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to Olive Oil Tour - Rethymno - Kournas Lake

A Day in Crete: From Olive Groves to Mountain Lake

Discover the flavors, history, and natural beauty of Crete on a relaxed day tour. Visit a traditional olive oil mill for a behind-the-scenes look and tasting, explore the charming streets of Rethymno’s Old Town, and unwind at the tranquil Lake Kournas—Crete’s only freshwater lake surrounded by mountains and greenery.

Visit a family-run olive oil mill and taste fresh, natural olive oil
Stroll through Rethymno’s charming Old Town with sea views and traditional architecture
Relax at Lake Kournas with time to explore, swim or enjoy the landscape
€ 380
Up to 6 People
7 hours
€ 580
Up to 12 People
7 hours
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Unlocking the destination’s hidden gems.

Tour Details

Step off the beaten path and experience a different side of Crete—one filled with authentic flavors, centuries-old traditions, and unspoiled natural beauty. This half-day tour takes you from the heart of the island’s olive country to the cobbled streets of Rethymno and the tranquil shores of Lake Kournas.

Your first stop is the Melissakis Olive Oil Mill, where the aroma of fresh olives fills the air and the passion for craftsmanship runs deep. Here, you’ll meet the producers themselves, walk through the modern yet family-run facilities, and taste the rich, golden olive oil that has been a staple of Cretan life for generations.

From there, continue to Rethymno Old Town, a living museum where Venetian elegance meets Eastern charm. Meander through alleyways dotted with arched doorways, colorful balconies, and hidden courtyards. With time to explore at your own pace, you can shop local crafts, sip coffee in a shaded square, or simply watch the world go by.

The journey ends in nature’s embrace at Lake Kournas, Crete’s only freshwater lake. Framed by lush hills and distant mountains, this serene spot invites you to unwind—whether it’s with a walk along the water’s edge, a paddle boat ride across its glassy surface, or a drink at a lakeside taverna. It’s the perfect slow-paced finish to a day rich in discovery.

Duration approx 7h
Included
  • Pick-up & drop-off from your accommodation
  • Air-conditioned minibus/minivan
  • Local tour guide
  • Audiovisual presentation on Cretan customs
  • Guided olive oil tour
  • Olive oil tasting at an olive oil factory
  • Cold beverages & bottled water
  • Free Wi-Fi onboard
  • USB charging ports
Not Included
  • Guided tour in Rethymno city
Notice
Children Under 3 Years Old:

If you are traveling with children under the age of 3, please inform us at the time of booking or contact us directly. Baby car seats are available on the minibus upon request to ensure your child’s safety and comfort.
Pick-up information

We offer free pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation.
Please make sure to mention the name and address of your hotel or accommodation when completing your booking, so we can arrange your transfer accordingly.

Not Included
  • Guided tour in Rethymno city
Pick-up information

We offer free pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation.
Please make sure to mention the name and address of your hotel or accommodation when completing your booking, so we can arrange your transfer accordingly.

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What this tour
feels like

Christine and her driver took amazing care of us. They arranged a tour of olive oil farm, lake visit, wine tour Gave us an information and recommendations for restaurants, a Greek lesson, and history of Crete. They took their time and...

Christine and her driver took amazing care of us. They arranged a tour of olive oil farm, lake visit, wine tour Gave us an information and recommendations for restaurants, a Greek lesson, and history of Crete. They took their time and were over the top professional and easy going.

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Crete (Chania): Christina and Thanos treated us like family from the time they met us at the port until the moment they dropped us back off. The van was air conditioned and they provided water, beer and soft drinks, as well as phone...

Crete (Chania): Christina and Thanos treated us like family from the time they met us at the port until the moment they dropped us back off. The van was air conditioned and they provided water, beer and soft drinks, as well as phone chargers. The drive to the olive oil mill was scenic and Christina provided us with a wonderful history of Crete. The olive oil mill tour was wonderful, complete with an explanation of how they harvest the olives and turn it into oil using machinery. We got to try several of their olive oils, olive paste, and balsamic vinegar. Everything was incredible. Next we went to Kournas Lake, where we were treated to Greek coffee drinks as well as sampling the local delicacy, sfakianes. Beautiful scenery and overall a lovely stop. Made friends with a calico cat. “Who’s hungry” works yet again! From there we went to Rethymno and took a beautiful walk around the old city which offers many cafes, restaurants and shops. We stopped and had lunch and then continued our walk along the harbor. A wonderful tour. 10 out of 10.

Read More Hide Lorraine K

This trip was so much fun! Our guides were amazing and sorted virtually everything for us, so all we had to do was relax and have fun! They ensured we had free time around rethymno and once we reached the lake they had everything ready for...

This trip was so much fun! Our guides were amazing and sorted virtually everything for us, so all we had to do was relax and have fun! They ensured we had free time around rethymno and once we reached the lake they had everything ready for us (like the pedalo)! Super attentive, would definitely recommend!

Read More Hide Urvi J

Our favorite tour thus far on our Mediterranean cruise! We are a multigenerational family group traveling on a cruise that was rerouted to Crete. I read the reviews and selected this tour which far exceeded our expectations. Comfortable...

Our favorite tour thus far on our Mediterranean cruise! We are a multigenerational family group traveling on a cruise that was rerouted to Crete. I read the reviews and selected this tour which far exceeded our expectations. Comfortable vehicle with every detail thought of! They even provided boosters for my kids and charging cables for our phones. Anything we expressed interest in or asked questions about was responded to! The kids, parents, and grandparents all enjoyed our experience! Christine and Thanos were so very hospitable and enjoyable to be with. Thank you! We hope to return to Crete and try another of their tours!

Read More Hide Kaylin L

Our experience on this tour was well beyond our expectations. First we visited the beautiful lake Kournas, the drive there from Platanias where we were picked up took maybe a bit under an hour, which went very nicely and quickly when the...

Our experience on this tour was well beyond our expectations. First we visited the beautiful lake Kournas, the drive there from Platanias where we were picked up took maybe a bit under an hour, which went very nicely and quickly when the lovely tour guide Christine told us things about Crete, Cretans and showed us interesting photos & videos from the screen on the minivan. (very nice & comfy minivan by the way! ) She also made sure all the time that we were fine, I was travelling with my grandparents, she certainly made sure that they were okay at all times and told us that there was no hurry whatsoever, which was very nice and brought a very nice & relaxing atmosphere, just what you'd like to have on a holiday! The drive from the lake to the city of Rethymno went very well while enjoying the great lunch we were offered. We all had our own lunchboxes with delicious sandwiches and other great local delicacies. Also we had drinks, ice cold water, soft drinks etc.. All included in the price! Overall this was an excellent experience, if you want to have a private tour at a reasonable price, and really nice and friendly people, you should definitely choose Seabybus! You could see how greatful they were to us for choosing them, and we certainly will again when we return to Crete next year! They have tours to other interesting places too. Thank you for the nice day we got to spend with you!

Read More Hide Viivi

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour, guided by friendly and informative Christina. Everything was so well organized. Drinks and lovely lunch boxes were packed for us to enjoy, when we reached the beach at Plakias. Rethymno was beautiful to...

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour, guided by friendly and informative Christina. Everything was so well organized. Drinks and lovely lunch boxes were packed for us to enjoy, when we reached the beach at Plakias. Rethymno was beautiful to wander around the narrow streets and check out the sights. Our final stop was at Kournas lake, which was beautiful. I can highly recommend this tour.

Read More Hide Sharon P

Our tour guide was extremely sweet and well oriented just like our bus driver. We really enjoyed ourselves and we have to admit it was a well planned trip. Our lunch and drinks were also packed for us and given in small cooling bags. We...

Our tour guide was extremely sweet and well oriented just like our bus driver. We really enjoyed ourselves and we have to admit it was a well planned trip. Our lunch and drinks were also packed for us and given in small cooling bags. We would 100% opt for SeaByBus again!

Read More Hide Simona
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