Private Crete Vineyard Visits with Wine Tastings & Lunch, Chania

Crete boasts a rich history of winemaking, with over 60 wineries to its name, including some of the world's finest producers. The island's unique terroir has given rise to a number of distinctive local grape varieties, contributing to Crete's status as the second-largest wine-producing region in Greece. Learn about the history of the wine industry on your way to Karavitakis Winery, where you'll sample six local and international wines in a beautifully renovated tasting room. Visit a 3000-year-old olive tree, and immerse yourself in the flavors of Crete at the Anoskeli Winery Olive Mill, where you'll taste organic extra virgin olive oil and five different local wines, each perfectly paired with Cretan snacks.

Crete is known for its long history of wine-making and, in fact, is the second-largest wine-producing region in all of Greece — a perfect spot for a vine harvest day trip! Discover the traditional art of wine-making by spending the day in a family vineyard, harvesting local varieties of grapes, and then stomping them with your bare feet. You'll learn every step of wine-making and the ancient techniques that come with it. Visit a family cottage and experience the warmth of Cretan hospitality. Finish your day with a traditional dinner served with local delicacies and a lot of wine! You'll get a unique glimpse into local culture as you join in on this timeless Cretan tradition.

Immerse yourself in Crete's culinary heritage with a guided tour that highlights the island's renowned olive oil, wine, and beer. Begin at an innovative olive mill to explore the production process and taste various extra virgin olive oil varieties, guided by local experts. Continue to a family-owned winery for a tasting of five wines and insights into winemaking traditions. In Zounaki village, visit a brewery to learn about brewing techniques, sample four fresh beers, and enjoy a hearty lunch. Highlights include seeing the world's oldest olive tree and sampling high-quality local products, making this experience perfect for foodies, wine aficionados, and beer enthusiasts.

Combine adventure with gastronomic explorations with this private safari tour taking you through the mountains and rugged heartlands of Chania. Feel free to customize your safari activity to make sure it suits your interests—this is a private experience after all! Visit the National Park of Samaria, taste various Cretan wines at Anoskeli Winery, and enjoy a delicious lunch with a magnificent view of the White Mountains. You can let your guide know if there is any specific spot you'll like to see, and they'll make sure to take you there. This is all about making your adventure extra special! Spend a day in touch with nature and enjoy the incredible views Chania has to offer.

Olive oil, wine, honey bees, villages, vineyards, oh my! This is a tour for non-tourists, this is the real deal Cretan experience and the culmination of our life in Crete. 


We start the day learning everything we need to know about olive oil. Over 50% of the island of Crete is covered with olive trees. It is the most important product here both for our economy and our cuisine. At Melissakis Olive Oil Mill, we will learn how olive oil is made in the modern method. We will also learn the varying methods of production and quality levels. Have you ever wondered what Extra Virgin Olive Oil means? You’ll find out! In their tasting area, we’ll get a chance to sample different oils and other Cretan products. 

Next to Dourakis Winery for a wine tasting. This family-owned winery excels at local indigenous grape varieties. Chania Wine Tours has a private seating area at the winery. We will show you how to properly taste each wine using all of our senses. We’ll guide you through a tasting of each of the 5 wines under the shade of their pergola. Wines are available for purchase. 

Next, we welcome you to our village home up in the mountains. Since we moved to Crete in 2013, Vasili has been revitalizing his grandfather’s vineyards and working the land. In 2017, he also started beekeeping.  This year, we built a wine-tasting area among the vines to welcome our guests.

Trek up to the bees in your protective suits. Vasili will need your help opening up the bee boxes and finding the queen. He’ll explain the bee-keeping and honey-making process. 

Next have a seat in the vineyards for wine tasting and lunch. From our vineyards, all you see is mountains, sky, and trees. All you hear is the birds chirping and sheep baaing. It’s an escape from it all. 

In the vineyards, you’ll taste the wine that those vines produced. Vasili has been experimenting with different blends and different wine styles, he’ll explain the process behind each. 

Finally, you’ll lend a hand to create the lunch spread of local Cretan products and traditional foods. Everyone will get a task from either chopping up vegetables, filling up wine from the barrels, or retrieving honey. 

Before you go, fill up a bottle of wine from the barrels, cork it yourself, and take it home as a gift from us to you.

Head to the mountains of Chania to discover the history and methods of producing two of Crete's most significant exports. Begin the tour with a visit to a local family's olive mill to see the traditional way of extracting olive oil. Taste this fresh extra virgin olive oil before resting under the shade of the world's oldest olive tree and stopping in the Olive Tree Museum in the village of Ano Vouves. The second half of the tour is devoted to Crete's other specialty: wine. Learn about wine production at two family-run vineyards before sitting down to a traditional Cretan lunch and a glass of wine.

Discover the history, culture, and cuisine of Crete on this guided tour of the seven villages that comprise the region of Apokoronas. Begin with a visit to the Apokoronas Folk Museum in the village of Gavalochori before continuing on to a raki distillery to sample this local spirit and see how it's made. Marvel at the cliffside Church of St. Anthony in the village of Emprosneros and try local products at a cheese factory. End the excursion with lunch at a kafeneio (café) in the village of Fres, where you can learn more about life in Apokoronas.

Discover the hidden gems of Chania on a unique walking tour! Explore the lesser-known streets, buildings, high spots, neighborhoods, and monuments only locals know. Walk on the same paths where Venetians, Ottomans, and Cretans used to live and work. Admire beautiful flower-filled neighborhoods, learn about Cretan history, and eat like a local. Visit ancient ruins, Byzantine-Venetian moats, and more. Immerse yourself in five old civilizations and their cultures in just two hours. 

Immerse yourself in the local culture of Crete and learn the art of traditional Cretan cooking in a charming family-run kitchen. Led by a knowledgeable Cretan grandmother, you will be taught how to prepare and cook six different authentic Cretan dishes using fresh herbs gathered from the garden. One of the highlights of the experience is preparing a delicious lamb dish in a traditional wood-fired stone oven.

Combine adventure with gastronomic explorations with this semi-private safari tour taking you through the mountains and rugged heartlands of Chania. You'll cruise in your own private vehicle, and other travelers will have theirs too. It's going to be a convoy of fun! Visit the National Park of Samaria, taste various Cretan wines at Anoskeli Winery, and enjoy a delicious lunch with a magnificent view of the White Mountains. Spend a day in touch with nature and enjoy the incredible views Chania has to offer.