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Half Day Trip to Matala Hippie Beach and Caves From Heraklion

4.01 reviewDay trips

  • 7 hours
  • Free cancellation up to 24h before
  • 3 languages
  • Instant confirmation

Highlights

We reach the famous beach of Matala. This is the place where Zeus, having taken the form a bull, swam ashore with Europa on his back before dragging her off to Gortys. Both the Minoans and the Romans used the place as their harbor. Nevertheless, for most people, Matala means only one thing: hippies. Back in the late 1960s - 1970s, this little town was a colony of the “flower children”, who lived in the caves that used to be former Roman tombs. Here we will enjoy the crystal waters, the warm sun and lunch by the sea, while later we can explore the prehistoric caves, carved on the steep rocks of the area.

Inclusions

What's included

  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Hotel pick-up and drop off Malia,Stalis,Hersonisos,Anissaras,Gouves,Heraklion,Ammoudara,Ag Pelagia
  • Professional guide English, German and French

What's not

  • Food and drinks
  • Personal expenses

Itinerary

  1. We reach the famous beach of Matala. This is the place where Zeus, having taken the form a bull, swam ashore with Europa on his back before dragging her off to Gortys. Both the Minoans and the Romans used the place as their harbor. Nevertheless, for most people, Matala means only one thing: hippies. Back in the late 1960s - 1970s, this little town was a colony of the “flower children”, who lived in the caves that used to be former Roman tombs. Here we will enjoy the crystal waters, the warm sun and lunch by the sea, while later we can explore the prehistoric caves, carved on the steep rocks of the area.

    6 h

  2. We reach the famous beach of Matala. This is the place where Zeus, having taken the form a bull, swam ashore with Europa on his back before dragging her off to Gortys. Both the Minoans and the Romans used the place as their harbor. Nevertheless, for most people, Matala means only one thing: hippies. Back in the late 1960s - 1970s, this little town was a colony of the “flower children”, who lived in the caves that used to be former Roman tombs. Here we will enjoy the crystal waters, the warm sun and lunch by the sea, while later we can explore the prehistoric caves, carved on the steep rocks of the area.

    1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

4.0

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Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

Pickup
Pickup is included for everyone.
Ticket type
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group size
Up to 15 travellers
Operated by
PLATANOS TOURS
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

How it compares in Heraklion

  • Its from-price is 61% below the median of the 168 day trips we list in Heraklion.
  • Its length is typical for the group.
  • By number of reviews it ranks 112 of 168.
  • The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Heraklion

Heraklion, the largest city on Crete, is a Venetian-walled port near Knossos, the Minoan palace, and the museum that holds its treasures.

Heraklion is the capital and main port of Crete, wrapped in Venetian walls and bastions of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Koules fortress guards the old harbour mouth, and Lions Square has the Morosini Fountain, held up by four stone lions. Nikos Kazantzakis, the author of Zorba the Greek, is buried on the Martinengo bastion under a simple wooden cross.

Top-ranked sights in Heraklion: Palace of Knossos, Malia, Kera Kardiotissa Monastery.

See all 491 experiences in Heraklion

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Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.

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