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Rethymno Tours
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Lake Kournas and the hills of western Crete on a clear summer day

Rethymno, Crete

See Crete the way people who live here see it

Private guided days from Rethymno — gorges, mountain villages, food and beaches. Small groups, hotel pickup, and free cancellation up to 48 hours.

  • Free cancellation
  • Small group
  • Hotel pickup
  • Photoshoot included

Most booked experiences

Days our guests book first

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What kind of day are you after?

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Why book direct

Why book with us

  • Local hosts who grew up on Crete — not a call centre abroad

  • Maximum 8 guests per van, and most days end up private

  • Hotel pickup across the Rethymno area on almost every tour

  • A professional photographer on most experiences, at no extra cost

  • Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup

  • You book direct with the operator, so there is no agency markup

Independent reviews on Google and TripAdvisor

What our guests say

“We had a wonderful food tasting experience in Crete with Way to Crete. The tour focused on two of the island’s most important local products: honey and olive oil. We tasted three different varieties of Cretan honey — carob, pine and thyme honey — and it was fascinating to discover how different their aromas and flavours were. We also had the opportunity to taste Koroneiki olive oil through a food pairing experience, trying it with different local foods and learning how to appreciate its flavour, aroma and characteristics. Ernesto was our guide and made the experience very interesting, relaxed and enjoyable. He shared a lot of knowledge about Cretan traditions, olive oil production and local gastronomy. A fantastic experience for anyone who wants to discover the authentic flavours of Crete beyond the usual tourist attractions.”
Andi Muca · Google
“Ernest is a nice, respectful and lovely driver. We had a great time there in Crete and could easily travel to other places thanks to him. Pick up times were easy to organize. He even brought us water every time. I would definetly recommend him to others!”
D Edg · Google
“Die South Crete Highlights Tour mit Way to Crete war ein wunderschöner Tag und definitiv eines der Highlights unseres Kreta-Urlaubs. Wir haben das beeindruckende Kourtaliotiko-Schlucht, das historische Kloster von Preveli und den berühmten Preveli Beach besucht. Die Landschaft im Süden Kretas war unglaublich schön und die gesamte Tour war sehr gut organisiert. Unser Fahrer war freundlich, professionell und hat uns viele interessante Informationen über die Region gegeben. Eine perfekte Möglichkeit, den authentischen Süden Kretas abseits der üblichen Touristenrouten kennenzulernen. Absolute Empfehlung für eine private Tour ab Rethymno!”
Helga Geißer · Google

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Guides from people who live here

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Is Rethymno Worth Visiting?

Yes. Rethymno is worth visiting, and the specific reason is that it is the only city in Crete that gives you three things at once: an intact Venetian and Ottoman old town you can walk end to end in fifteen minutes, a long sandy beach that starts where the old harbour ends, and a position halfway along the island that puts Knossos, Samaria, Elafonisi, Spinalonga, Preveli and the White Mountains all within a day's drive of the same hotel. It is smaller and quieter than Chania, cheaper than either Chania or Heraklion, and - because the University of Crete's humanities campus is here - it stays a working city out of season rather than closing down. The case against it is that it has no airport, its beachfront hotel strip is generic, and its old town is noisy in August.

Rethymno or Chania: Which Should You Base Yourself In?

Choose Chania for a short trip built around the most beautiful harbour in Crete and the beaches and gorges of the far west; choose Rethymno for a longer stay, a sandy beach that starts where the old town ends, lower prices, quieter evenings, and a central position that puts both halves of the island within a day's drive. Chania's old town is larger and more spectacular but also far busier and more expensive, and its own town beach is small, so beach days mean driving 40 to 75 kilometres. Rethymno's old town is smaller and more lived-in, with a stronger Ottoman layer, and its beach runs about 12 kilometres east from the harbour. If you have three days, go to Chania. If you have a week and a car, base in Rethymno and drive to Chania for a day.

Samaria or Imbros? Choosing Between Crete's Two Best-Known Gorges

Choose Samaria if you want the landmark and can commit a full twelve-hour day to 16 kilometres of continuous descent from 1,250 metres to the sea, ending at a village reachable only by boat. Choose Imbros if you want the same limestone-corridor scenery in 8 kilometres and 2 to 3 hours of easy downhill walking, with a vehicle waiting at the end, no ferry timetable to catch, and the option of going in any month of the year. Samaria is open only from 1 May to 31 October and is the busiest hiking route in Greece; Imbros runs year-round and carries a fraction of the traffic. For most visitors - families, anyone with knees, anyone who only has half a day - Imbros is the better hike. Samaria is worth it if the length is the point.

Good to know

Good to know

Where do your tours start?+

Most tours include hotel pickup from anywhere in the Rethymno area, at a time we confirm the day before. Walking tours and the boat trip meet in Rethymno town — we send the exact meeting pin when your booking is confirmed.

How big are the groups?+

Land tours run in an air-conditioned minivan with a maximum of 8 guests, and most bookings end up private. The boat trip takes up to 19.

What is your cancellation policy?+

Free cancellation with a full refund up to 48 hours before pickup on every tour that lists a price. Inside 48 hours we will always try to move your date rather than charge you.

Do I pay when I book?+

No. You send a request with your date and group size, and we confirm availability first. Payment details follow once the day is held — nothing is charged on this site.

Which airport should I fly into for Rethymno?+

Chania (CHQ) and Heraklion (HER) are both about an hour from Rethymno by road, so either works. We run private transfers from both.

Do the prices change with group size?+

On several tours, yes. Imbros Gorge for example is €44 per person in a full van of 8, rising to €145 per person for a couple, because the van and guide cost the same either way.