Full Day 8h
Private
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Explore the Untamed Beauty of Lassithi in Comfort & Style
Set off on an unforgettable private tour across Crete’s mountainous interior — a journey rich in natural wonder, history, and authentic encounters, perfect for travelers who appreciate the road less traveled.
A Scenic Route through Myth and Nature
Your adventure begins in the greater Heraklio area, depending on your place of stay. After meeting your private driver-guide and a short tour briefing, we head south toward the legendary Lassithi Plateau.
Our first stop is the Aposelemi Dam, where, depending on the water level, the partially submerged abandoned village of Sfendili emerges eerily from the lake — a surreal and photogenic sight.
We then continue to the nearby village of Avdou, where you’ll visit a local olive oil factory, learning about traditional extraction methods and sampling some of the finest extra virgin olive oil in the region.
Winding deeper through provincial roads lined with olive groves, we reach the tranquil village of Amariano. Here, you can enjoy a refreshing drink and explore the remnants of a Roman aqueduct, quietly preserved among the trees.
The off-road experience begins from this point. The terrain grows wilder, the air crisper, and the views ever more dramatic as we ascend. If we’re lucky, we may spot griffon vultures gliding above the ridges — a truly majestic sight. Our journey levels out at the vast Lassithi Plateau, once home to over 1,000 traditional windmills that pumped water to irrigate the fertile fields.
Immersive Cultural Experience
Next, we visit Lasinthos Eco Park, a vibrant cultural hub featuring a working pottery workshop, botanic garden, mini zoo, and a traditional Cretan restaurant. After a hearty meal with local flavors, we begin our descent.
Our return route takes us through a mountain col lined with old-style grinding windmills, still standing as sentinels of the island’s agrarian past. A few kilometers further, we stop at the Monastery of Panagia Kera, one of Crete’s most historically significant religious monuments. Strategically located between Heraklion and Lassithi, the monastery served as a shelter for Cretan resistance fighters during the 19th century.
