Spend a day on a private tour exploring the natural and man-made wonders surrounding the city of Athens, including the city of ancient Corinth, the Cave of Lakes, and a cog railway. Learn general information about the places you visit from your driver. Choose whether to opt for a guide in Corinth. After pickup from your accommodation in Athens, drive along the mainland coast to Peloponnese, where you’ll have your first short stop at the Corinth Canal, which connects the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. Next, visit the Ancient Market and the Statue of Apostle Paul, walking along the same paths the Apostle walked and preached hundreds of years earlier. Then, visit the commercial town of Corinth and the Apostle Paul Metropolitan Church, founded by the Apostle himself around 51-52 AD.   Afterward, reach Diakofto to take the Cog Railway that goes through Vouraikos Canyon, one of the most beautiful natural sights and most spectacular railway rides in Greece. Your train ride ends in the town of Kalavryta, where your driver will meet you to take you to the mysterious and magnificent Cave of Lakes. Discover this rare creation of nature with 13 small and large lakes, each a different color, formed inside a cave that you can now explore. See the “hanging bridge” the “waterfalls”, and the unique stalactite formations as you get the feeling of being in a floating corridor. Head through an artificial tunnel that leads you directly to the second floor for some awe-inspiring sights.   Finally, stop for a meal in the picturesque village of Kalavrita before heading back to Athens.

Visit the monastery of Kera Kardiotissa and the Dictaean Cave then meet a potter at work on this exciting day trip. You’ll see panoramic views of the Lasithi Plateau and discover the epic Minoan Palace of Knossos. Your first stop is the Monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, an Orthodox nunnery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, situated near the village of Kera. Famous for the icon of Mary, believed to be miraculous, it’s surrounded by fortified walls and the church features murals dating back to the 14th century. The next stop is the village of Psychro, where you’ll take a walk to reach the Dictaean Cave, found above the village of Psychro at 1025 meters altitude. According to Greek mythology, it’s believed to be the place where Zeus, the father of Greek gods, was kept and fed from Amalthia, a goat, in secret to be protected from his father.  A most impressive sight is the lake at the lowest point, surrounded by massive stalactites and stalagmites. In the village of Psychro, a local potter will show the process of making his art at his ceramic workshop, following centuries-old traditions. A great opportunity to try it for yourself!  The next stop is Seli Ambelou for lunch with a panoramic view of the Lassithi Plateau.  It’s then time for the final destination, a visit to Knossos Palace, the capital of Minoan civilization. You’ll walk through the ancient site and learn how the citizens, believed to be the first Europeans in an organized community, lived 4,000 years ago. You’ll explore the palace and learn about the throne room, the frescoes, and the Minoan columns. 

Get to know the lesser-known side of Crete with a guided tour of the Lasithi Plateau, Knossos Palace, and an archaeological museum. Tour traditional local villages, an olive oil factory to learn about olive oil making, and old windmills once used to make corn and flour. Start off with the Lasithi Plateau, the highest plateau in Crete with an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. Step into history with a visit to old traditional villages and head to an olive oil factory where you can discover how olive oil used to be made as compared to its modern production.  After tasting some olive oil, visit Krasi village where the oldest plane tree in Crete is located. Visit old windmills that were used for corn and wheat production, as well as others that were used to pump water up to water the crops. See the cave where the mythical Zeus was rumored to have been born.  Visit Crete's most important archeological sites, the Knossos Palace and Heraklion Archaeological museum. Enjoy lunch and peruse the area before leaving.