Crete Shore Excursion: Cave of Zeus, Knossos Palace & Villages

Embark on a journey to the oldest civilization in Europe with a private tour of the Palace of Knossos. Our English-speaking driver will pick you up and take you on a drive of approximately 20 minutes to the site, where you'll be transported back 4,000 years to the time of this ancient civilization. The Palace of Knossos flourished for approximately two thousand years and was a major center of trade and the economy, maintaining ties with the majority of cities in the Eastern Mediterranean. During your tour, you'll explore the large palace buildings, extensive workshop installations, and luxurious rock-cut cave and tholos tombs that make this site so unique. Learn about the rich lifestyle that began circa 2000 BC and was typified by magnificent monumental buildings. This private tour allows for plenty of time to explore the site, as it is flexible and can be customized to your preferences.

According to Greek mythology, the great god Zeus was born in secret within the cave of Psychro, as an oracle had foretold that his father, Saturn, would kill him to prevent any of his children from taking his throne. To save Zeus, his mother Rea gave Saturn a bandaged stone to swallow instead of the baby. As an adult, Zeus defeated Saturn by tricking him into drinking poison. To reach the cave, you can take a 15-minute walk or ride a donkey provided by the locals. Once inside, the cool and tranquil atmosphere, even on a hot day, will leave you spellbound. The panoramic views from the top of the hill are breathtaking and make this a must-visit destination in Crete.

One of the most important things to see in Krasi is the huge ancient plane tree that is situated next to the water springs. The trunk of the plane tree has a circumference of 14.60 meters and the leaves and branches of the tree provide shade over the square. This tree is estimated to be around 2400 years old and as you will see, more than ten people are needed in order to hug it and it is one of the 5 biggest trees in Europe. Among the plane tree there are chairs and tables for the guests of the village pub taverna where you may relax under the shadow of this beautiful plane tree and have a coffee or lunch. Afterwards, we will return to the cruise ship or to your hotel.