Immerse yourself in the rich history and captivating villages, nature and landscapes of central Crete! This excursion from Analipsi to the Lassithi Plateau will allow you to visit numerous sights in that area, including the famous Cave of Zeus, the Monastery of Vidiani, the traditional village of Krasi and olive farm – in addition to the stunning scenery and environment along the way.
First, let’s note the most important places along the route. During this tour you will visit the following sights:
We begin our excursion by driving up to the highlands and exploring the famous Lassithi Plateau with its many windmills and picturesque villages. As we move up to the height of 820 meters above sea level, we will cross the plateau and see some of the thousands old windmills that once covered the area. Nowadays only a few are preserved and in operation depending on the season, but several centuries ago there were about 10000 windmills. They were used by the locals mainly for irrigation purposes, lifting the water from the depths of this land.
The first big stop on our trip will be the village of Psychro (it means “cold” in Greek). Here we will have about 1,5-2 hours to visit the cave of Zeus, which is located almost 150 meters higher in the mountains (so more than 1000 meters above sea level). You can reach the entrance of the cave on foot or with the help of a donkey taxi. Inside the cave you can admire the unique site decorated with impressive stalactites and stalagmites and explore the mythical birthplace of the King of the Gods, Zeus.
Ready to move on? The next stops on our route are the Monastery of Vidiani and the village of Krasi. Vidiani Monastery is a small male monastery that is not too far away – right at the foot of Louloudaki Mountain. The route takes about 10 minutes by bus and you will have about 25-30 minutes to explore it. About the same amount of time you’ll spend in the village of Krasi, a charming little traditional Cretan village on the slopes of the mountain of Selena. This village is famous for its beautiful freshwater springs in the main square and huge and very old plane trees. Here grows the oldest plane tree in Crete, which is also considered one of the oldest trees in the entire Mediterranean!
After walking in the shade of the plane trees, together with the old fountains, cafes, and small shops in the village square, the beauty of this area will relax you after traveling through the mountains… so you’ll be ready to feel the true spirit of Crete at our next stop!
As the last point of our excursion from Analipsi to the Lassithi Plateau area, we will go to the olive farm where we will spend about two hours. There you will have a guided tour in a family-owned olive oil factory. It is a unique experience based on history, old machines and modern technologies, olive trees and olive oil and, of course, local traditions. By the way, if you want, you can also have a traditional lunch there, with picturesque views of the mountains and the sea! After visiting the olive oil farm, our bus departs for the return journey.
This trip is both good in that you will spend very little time traveling between sights, but you will see many interesting places, learn about the mythology and religion, history and traditions, as well as the nature and geology of Crete.
If you would like to explore the plateau of Lassithi area with a guided tour, visit the cave of Zeus, the village of Krasi and the olive farm, the price of the trip in 2025 is:
This tour is sometimes included in special promotions and sold cheaper for our followers – keep an eye out for discounts on Facebook!
Are you traveling as a big family or a group? Contact us in advance or visit our offices and we will try to make you the best offer.
You are welcome! We will run this personalised tour in a suitable car or minivan for you on any day. No large groups, long pick-ups or waiting – just you, your family or friends and the guide! You can ask us in advance – and we will organise everything for you.
An excursion to the Lassithi Plateau and the Cave of Zeus from Analipsi can be booked online in advance (see “How to book excursions in Crete”).
In 2025 the excursion to the Plateau of Lassithi and the Cave of Zeus from Analipsi takes place from 04/04 to 04/11. Available tour days – Tuesday.
Please note that trip schedules are subject to change, including cancellation. This is extremely rare and may be due to weather conditions. For example, heavy rains at the beginning (April and May) or end of the season (September and October) and other force majeure situations. If there are any changes, we will try to let you know as soon as possible.
Please make sure that you have correctly identified your vacation area in Crete and read the cancellation and refund policy.
If there is less than 24 hours before the trip, please contact the manager to check availability before you make a booking!
Firstly, you can come to one of our offices where booking for all services is available and payment can be made either by cash or card.
Secondly, in case of online booking you can choose cash payment (which is available for some areas only) or you can pay online by card. In the case of cash, we will arrange a meeting with our courier in advance, who will bring the prepared documents to your hotel or villa and collect the cash. Please note that this option is only available for bookings made well in advance (days or weeks before the trip!). In case of online payment, you will receive the tickets by e-mail or WhatsApp – as you prefer.
Please keep all documents and tickets until the end of your trip!
It depends on the location of your hotel or villa. In some cases a tour bus will literally stop at the front door of the hotel and you just have to be there, in others it may be a short walk to the nearest pick-up point. This is usually a large central street, bus stop, square, car park, etc. – somewhere where there is no risk of the tour bus getting stuck on a narrow one-way street or stuck in traffic.
You will receive full details of the time and place of the pick-up with your travel documents when you make your booking. Please read it carefully before the trip.
Not really – except in one place. From the Plateau of Lassithi, the Zeus Cave is reached by a path about 800 meters long and with a height difference of about 150 meters. The path is steep in some places, but quite smooth. If you find it difficult to walk uphill, you can hire a donkey to take you to and from the cave.
All you need to protect yourself from the midday sun: headgear, sunglasses, sunscreen. It is advisable to bring drinking water. For this trip, choose comfortable shoes and bring some light clothes that can be changed quickly in the cave (the temperature there is only about +16C).
In the afternoon, the bus arrives at the olive farm, where the family tavern is also located. Here you can order homemade meals (from 10-15 euro per person). You can also just relax, take a walk or bring some food with you if that suits you.
Yes, absolutely. You will be accompanied by an excellent guide. We entrust these excursions to only the best guides who will tell you about the history, mythology, traditions and nature of Crete.
Yes, this is one of the most interesting and informative group tours in Crete.
Languages: English, German, French on any available day. On some days we can also organize excursions with Italian, Polish, Romanian and Russian speaking guides, so check the booking calendar or send us a request.
Please note that this is an approximate tour schedule. Times may vary depending on traffic and pick-up and drop-off locations. Exact times will be sent to you along with other information when you make your reservation and specify your hotel.
| Schedule of the excursion program | |
|---|---|
| 6:50 - 8:50 | Departure from the hotels |
| 9:40 - 11:30 | Visit to the Cave of Zeus |
| 11:40 - 12:10 | Visit to the monastery of Vidiani |
| 12:30 - 13:00 | Free time in Krasi village |
| 13:30 - 15:30 | Olive mill farm, guided tour, lunch (optional) and free time |
| 16:00 - 17:30 | Return to hotels |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| from 45 minutes | From the hotels by bus to the first stop at the Plateau of Lassithi |
| 1,5-2 hours | The plateau of Lassithi and the cave of Zeus |
| 25-30 minutes | Vidiani Monastery |
| 20-25 minutes | Krasi village |
| 2 hours | Olive mill farm |
| 10-20 minutes | Traveling between attractions |
| 30 minutes - 1,5 hours | Transfer by bus to hotels |