Unforgettable Private Crete: Knossos, Zeus Cave, Lasithi Tour

Very knowledgeable and proud tour guide. We were able to adjust our destinations Based on our interests.

Our tour with Kostas was the best part of our entire trip to Greece. His love for Crete showed in every aspect of the day. This was so much more than a tour of Crete. It was a culinary, cultural, and historical experience where you really got to learn so much about this amazing island. I cannot speak highly enough of our experience. We were able to select different to-dos throughout the day based on what was open or not and his recommendations. My husband and I will be talking about this tour with everyone until we come and do it again...that is how amazing it was!

Our expectation: a day filled with ancient history, mountain landscapes, and maybe a glimpse of Zeus. Things turned out a bit differently – and honestly, even better. Right on time, my daughter and I were picked up at our hotel by our guide Kostas, in his clean and comfortable car. After a quick round of friendly small talk, we revisited the planned route: the Cave of Zeus was unfortunately closed, and hundreds of cruise ship passengers were already heading toward Knossos that morning. No problem for Kostas – a true Cretan and someone who knows the island like the back of his hand. He quickly reshaped the day’s itinerary with skill and care, and what followed became one of the absolute highlights of our trip. Kostas is well-educated, polite, friendly, and thoughtful – and his knowledge of Cretan history and culture is impressive. But what made the day truly special were the open, personal conversations we had along the way – not just about ancient ruins, but about life, philosophy, and everything in between. Even though our original route changed, our expectations weren’t just met – they were exceeded. If you're looking for a private, insightful, and flexible tour with a local who truly cares, Kostas is the perfect guide!

Our tour of Crete with Kostas from Stagakis Grand Prestige was one of our favorite excursions that we did while on our cruise. Kostas was incredibly knowledgeable about Crete’s history and culture, and also just a great guy to spend the day with. He was funny, warm, and had a great sense of humor. He was constantly making us laugh. He showed us hidden spots we never would’ve found on our own, and he shared stories and history that made each stop feel more memorable. Along the way, he offered us all kinds of local snacks, mostly made by his own mother. We even got to try honey that he, his father and brother produce. He brought us to a fantastic little Greek restaurant for lunch where we devoured everything in sight. He surprised us at the end with a parting gift of local tea so that we could take a piece of Crete home. The vehicle was spotless and comfortable, and we always felt safe and well looked after. It felt like we were spending the day with a local friend who genuinely wanted us to fall in love with his island. We can’t recommend Kostas and Stagakis Grand Prestige enough, and we will definitely book a tour with him again next time we visit Crete!

Kostas is amazing and super knowledgeable about all things Greek, history and just random facts. We loved our day together and highly recommend his tour in Crete. Enjoy and truly one of the best places we have traveled to in the world. Friendly people with deep history of tradition and kindness/hospitality. Love it!! Definitely will see Kostas again. Best wishes to your future travels, Shail

This was the best tour we took while in Greece. If you visit Crete, definitely book a tour with Kostas. He was a wonderful guide. He tailored the tour to our interests and suggested stops based off of what we wanted. We went to the Palace of Knossos and learned a lot about how different archaeologists affect different sights. Then we went to the Plateau and had the best meal we had our whole trip. We saw the windmills and learned a lot about the agriculture in the area. Then, since the cave of Zeus was closed due to earthquakes, he took us to the cave of Kronos, which was amazing. Lastly, we stopped at an olive oil factory and learned how to distinguish good olive oil from lesser quality. Not to mention, along the way he fed us a large variety of Cretian snacks, some of which were homemade by his mother. We had conversations about mythology, politics, history, and religion. A truly fascinating man to talk to. This was the highlight of our trip.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. Our tour guide was amazing and we saw and did incredible things. I highly recommend this tour.

We drove two hours to meet Kostos and it was worth every minute. He was informed, genuine and thoughtful. We experienced ancient sites, visited an olive oil manufacturer and climbed to the famous windmills. Every question was answered with knowledge and some amusement. At every stop he treated us with local specialties, some of which were made by his mother. If you want to learn more about Ancient Greece, Greek customs and food, book this tour.

I highly recommend this tour! Kostos is an amazing tour guide! He truly is a genuine person who cares about the quality of his tour experience and we were so lucky to spend Easter Sunday with him here in Crete!

Kostas provided us with a wonderful tour of the island of Crete. He was a very knowledgeable guide and thoroughly engaged us as we learned the history. The day was most enjoyable.