GREECE
The Greek classics.
The 10 most popular matala tours in Greece, with what each one is really like on the day, who runs it, and what it costs.
Heraklion to Matala for beach time and hippie caves, plus Odigitria Monastery with a free folklore museum stop. Air-conditioned, guided.
“Everything was exactly as described in the info. Nothing to complain”
Hike Samaria Gorge from Omalos Plateau, swim in Agia Roumeli, and ride the southern coast by boat to Chora Sfakion.
“De Samaraikloof moet op je bucketlist staan, maar je moet in zeer goede conditie zijn! Als 65j sport ik nog min.4/w, maar je knieën en voeten moeten in optimale conditie zijn! Het is van in het begin tot het einde springen van steen tot steen, met het risico om bij elke pas je voet om…”
Guided trip from Heraklion to Matala: beach time, optional hippie caves ticket, and a Red Beach walk with Libyan Sea swims.
“Incroyable! Ville magnifique à faire si vous êtes tout près.”
South Crete beach day to Matala and Kommos: prehistoric caves, a 60s hippie story, crystal swims, tamarisk dunes, and Caretta-Caretta season.
“Je tiens à remercier chaleureusement Eleni pour sa disponibilité, sa gentillesse et toutes ses explications précieuses. En plus, elle conduit avec prudence, ce qui est à souligner ! Cette sortie est magique, idéalement rythmée et merci de m'avoir fait découvrir Kosmos, que je ne connaissais pas. Le fait que nous soyons un petit groupe a…”
A 7-hour Crete day trip from Rethymno with Agia Galini, Matala caves and swimming, Maravel medicinal herb garden, and Spili fountains.
“I loved this trip today! The guide was so informative and the driver was fantastic and very safe! A great day out and highly recommend it!”
Explore southern Crete by jeep, from Agios Thomas and Odigitria Monastery to Agiofarago Beach and Matala’s hippie caves.
“Excellent! Had an Amazing Day. Our guide, John. was absolutely INCREDIBLE! He was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Crete. He provided us with so much information. His sense of humor kept us all entertained and fully enagged throughout the tour. I highly recommend this Tour. Especially if John is leading it. Thank you so…”
Spend seven hours on Crete’s Matala Beach, exploring Roman-era caves, swimming in clear water, and enjoying easy coastal-town charm.
“The girl from the staff was really nice. However this is just transport to and from matala. I would've just taken the bus for like 1/5 of the price but my gf is allergic to public transfer. Also the return time is 3:45. Way too early if you ask me”
Visit ancient Gortys, swim at Matala Beach, and explore its famous hippie caves on a practical nine-hour Crete day trip.
“It was impossible to enjoy the beach and the caves... the wind was too strong... it was unpleasant and dangerous. The sand stung our skin and eyes... the wind knocked us off balance on the rocks... we killed time in restaurants and shops... that wasn't the point... The excursion should have been canceled by the…”
Visit Matala from Heraklion for a beach day, hippie-era cave history, swimming, seaside lunch, and a low-cost Crete excursion.
“A praia é maravilhosa, no entanto, o tempo inicialmente de 7 horas, foi alterado para 5 horas de passeio. Ficamos apenas três horas e meia no local, inclusive falei com a guia sobre isso.”
Walk Crete’s narrow Imbros Gorge, hear its wartime story, then swim at Frangokastello on an eight-hour trip from Agia Galini or Matala.
“The Imbros gorges are undoubtedly very suggestive and I highly recommend this excursion (with shoes suitable for an 8 km route on uneven but mostly flat cobblestones). However, I didn't like the organization, first of all because for those like me who were leaving from the south (I was based in Matala) it means being…”
