The Minoan Tour of Knossos Palace & Museum

from
44€

Explore Europe’s oldest city & discover the greatness of the ancient Minoans. Experience tour of Knossos & the Museum with a local guide.

Bus group-tour with departures every Tuesday & Sunday from Chania & Rethymno

  • Reviews 1 Review
    5/5
  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
    • Culture
    Culture, Guided Tours, History
  • Activity Level
  • Group Size Large Group
    50
All about the The Minoan Tour of Knossos Palace & Museum.

Tour Highlights

  • Discover the first civilization of Europe
  • Explore one of world’s msot famous sites
  • Live guiding experience by a local expert
  • Learn about the ancient history of Crete
  • Unique museum exhibits & descriptions
  • Walk in Heraklion & Rethymno city centre

Description

Explore the oldest city of Europe and the first organized human civilization. Discover the greatness of the ancient Minoans and walk around the old stone-paths of Knossos, the cradle of Minoan civilization.

The palace of Knossos has constituted the main force of the island’s population during the Bronze Age. Their civilization, as well as the palace, was destroyed at the explosion of the Santorini Volcano. The excavation conducted by Arthur Evans in the early 20th century brought to light the grand palace of Knossos, along with other significant findings of immense importance concerning the culture and the life of the Minoans. Most of them are as of yet kept at the archaeological museum of Heraklion.

The trip starts from Chania (or Rethymno). Picking you up from your hotel or a meeting spot, we begin driving to Heraklion (duration: 2.5-3 hours). On the way to Heraklion, we stop near Rethymno for a few minutes (WC-food-water stop). Then, the guided tour is starting from the palace of Knossos. You will explore the “Little Palace”,  the “Royal Villa”, the “House of the Frescoes”,  the “Caravanserai”, the “Temple Tomb, the “Villa of Dionysos” and a lot more exciting spots inside the palace.

Subsequently, we head to the centre of Heraklion to visit the archaeological museum. Your guide will explain the history of the museum artefacts, and you will admire up close murals and objects from the palace you have just visited.

After the museum guided tour, you have plenty of time for shopping or lunch in the city centre. In Heraklion, you will spend approximately 4 hours. On our way back to Chania, we’ll stop by Rethymno city for an hour. Finally, after an 8-9 hours trip, we return to Chania, dropping you off at the pick-up spots & hotels.

If the group tour isn’t your prefered way to visit Knossos, there is the Private Tour Of Knossos alternative. Click & explore this option too.

If you wish to explore more options return to the Cultural & Historical Tours page.

 

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

 

  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • English speaking guide
  • Air-conditioned bus transportation
What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
  • Gratuities (optional)
  • Entrances fees of the Museum and the Palace (20€ per person)
  1. Shedule April to October

    Every Tuesday & Sunday

  2. Location Tour starts from

    Departures from Chania and Rethymno

  3. Duration of the tour Including pick-up and drop-off time

    Approximately 12  hours

     

  4. Booking & Cancellation Policies Please Read Carefully
    • Reservations must be made 12 hours before the tour. Cancellation must be made 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. In the case of later cancellations, no refund will be made from the company
    • If a tour is cancelled due to low participation or bad weather conditions, the company will refund 100% of made payments.
    • In the case of allergies, tolerances or food preferences, please inform the company in advance.
    • The company reserves the right to make minor changes in the program when considered necessary, for example, in unfavourable weather conditions. This can be done without prior notice.
  5. Children Price Discount

    Children 5-12 years old: 22€
    Children up to 18 years old: free entrances for the Museum and the Palace

  6. Pick up points- times Departures

    All departures are from Chania & Rethymnon. You will find the detailed list during your booking.

    *We recommend you to be at the pick-up area (your hotel or the pre-arranged meeting point) 5-10 minutes prior to your pick up time. Our driver/escort will be on time to welcome you and show your seat.

  7. What to bring with you for this tour ...except your best mood & smile :)
    • Your Camera
    • Comfortable clothing & shoes
    • Sunscreen & hat during summer months
    • Some cash for the entrance fees & personal expenses
    • During spring and autumn, we advise you to bring a jacket
  8. Covid-19 Info Tour regulations

    Further to the Government’s announcements, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, to keep our guests safe and healthy, our staff will be intensely and detailed trained to meet all the requirements. The company has fully complied with all the Government’s necessary measures, The WHO and the National Public Health Organisation.

    • Our fleet will be thoroughly cleaned and hygiene after each transfer and trip. All sensitive touch areas such as seats, armrests, sidewalls etc., are intensively cleaned and sanitized daily before and after each tour.
    • Our staff is trained in the latest hygiene protocols and cleaning procedures. They use personal protective equipment (face masks/shields and optional gloves) to ensure a safe travel experience for you and themselves.
    • Hand sanitizers antiseptic will be provided during clients’ embarkation
    • Clients are obliged to use masks during their stay on the bus. (Masks will be provided from the company)
    • Our vehicles are filled up according to governmental covid-19 law of their capacity. Those governmental laws and regulations against covid-19 infections might change but are strictly followed at all times.

We keep our group sizes low so you have the freedom to move around and get involved with your surroundings, as well as more personal attention from our local guides. This intimate size ensures that your group will not crowd your experience. You can expect up to 50 travelers on a trip but the average is 30-35. Check individual trip pages for maximum group sizes.

It’s extremely difficult if not impossible to join a tour after it has begun. It is possible to leave a tour early however you will be responsible for your own arrangements from the moment you decide to leave the tour. You would also be responsible for all costs associated with joining a tour late or leaving one early. If you feel this may be necessary please consult a Fabulous Crete Specialist before you book your adventure.

50 seats buses

For privacy reasons we cannot provide you with advance details on your traveling companions. However, our tours appeal to a wide range of travellers, most of whom share an adventurous spirit and a desire to experience these destinations at a grass-roots level. Our tours are conducted in English and so they attract many travellers from North America, UK, Australia and Europe

The availability listed on our website is updated every minute however on some tours we must confirm arrangements with our people on the ground, a process which usually takes no more than 24 hours. When you book online you will receive a follow-up email confirming your arrangements or a timeframe for when they will be confirmed.

The security that comes from knowing your trip is locked-in is a feeling that can’t be topped. We like that feeling – so much, so that we figured everyone should have it.

Every departure is guaranteed to run. Yup, all of them. Once you’ve booked and paid, that’s it, you’re going. Guaranteed. Your trip won’t be cancelled by us for any reason (beyond harsh weather or safety issues). Promise.

All documentation is sent electronically by email. Shortly after we receive your payment we will send you your initial documents. Final documentation will be sent by email no later than two days prior to the departure.

Yes, all of our Tour Managers and Tour Drivers speak English, some speak additional languages as well, but your tour will be conducted in English

If your group consists of 6 or more people, then please contact our friendly staff who will be happy to assist you with your inquiry and see what we can arrange for you at info@gstours.gr

You will automatically receive an e-voucher to your email address. Please print your voucher/ticket or keep a picture to your mobile phone which contains your unique reference number. Please remember to bring this with you on the day. You will not be allowed entrance to an attraction without a valid ticket.

If there is any problem with your booking or payment details, we will contact you on the telephone number or email address stated in your booking. Sometimes tours may not operate due to insufficient numbers, and we may need to contact you to advise you of any such changes.

All entrance fees and costs are included in the tour price except unspecified fees.

If you book more than 2 tours with us, then please contact our friendly staff who will be happy to assist you with your inquiry and see what we can arrange for you at info@gstours.gr

As you can expect some landmarks take more time to get to on coach tours and some are more time-consuming than others. With this in mind, we have no set time for the exploration of each attraction. Our tour guides are trained to watch how their group progresses at each landmark and they adjust each tour accordingly. You should keep in mind that some tours cover three landmarks over a single day, so there are a limited number of hours in which to do a lot of sightseeing. Consequently, you may not have an extensive amount of time to spend at each attraction.

You could lose your seat to a walk-up passenger. We encourage you to arrive at the pickup point a minimum of 15 minutes before departure. Once on the tour, your guide or driver will give you a time that the coach will depart each location. You must be at the coach at least five minutes before this time. If you are late and miss the time given, the coach will depart without you in order to not keep the other passengers waiting. If you are in any doubt about a departure time whilst on your tour, you must ask the guide or driver.

Any items we find on our coaches are taken to our office at Episkopou Chrysanthou 37 str. Chania old town and are kept there for 72 hours before being destroyed or given to charity. Please call our office on +30 28210 43243 for any lost items.

5 days before the tour starts –> 50% refund, no refunds after that

 

35% Deposit on booking time and final payment 7 days before the tour date.

Overall Rating
5/5
Sari Myllykoski
Reviewed On 06/06/2018
5/5

The tour guide was great. Myths and history she told were interesting. She spoke great English, the pronunciation was very clear. Booking was easy and the confirmation process very fast. Over all - good experience.

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