Visiting Greece can literally be a life-changing experience, especially if you are prepared to be hypnotised by the unique allure of the Land of the Sun and the Sea. The Cradle of the Mediterranean Civilisation is, indeed, home to awe-inspiring archaeological and historical sites, sun-kissed, sugary shores, beautiful traditional settlements, friendly and open-warmhearted communities, mouth-watering cuisine, a lively nightlife, calm, azure waters, cascading waterfalls, powerful gorges, charming lakes, rock-built monasteries, and the greenest meadows on earth.
One of the best ways to take in all this deep-seated seduction and enchantment? Via private tours in Greece. To help untangle the knot that is wrapped around deciding which tour is the best fit for you, we give you this handy guide with some basic tips and an illustrative list of three top private tours in Greece.
How to Choose the Best Private Tours in Greece
Although answering this question might feel overwhelming for many people, it is actually not as complicated as one may think. Everything depends on knowing what you want to gain from your visit to Greece.
So, take some time and ask yourself what makes the most ideal Greek holidays? What are the core components that will contribute to the dreamiest version of your Greek escapade?
For example, adrenaline enthusiasts would probably love private Jeep Safari tours or zip lining ventures. History fans would want to infuse their trip to Greece with visits to historical monuments and landmarks. On the other hand, private trekking and hiking or scuba diving and snorkeling tours would fit like a glove to nature enthusiasts and water-sports aficionados. You get the point!
The truth is that whatever your requirement, there are always private tours in Greece to meet your desires. Here are some of the available options for your reference (but do communicate your needs if the available private tours in Greece do not gratify you to the fullest, so that we can customize the experience even further):
– Walking tours to the most iconic local landmarks
– Sailing cruises to the most popular shores and also remote beaches (or islands)
– Sunset cruises with BBQ and champagne
– Food tours (may even be combined with a cooking class)
– History Tours
– Water sports tours
– Horse riding tours
– Jeep tours
– Helicopter tours
– Private transfer tours to the most famous attractions
As for your destination, the list of private tours in Greece is remarkably long (as expected) and includes from Athens, Santorini, and Crete to Mykonos, Naxos, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Naxos, and Milos! Simply select per your heart’s content and leave the rest to our experienced tour organizers and professional local guides!
Below, we highlight three of the countless private tours in Greece offered at this time, just to give you an idea of what is waiting on the other end of your trip to Greece!
Private tours Greece – Paros Island
Welcome to cobblestone streets and bougainvillea-lined alleys, terraces emphasizing Cycladic architecture, and incredible views of the glistering Aegean Sea. Feel free to stroll through the infamous Parikia market and the homonymous square for intoxicating pinches of grace, elegance, and history, exuded from the land that was once home to famous Greek female fighter Manto Mavrogenous. Expect to be mind-blown by the glorious mansions, the charming Venetian castle, the old town, and the historic monuments that have stood the test of time, narrating stories of a glorious past. Among the must-see landmarks that all private tours in Greece include when exploring Paros Island, are:
– The 4th century Asclepius sanctuary (dedicated to a deity that was believed to be a healer god in Paros).
– The ancient cemetery
– The Pythian Apollo sanctuary (Apollo was also worshiped in Paros as a healer god).
– Kastrovouni site with the arresting mosaic floor-houses dating to the Hellenistic era.
– The ancient Agios Panteleimon region with the numerous landmarks, including Kouros trunk, marble votive offerings, tombstones, and more.
– The world-renowned Panagia Ekatontapyliani church, an exquisite example of Byzantine architecture.
– Scenic villages like Naousa, Piso Livadi, Aliki, Marpissa, and Lefkes that excite with their flowery and green surroundings, great marble flagstones, and captivating traditional Cretan vibes.
Paros is the second most significant wine-producing Cycladic regions, after Santorini. While here, we urge you to taste the delicious white wine Monemvasia or the ruby red Mandilaria, And, if you prefer beer to wine, Paros is also home to 56 Isles Beer, one of the 6 best beers on this planet, with several awards and high distinctions.
Private Tours Greece – Kefalonia Island
These would probably be among the most soul-filling private tours in Greece you could sign up for, especially if you appreciate tranquil, nature-related experiences. Particularly known for its lush mountainous terrain, such as Mount Aenos and mythic Melissani Cave, Kefalonia island is home to an incredibly beautiful, rugged coastline, fetching majestic beaches like Petani and Myrtos, idyllic coves (especially around the scenic Assos Village), sugary bays that are home to loggerhead turtles’ nests, and waters that are as serene as a swimming pool!
Besides its natural allure, Kefalonia will also steal your heart with the charming Neo-classical buildings of its quaint capital, Argostoli, whose amphitheatrical location enables visitors to enjoy unsurpassed views of the fantastic Lagoon of Koutavos and the Aenos fir tree-covered area.
Some of the most iconic highlights that most private tours in Greece (Kefalonia) cover are:
Katavothres
Also called “the Sinks”, they make a rare natural phenomenon where seawater penetrates the land, reappears many kilometres further by the Karavolymos village, and finally enters cracks close to the shore before it disappears underground again.
Lighthouse of St. Theodore
During the 18th century, the lighthouse used to help approaching ships to avoid the rocks near the shore.
Round of Lassi
A modern history monument created in honour of the thousands of Italians that refused to hand over their weapons to the Germans and were eventually killed for it.
Lakithra
The place where poet Lord Byron got his inspiration from before writing his poems in the early 1800s. Lakithra also bewilders with its views as it overlooks Zakynthos Island, the chapel of Our Lady of Diotissa, the island of Zeus, and the airport.
Monastery of St. Andrew
A Byzantine monastery hosting the Ecclesiastical Museum that also runs the portable icons’ maintenance workshop.
Castle of St. George
An impressive 16th century Venetian castle with arresting views of Livatho and Argostoli.
Robola Wine Cooperative of Kefalonia
A great option sitting in Omala valley where you can sample delicious local wine and learn a lot about local wine-making traditions at the in-house Robola Museum.
Sami and Antisamos Beaches
You will probably recognise these two if you have seen the infamous “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” film!
Of course, this is just a super-short list of the local landmarks you could visit during a Kefalonia private tour. Kindly know that this can be extremely exclusive and personalized to fit your particular requirements. So, we can create any kind of experience depending on your preferences, from yacht cruise tours around Kefalonia, its sister island of Ithaca, and nearby secluded cays, religious tours, day tours to the picturesque villages of Kefalonia with the delightful traditional architecture and 18th century mansions and the iconic natural wonders, such as Lake Melissani, beach tours, bird-watching tours, helicopter tours, Jeep Safaris, caving tours, you name it!
Private Tours Greece – Crete Island
Among the best private tours in Greece is an exploration of Crete, the so-called Grand Island with the majestic mountains and the pristine, verdant landscape and unspoiled scenery featuring the most spectacular sandy and exotic shores on earth and natural inland charms that are hard to find elsewhere. Exuding centuries-old history and traditions, the Cretan lands welcome visitors with a profound multi-diverse cultural richness injected from the Egyptian, Venetian, Ottoman, and Jewish communities within Chania city and across the island, represented with Roman Catholic churches, Venetian fortifications, Turkish Mosques, Jewish Synagogues, Egyptian lighthouses, and many more. Of course, the Greek Orthodox element and traditional Greek island features are all over Crete, including amazing gardens, breathtaking national parks, stunning gorges, towering canyons, and green valleys.
Many tourists on private tours in Greece are eager to try the local cuisine. In this case, a Cretan food tour will be right up your alley as it will allow you to treat your taste buds with traditional dishes like Cretan cheeses, Dakos (a type of rusks), Chochlioi (snails with tomato sauce, eggplants, french fries or another side dish), Kalitsounia (little Cretan pies with anthotyro or mitzithra cheese and spinach or spearmint), and Apaki (marinated pork meat that is smoked, salted, and cooked to perfection)! Of course, raki or tsikoudia (the local alcoholic drink) goes with everything and every time of the day in Crete, from brunches to dinners!
Other than that, you could opt for an off-the-road 4×4 tour to explore the rocky grounds of Crete and drive through the captivating Cretan flora and fauna and narrow off-road tracks. And why not even consider a wine, olive oil, and beer tasting tour? Crete is famous for all three products (among many others), which you can sample at organic olive oil farms, traditional microbreweries, and family wineries!
And let’s not forget that Crete’s soils are drenched in history as the island has played a significant role during WW2, with the Battle of Crete being one of the most important milestones in 1941, when the island became a German target. From Souda area and the commonwealth cemetery to the airfield at Maleme region, the RAF monument, the German forces cemetery, and Galatas, you certainly have a lot to see and admire, especially if you are a history buff!
Insider’s recommendation: We strongly suggest a visit to Vouves to see the world’s oldest olive tree, under the shade of which you can spoil yourself with homemade Cretan flavours and loads of raki!
Of course, you can search through the Internet and find a bunch of information about all these islands, but we are here to help you have it all organized and create your summer experience by crafting your own unique customized travel package.
At Be A Greek, we help you create your dream vacation in Greece without any hustle. There are countless ways to plan your vacation in Greece and we are here to provide you some of the best Greece vacation packages, tailored to your own needs and keeping up with your own pace.