Crete Island Tour - (4 Nights - 5 Days) - 2026
DAY 01: ISTANBUL AIRPORT – HERAKLION
Meeting at 09:00 in front of the Aegean Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal. After passport, check-in and baggage procedures, we depart for Heraklion on Aegean Air flight A3435 at 12:35. Arrival in Heraklion at 14:05 local time. Our private vehicle waiting at the airport will transfer us to our hotel. Upon arrival, after completing hotel check-in procedures, we settle into our rooms and have free time. You can enjoy all the facilities of the hotel throughout the day and savor the sea. Overnight at our hotel.
Meeting at 09:00 in front of the Aegean Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal. After passport, check-in and baggage procedures, we depart for Heraklion on Aegean Air flight A3435 at 12:35. Arrival in Heraklion at 14:05 local time. Our private vehicle waiting at the airport will transfer us to our hotel. Upon arrival, after completing hotel check-in procedures, we settle into our rooms and have free time. You can enjoy all the facilities of the hotel throughout the day and savor the sea. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 02: HERAKLION
After breakfast, you have free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish may join the “Heraklion City Tour & Knossos & Archanes Village Tour” organized by our guides as an extra option. We meet with our guide after breakfast and begin our tour. We set off for the Heraklion City Tour. Upon arriving in Heraklion, we start our tour from Plateia Elefterias and explore the rich history and culture of Crete. Sacred sites bearing traces of history such as Agios Titos Church, the grandeur of Agios Minas Cathedral, and the historic texture of the Ottoman Bon Marche Building will be the highlights of this tour. These special places we visit are among the important structures reflecting Crete's rich cultural fabric. After visiting the Valide Sultan Mosque Fountain, Evkaf Building, and other structures reflecting the historical importance of Crete and carrying traces of the past, we will see the Venetian Loggia, one of the most important structures from Crete's Venetian period, which will present Venetian influences to us as a historic building. Perhaps one of the most impressive moments of this tour will be the Venetian Harbor and shipyards. After the city tour, we will have free time to taste local flavors and relax. Then, we set off towards Knossos Ancient City. This tour is designed for you to discover the ancient and traditional side of Crete. During our tour, we will visit Knossos Palace and the historic Archanes Village. Knossos Palace is a magical structure built in 2000 BC and was the capital of the Minoan Kingdom. After our palace visit, we head towards Archanes Village. This charming Cretan village is famous for its streets and houses that still preserve the traditional way of life. By experiencing Cretan culture and lifestyle firsthand, you will better understand the soul of the island. After free time, we return to our hotel.
After breakfast, you have free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish may join the “Heraklion City Tour & Knossos & Archanes Village Tour” organized by our guides as an extra option. We meet with our guide after breakfast and begin our tour. We set off for the Heraklion City Tour. Upon arriving in Heraklion, we start our tour from Plateia Elefterias and explore the rich history and culture of Crete. Sacred sites bearing traces of history such as Agios Titos Church, the grandeur of Agios Minas Cathedral, and the historic texture of the Ottoman Bon Marche Building will be the highlights of this tour. These special places we visit are among the important structures reflecting Crete's rich cultural fabric. After visiting the Valide Sultan Mosque Fountain, Evkaf Building, and other structures reflecting the historical importance of Crete and carrying traces of the past, we will see the Venetian Loggia, one of the most important structures from Crete's Venetian period, which will present Venetian influences to us as a historic building. Perhaps one of the most impressive moments of this tour will be the Venetian Harbor and shipyards. After the city tour, we will have free time to taste local flavors and relax. Then, we set off towards Knossos Ancient City. This tour is designed for you to discover the ancient and traditional side of Crete. During our tour, we will visit Knossos Palace and the historic Archanes Village. Knossos Palace is a magical structure built in 2000 BC and was the capital of the Minoan Kingdom. After our palace visit, we head towards Archanes Village. This charming Cretan village is famous for its streets and houses that still preserve the traditional way of life. By experiencing Cretan culture and lifestyle firsthand, you will better understand the soul of the island. After free time, we return to our hotel.
DAY 03: HERAKLION
After breakfast, you have free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish may join the "Rethymno & Chania Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. After breakfast, we begin our tour with our guides, heading towards Rethymno where you will witness the enchanting beauty of Crete. Rethymno is like an open-air museum carrying traces of both the Venetian and Turkish periods. Upon reaching Rethymno, one of the most eye-catching cities of Crete, you will travel through streets intertwined with history. Among the places we will see during our exploration of Rethymno are the Venetian Fortress, Ibrahim Aga Mosque, Venetian Fountain, Nerace Mosque, and the old Ottoman School. After our explorations in Rethymno, we will turn our route towards Chania, which hosts Crete's unique beauties. As we proceed towards Chania via Souda Town, you will enjoy a pleasant journey with magnificent views. In our Chania city tour, we will explore the Venetian Shipyard, Lighthouse, Hünkar Mosque, Agios Nikolaos Church, and Kastelli Muslim Quarter. Towards the end of our tour, you will have the opportunity to shop at the Covered Bazaar. Return to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
After breakfast, you have free time for personal activities and shopping. Guests who wish may join the "Rethymno & Chania Tour" organized by our guides as an extra option. After breakfast, we begin our tour with our guides, heading towards Rethymno where you will witness the enchanting beauty of Crete. Rethymno is like an open-air museum carrying traces of both the Venetian and Turkish periods. Upon reaching Rethymno, one of the most eye-catching cities of Crete, you will travel through streets intertwined with history. Among the places we will see during our exploration of Rethymno are the Venetian Fortress, Ibrahim Aga Mosque, Venetian Fountain, Nerace Mosque, and the old Ottoman School. After our explorations in Rethymno, we will turn our route towards Chania, which hosts Crete's unique beauties. As we proceed towards Chania via Souda Town, you will enjoy a pleasant journey with magnificent views. In our Chania city tour, we will explore the Venetian Shipyard, Lighthouse, Hünkar Mosque, Agios Nikolaos Church, and Kastelli Muslim Quarter. Towards the end of our tour, you will have the opportunity to shop at the Covered Bazaar. Return to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 04: HERAKLION
After breakfast, we complete our check-out procedures from the hotel and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time determined by our guide. Guests who wish may join the “Elounda & Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos Tour” organized by our guides as an extra option. Our tour will begin at the port town of Plaka, where we will board the boat. After a short boat ride, we will first visit Spinalonga Island, which houses one of the strongest fortresses of the Venetian period. We then transfer by boat to Elounda and have free time. Afterwards, we visit Agios Nikolaos, known not only for being a charming town but also for the lake within it and the many legends surrounding its depth. We stroll through the pleasant harbor of this former fishing town overlooking Mirabello Bay and visit Voulismeni Lake, also known as Dipsiz Göl (Bottomless Lake). Return to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
After breakfast, we complete our check-out procedures from the hotel and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time determined by our guide. Guests who wish may join the “Elounda & Spinalonga & Agios Nikolaos Tour” organized by our guides as an extra option. Our tour will begin at the port town of Plaka, where we will board the boat. After a short boat ride, we will first visit Spinalonga Island, which houses one of the strongest fortresses of the Venetian period. We then transfer by boat to Elounda and have free time. Afterwards, we visit Agios Nikolaos, known not only for being a charming town but also for the lake within it and the many legends surrounding its depth. We stroll through the pleasant harbor of this former fishing town overlooking Mirabello Bay and visit Voulismeni Lake, also known as Dipsiz Göl (Bottomless Lake). Return to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 05: HERAKLION – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
After breakfast, we complete our check-out procedures from the hotel and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time determined by our guide. Guests who wish may join the “Jumbo Shopping Tour” organized by our guides as an extra option. We will spend our last day at Jumbo Store, famous for its affordability and offering many options ranging from toys to household items, making it one of the most popular stores in Greece. Transfer to the airport after the tour. After passport and check-in procedures, we depart for Istanbul on Aegean Airlines flight A3434 at 15:25. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 17:00 local time. End of our tour.
After breakfast, we complete our check-out procedures from the hotel and have free time for personal activities and shopping until the transfer time determined by our guide. Guests who wish may join the “Jumbo Shopping Tour” organized by our guides as an extra option. We will spend our last day at Jumbo Store, famous for its affordability and offering many options ranging from toys to household items, making it one of the most popular stores in Greece. Transfer to the airport after the tour. After passport and check-in procedures, we depart for Istanbul on Aegean Airlines flight A3434 at 15:25. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 17:00 local time. End of our tour.
- Prices are calculated per person based on double occupancy.
- Hotel standards in Greece may be lower than those in Turkey.
- Hotel check-in times are between 15:00–17:00, and check-out times are between 10:00–12:00.
- If multiple hotel alternatives are offered for the same destination and/or only the hotel category is specified, the hotels to be stayed at will be notified to you 48 hours before the tour departure date.
- Due to high demand, changes may occur in hotels; however, the hotel category will not change.
- Some hotels may provide twin (TWIN) beds. During your hotel stay, any request for a room type change is subject to the hotel's discretion.
- We kindly request that prices be verified prior to completing the purchase.
What's Included
- Economy class air ticket with Aegean Airlines between Istanbul Airport – Heraklion – Istanbul Airport
- 4 nights room and breakfast accommodation in the selected hotel category in Crete
- Airport taxes
- Hotel taxes.
- Experienced Turkish tour leadership service (subject to minimum 15 participants)
- Airport taxes.
- All hotel and airport transfers.
- Mandatory travel insurance (professional liability insurance).
Not Included
- Personal expenses and hotel extras.
- All tours specified as extra tours in the program
- Exit fee from Turkey (can be paid at relevant banks or the treasury counter at the airport).
- Lunch and dinner meals.
- City taxes charged by hotels.
- Domestic connecting flights.
- Schengen visa fee.
- Travel insurance package (including cancellation coverage).