge variety of the aspects of Crete

A really good trip. Frequent and wildly varied stops. Loved the scenery and vulture watching. The cave was good, the mountains and plateau even better. Lunch was good. Great to see so much of the island, with Darrel our guide ensuring we got the most from it. We would 100% recommend this. We had 7 in our jeep which was perfect. 8 adults would have been a bit squashed.

Cretan adventure

We had an amazing day exploring the Cretan landscape and Petra, our guide was super fun and so full of life. She made the excursion even more interesting with her wit and interesting facts. The lunch was super delicious. A must do excursion. The hike upto the cave os Zeus though is a bit intense as is coming up the cave stairs on your way out.. Just a friendly warning

An excellent tour.

We had a great day with tour guide Michael. He was polite, friendly and so knowledgeable - everything from Greek Mythology, local fauna and flora, Cretan customs and traditions to name but a few! Tour included a visit to an olive oil factory, 2 local villages - Krista and Krassi, and a delicious lunch at a traditional taverna. The views from the mountains and of the Lassithi plateau were spectacular. All in all, a wonderful day out - thank you again Michael.

Awesome Whistle Stop tour of Agios Nikolaos Region

Michael was an extremely approachable, knowledgeable guide who kept us entertained the entire trip. The collection of stops was brilliant ranging from local olive oil production, several panoramic viewpoints, to feeding goats, the amazing Zeus Cave and several towns. The authentic Cretan Taverna lunch was beautiful & I was pleased that few in my group drank so I had the lion’s share of the owners home brew Raki. Delicious! A great way to view the hinterland of Agios Nikalaos without the stress of driving or navigating. Thoroughly recommended.

incredible journey!

on top of being amazingly friendly and personable, our guide was extremely knowledgeable about all things Cretan. she went far out of her way to deliver us the best experience possible, stopping whenever we asked to let us take photos, or to point out local flora and fauna. she even gave me food off her own plate! I couldnt ask for a better trip.

We loved Petra!

We had the greatest time with Petra today! We are on our honeymoon and visiting Crete for the first time. Petra was very friendly and knowledgeable. Petra made sure to show us and tell us things about Crete, the people, and the history in a fun and enjoyable manner. The tour was packed with incredible views and experiences than you would most likely not be able to see on your own. We fully recommend this tour with Petra as the guide! FYI: The hike to the “Zeus Cave” was a little more intense than expected to get to the entry point of the cave. The stairs inside the cave are also very steep and slippery. Bring your sneakers and take your time!

A personable guide is all you need to have a great experience

We had a very good experience with our tour guide Mickeil with the green eyes. I highly recommend him .. He was a wealth of knowledge about history,myths and great knowledge of native plants in Greece. He is well versed on may topics. We started our tour at an olive oil factory where we learned all about the different grades of olive oil. Kritsa was next, Hersonas, Then we were to see the caves. Just as we arrived they closed the caves down for a earthquake exercise . No one was forewarned about it. We were of course were disappointed but continued on to the next stop the taverna for a traditional Greek meal. The owner of the Tavera is some what of a celebrity in the area . We had a nice meal followed by a traditional dessert and some raki. I don't think we would have had as nice of a time if we hadn't had Mickeil as our guide .. We learned so much that day ,he truly was amazing.

Not to be missed

What a great day. !! Petra was a wonderful guide with lots of great stories about Crete and Greek mythology . Started with a visit to an Olive oil factory run by some great people . Really enjoyed the Olive oil and olive paste tasting .Afterwards we drove up to the mountains . Amazing views and stops throughout the journey . Seeing the interior parts of the Island is something not to be missed . Followed up with a visit to Zeus’s cave .. The hike up was an adventure. What really was the “icing on the cake “ for the day was the lunch after hiking down from the cave . The meal was authentic Cretan food and the Hosts were memorable . It was like eating with family . Thank you Dimitris !!! Most of all thank you Petra for a great day

A brilliant day out.

Had a brilliant day out with Michael, couldn't have wished for a better guide for the day, he's very knowledgeable, stopping here and there picking herbs etc from the roadside, and providing in depth history of the areas we were visiting. We had a stop at an olive production facility, which we found very interesting. We got to see a bit more of the real Crete we wouldn't have seen otherwise. Thank you Michael for making it a brilliant day out.

Great tour got to see so much and our tour guide Michael was awesome

Our tour guide Michael was amazing! He was fun, knowledgeable, so friendly, and made everyone feel comfortable. I would highly recommend this tour. I did not go into the cave only because of the climb.

Great way to see Crete

We had a great trip with Petra that took us to several places that we would not have found on our own and including a very pleasant lunch at a taverna near Zeus’s cave. Petra our guide was very knowledgeable but also interesting and keen to ensure we had a really enjoyable day. I would definitely recommend this trip if you want to explore some of the more remote parts of the island.

Fantastic excursion

Our driver Rolf was amazing, excellent service and very knowledgeable. The walk up to the Zeus cave was hard going !! The lunch at the taverna was excellent. I would recommend this trip

Petra was our tour guide...

Petra was our tour guide and she was amazing! We were able to learn so much about the culture of Crete and I felt as if we were able to see parts of Crete that we wouldn't have known about on our own. We only had one full day to explore Crete and I am so happy that we chose this excursion.

Worth the adventure but a ton of stairs to cave

Nice way to see the island. Lots of walking, Zeus cave is really strenuous even for the in shape. But I enjoyed the adventure and our guide Petra was fantastic.

Really recommend this tour!

The tour was really good. Friendly driver and really good commentary. Really good lunch included. Saw loads of sites and goats. Defo take cash when you go up to Zeus cave - donkey ride up recommended (its like a hike up). Defo recommend this - driver very knowledgeable. Small group of 6 is perfect as not many people. See a lot of Crete and lots of stops! Big shout out to Michael the tour guide.

Fantastic day trip for all ages

We had a great day out. Petra was a fantastic guide. Very knowledgeable about Crete, it’s flora and fauna, history & Greek myth lore. Plenty interesting stops, friendly locals, wonderful views and a tasty lunch. Thank you Petra!

Fantastic day trip

Are tour guide Michael was fantastic welcoming for the start to end very knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions also the place we stopped for food was great food was lovely best part of my holiday up to now cannot thank you enough Michael for an amazing day

Amazing scenery Lassithi Plateau and Zeus Cave

We had a fantastic trip with Crete Adventures. Our guide, Petra, was so warm, friendly and informative and made the day so much more enjoyable. We had another couple on our trip and they also made it a day to remember! We strongly recommend the company for an adventurous trip during your holiday.

Cool

This trip was amazing. Seeing live gusts and a vulture was amazing . You were up high at about 1100mts above the sea and a big hike to the cave don’t book a hiking tour and cave was deep but wound be nice to go even further

Great Tour with the "Goat Whisperer" guide Michael.

Interesting and varied full day tour with excellent guide Michael - The Goat Whisperer". We went to an Olive Oil Factory, quaint Mountain Towns, Zeus Cave, an enjoyable lunch and over some interesting mountain roads with great views.

Great experience seeing the countryside of Crete

Enjoyed seeing the variety of landscapes in Crete and getting an idea what life is like for the shepards and farmers. Crete is beautiful! The olive oil bottler was interesting and our lunch was yummy. Their specialty was pig cooked on a spit. I appreciated the fact that our guide, Thomas did not rush us and really wanted to share his love of Crete.

Excellent trip

Excellent trip - loved the off-toad experience. Our guide Michael was excellent. Highly recommended.

A fun adventure in the mountains of eastern Crete

We were picked up at our hotel on time by our tour guide, Thomas, and proceeded to climb into the mountains outside of Elounda. We visited the village of Kritsa, home to some of the finest quality olive oil production in Crete. We continued to climb into the mountains visiting small villages along the way, including a lovely visit with Katerina. She provided us with Greek coffee and soda, along with a sweet and apples from her tree. We eventually climbed to where the paved road ended and continued off road to take in breathtaking views of the Lasithi Plateau. Along the way we encountered many goats foraging along the mountain landscape. Our next stop on our adventure was the cave of Zeus. Which was fascinating! Be prepared for a long uphill walk to get to the mouth of the cave. After the cave, we sat down to a delicious traditional Cretan meal at a local taverna. The final leg of the journey provided many opportunities for photographing magnificent mountain scenery! Thomas, our guide, provided an outstanding narrative of the history of Crete and the significance of the places we visited.

Fun and informative experience!

This experience was great! Our guide, Mike, was nice, knowledgeable, considerate, and patient. He truly made the excursion top notch.

Zeus Caves with Petra

Lovely, knowledgeable, fun host/guide. A lovely small group of people who mixed well and accepted me as a solo traveller. Great lunch at the local taverna!

A great day out and about

Fantastic day out with Petra, engaging and informative. Stops throughout the day dropped us off at Zeus' cave skipping the hike herself before taking us for lunch at a lovely restaurant nearby.

10/10 trip highly recommend! Niko is the best 🥰

We had the absolute best day! Our tour guide Niko really was the best of the best, he was hilarious, smart and had so much to show and tell us. Nothing was too much trouble for niko, answering our questions and being our personal photographer at all the beauty spots🥰 He honestly made the day! The tour itself was beautiful aswell, lots to learn about traditional Greece and Crete, really interesting. We 100% recommend and if you get niko as your guide then you’ll definitely have an even better day!

Absolutely Brilliant

Absolutely brilliant. Micheal our tour /driver guide was fantastic. Went above and beyond in explaining history of island /stopping to let us smell so many different herbs that grow wildly at road side ( didn’t have to do this but made trip so much more enjoyable) . Beautiful quaint villages we could stop at and had time to explore, olive factory interesting / lunch in an authentic taverna was nice experience, although every trip with free lunch is pork belly but nice side dishes ect . Michael stopped and saw many goats and feed and that was amazing. To get to cave is an upward struggle , although for 20 euros there and back you can have a donkey ride but still many steps to climb to entrance of cave , I couldn’t do this as with medical conditions but still a lovely experience with this company and ask for Micheal if you can

If you can handle some uphill hiking & stairs, this is an excellent off road tour. Well worth it to us!

We saw (and know) a lot more than what we would have going around by ourselves. Our tour guide was a good driver, friendly, and lived here locally, so she was very authentic & knowledgeable about the land, greek folklore & traditions, etc. We highly recommend this off road tour for those who can handle some up hill hiking & stairs.

Great day out, great guide and met some lovely people on the trip

Had great day with Petra our driver and guide who was very informative and knowledgeable about a wide variety of things to do with with Crete as a whole and not just the places on our our day out

Entertaining and educating

Petra our guide was amazing. Entertaining and educational Made everyone feel welcome. The tour itself is fun, you see things that you wouldnt if you did it on your own I recommend this trip

Perfect tour guide

Our tour guide Thomas was the best anyone could of asked for, he took us to some amazing places, was a safe driver especially when mountin driving, i felt very safe. He was also so knowledgeable. If I took any tour like this again I would have Thomas for sure.

Amazing excursion

We had an amazing day Our driver darryl was so knowledgeable about the island of Crete We stopped to watch the vultures amazing birds Lovely food at the end of the trip We all came away from the trip a lot wiser

Worth the price, great experience

We had a great day with Thomas! A very friendly guide who knows a lot about the region and was telling us lots of interesting facts and little stories. We enjoyed most the visit of the cave of Zeus - good footwear is needed for the climb! After a 15 min steep walk up, it's a great sight to visit. The drive over The plateau was also great, we even saw wild mountain goats! The lunch was delicious, there was plenty of good and the staff was super nice. The tour took about 8 hours in total. All in all, definitely worth the price and a great experience!

Great excursion

Amazing day and amazing tour. Thank you for this unique experience. Tour guide was friendly and informative giving us many historical informations

Excellent Adventure

We had an awesome day!!! Thomas was our guide and he made it fabulousl ! Knowable, personal, and fun! I highly recommend this tour and Thomas.

100% recommend

What an amazing tour! We had the pleasure of touring with Rolf who was so knowledgeable and funny, he really made the tour memorable for us. He had fun facts about the island and kept us laughing nonstop! The cave itself is gorgeous, just a little hike up to get to it. The meal at the tavern that is included was phenomenal, and if you have any diet restrictions they are very accommodating. All in all I would recommend this to any of my friends or family.

Great for 1 day at the island

Great experience. Good opportunity to know a few places for the 1 day we had on the island. Kids (12 & 17) also enjoyed it. Abel was a great guide, friendly and fun. A bit of a delay for the pick up but apparently due to other guests.

Worth the hike to to see it

Drove here in our hire car from Gouves, takes about 1 hour. Saw so much of Crete on the way, would definitely recommend going with your own transportation. You arrive at the base on the mountain, a car park that if free. Take water, you will need it for the hike up a very steep slope of about 1km. It’s on foot for everyone. As you look up at the mountain you have two paths the right side is very uneven and extra steep path, if you take this route make sure you have good footwear on. The lower left hand side path is a flat smooth surface but is still steep but easier than the other track. Access via the donkey area. Took my wife and I about 40 minutes with frequent stops to get to the top using the right hand side track. Take no notice of the locals who say it’s a 10 minute walk, IT IS NOT!!! There is also a donkey taxi ride at €20 per person each way. But only goes so far up. When it stops you still have another 50 meters or so to go over a rough track. At the top there is a cafe bar with a Veranda over looking the valley, amazing view. To get into the cave will cost €6 each. Once inside its concrete steps down into the cave base for about 150 meters. Steps are slippery but there is a hand rail through out the whole tour, and it is cold inside and dimly lit. You follow a path through the cave and back up the steps the other side. Takes about 10 to 15 minutes if you don’t stop. It’s good to see and worth the travel there. We then descended using the made up track which was easy.

Amazing experience, highly recommended

This trip was absolutely worth it and was definitely a highlight of the holiday to Crete. Our driver, Petra, was amazing. So knowledgeable about the island, the destinations of the tour, the flora and fauna and Greek mythology. The trip started with a punctual pick up and Petra explained what would happen during the day. The cave is extra and you will need to pay if you want to go in, but this was stated before we booked. The car is very comfortable and capable of navigating the sometimes rough terrain. We had not expected the scenery to be so dramatic, and the view from the top of Lasithi Plateau is absolutely breathtaking. In terms of a 7 hour day trip, you will not have a better chance to view parts of the island that you would not otherwise have been aware of. Lunch was also delicious! Thank you Petra for the wonderful experience, and the opportunity to take so many amazing photos. Martin and Sophie.

Great day out

The whole family, from 18-70, had a great time on this trip. Our guide Michael was really knowledgeable about Crete and Greece and told us about the history, myths, daily life, flora and fauna. We visited villages, windmills, amazing viewpoints, fed goats and explored the Zeus Cave. Lunch was taken in a local taverna serving delicious traditional food. The Landrover was clean, comfortable with aircon and forward facing seats. Thank you Michael for a memorable day.

Grwat day out

The whole family, from teenager to Grandma, had a great time on this trip. Michael was our guide and was a font of knowledge on Crete and Greece, telling us about myths and history as well as life on the island and the flora and fauna in a fun way. We visited local villages, windmills, amazing view points, fed goats and explored the Zeus Cave. Lunch was taken in a lovely taverna with delicious food. The car was a Landrover Discovery, very clean, spacious with aircon and all forward facing seats. A wonderful trip. Thank you Michael.