Heraklion: Matala Beach, Hippie Caves & Odigitria Monastery

Heraklion, GR
100% of travellers recommend this
Excellent (35 reviews)

Included

  • inclusion
    Professional Driver
  • inclusion
    In-vehicle air conditioning
  • inclusion
    Tour Guide
  • inclusion
    Liability Insurance Coverage by ALLIANZ for our tour participants

Excluded

  • exclusion
    Entrance fees
  • exclusion
    Lunch

Pickup

Check if pick-up is available from your location, you will select during checkout (providers may allow other pickup locations)

Pickup Location
Abaton Island Resort & Spa
Acro Suites – A Wellbeing Resort
Acropolis Apartments
Adams Apartments
Aegean Sky Hotel & Suites
Aelius Hotel & Spa by Lavris
Aeolos Beach Resort
Agapi Beach Resort
AGGELLO BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Agrabella Hotel
Akasha Beach Hotel & Spa
Akrogiali Beach Hotel
Akti Corali Hotel
Alai Crete
Alai, Crete, a Tribute Portfolio Resort
Albatros Spa & Resort Hotel
Alexander Beach Hotel & Village Resort
Alexander House Hotel
Alia Beach Hotel
Alsus Boutique Hotel
Amazones Village Suites
Amirandes, A Grecotel Resort To Live
Anastasia Hotel
Anastasia Star Beach Hotel & Spa
Andreas Apartments
Andys Plaza
Anemi Hotel
Angel Village
Angela Studios Apartments
Angela Suites Boutique Hotel
Angelika Aparthotel
Angelos Village
Anissa Beach & Village Hotel
Anna Hotel
Anna Hotel Apartments & Studios
Anna Maria Village
Annabelle Beach Resort
Anthoula Village
Apollonia Beach Resort & Spa
Aptera Beach
Aquila Atlantis Hotel
Ariadne Beach Hotel
Arina Beach Resort
Arkadi Hotel
Arlen Beach Hotel
Arminda Hotel & Spa
Artemis Hotel Apartments
Aspro Hotel
Asterias Village Resort
Asterion Hotel
Astra Village & Suites
Athena Apartments
Athina Palace Resort & Spa
Athinaikon Hotel
Atlantica Akti Zeus Hotel
Atlantica Caldera Palace Resort
Atrion Hotel
Avdou Villas
Azure Mare
Beach Club Aphrodite
Bella Beach Hotel
Bellevue Village
Bellos Hotel & Apartments
Belvedere Village
Blue Aegean Hotel & Suites
Blue Bay Resort Hotel
Blue Island Hotel
Blue View Villas
Bravo Aparthotel
Byzantio
Cactus Bay
Cactus Beach Hotel
Cactus Royal Spa & Resort
Cactus Village Hotel & Bungalows
Capsis Astoria Heraklion
Carolina Mare
Casa Blu
Casa Orama Boutique Hotel
Castello Boutique Resort
Castello Boutique Resort & Spa
Castello City Hotel
Castello Infinity Suites
Castello Village Resort
Castro Hotel
Central Hersonissos Hotel
Charm Hotel
CHC Marilena Hotel
Christi Apartments
Christiana Beach Hotel
Civitel Creta Beach
Club Lyda Hotel
Cook's Club Hersonissos Crete
Coralli Beach Hotel
Cosman Aparthotel
Cosman Hotel Apartments
Cosmi Apartments
Creta Blue Hotel & Suites
Creta Maris Resort
Creta Solaris Holiday Apartments
Creta Sun Hotel Studios
D&D Resort
Danelis Studios & Apartments
Dedalos Hotel
Despina Apts by Estia
Despo
Dessole Dolphin Bay Resort
Dessole Malia Beach Hotel
Dias Luxury Studios & Apartments
Diktynna Hotel
Dimitra Hotel
Dimitra Hotel and Apartments
Diogenis Blue Palace
Dionysos Apartments & Studios
Dom Boutique Hotel
Dorian Boutique Apartments
Dream Village
Drossia Palms Hotel & Nisos Beach Suites
Efi Hotel
El Greco Hotel
El Komi
Eleni Palace
Elmi Suites
Eltina Apartments
Emerald Hotel
Enorme Armonia Beach
Erato Hotel
Eri Beach & Village Hotel
Esperia Hotel
Esperides Apartments
Esperides Resort Crete, The Authentic Experience
Eva Mare Hotel & Suites
Evina Rooms & Suites
Fanourakis Studios
Filia Hotel Resort
Fodele Beach & Water Park Holiday Resort
Galaxy Hotel Iraklio
Galaxy Villas
Galini Apartments
Galini Apartments And Studios
GDM Megaron Historical Monument Hotel
Georgia's Garden Hotel
Glaros Beach Hotel
Golden Bay
Golden Bay Hotel
Golden Bay Hotel
Golden Beach Hotel
Gouves Bay Hotel
Gouves Water Park Holiday Resort
Grand Hotel Holiday Resort
Grecotel Meli Palace
Happy Cretan Suites
Hara Ilios Village
Harma Boutique Hotel
Harmony Hotel
Hermes Hotel
Heronissos Hotel
Hersonissos Maris Hotel
Hersonissos Palace Hotel
Hersonissos Sky Hotel All Inclusive
Hersonissos Village Hotel
High Beach Resort
High Beach White
Horizon Beach Hotel
Hotel & Village Panorama
Hotel Adamakis
Hotel Alexandra Stalida
Hotel Alexandros Beach
Hotel Alkyonides
Hotel Aloni
Hotel Anna Apartments
Hotel Annirin
Hotel Antinoos
Hotel Argo
Hotel Artemis
Hotel Assites
Hotel Astir Beach
Hotel Avra
Hotel Blue Sea Beach Affiliated by Melia
Hotel Blue Sky Beach Gournes
Hotel Cretan Park
Hotel Dedalos
Hotel Despina
Hotel Dionyssos
Hotel Edelweis
Hotel Ederi
Hotel Elvira
Hotel Ermioni
Hotel Eva
Hotel Evangelia
Hotel Evans
Hotel Felicity
Hotel Floral
Hotel Four Seasons
Hotel Fteria
Hotel Galini
Hotel Gerani
Hotel Ghiannis Maria
Hotel Golden Sun Hersonisos
Hotel Gorgona
Hotel Gortis
Hotel Grabelles
Hotel Haris Apartments
Hotel Helena
Hotel Hera
Hotel Heracleion
Hotel Idilio
Hotel Ilios
Hotel Irene
Hotel Irini
Hotel Kallia
Hotel Korina
Hotel Kostas Maria
Hotel Kreta
Hotel Lena
Hotel Lena Mary
Hotel Lyktos
Hotel Maistrali
Hotel Malia Holidays
Hotel Maria
Hotel Marianna
Hotel Marie George
Hotel Marina
Hotel Mariyanna
Hotel Marlena
Hotel Maryelen
Hotel Melpo
Hotel Miliotakis
Hotel Nefeli
Hotel Nikis
Hotel Niros Beach
Hotel Oassis
Hotel Olympic
Hotel Porto Bello
Hotel Rea
Hotel Sofi
Hotel Sonia Mare
Hotel Stalis
Hotel Star
Hotel Star Beach Village & Water Park
Hotel Stork
Hotel Studios Lida
Hotel Sun Marine
Hotel Theodora
Hotel Theoni
Hotel Virginia Amoudara
Hotel Vrito
Hotel Zeus Beach
Hotel Zorbas
I Resort Beach Hotel & Spa
ibis Styles Heraklion Central
Ibiscus Hotel Malia
Icandy Apartments
Ida Village
Ikaros Beach Luxury Resort & Spa Adults Only
Ikaros Royal
Ilaira Hotel
Ilios Malia Apartments
Ilios Stalis
Imperial Studios
Indigo Inn Hotel
Infinity Blue Boutique Hotel & Spa
Iraklion Hotel
Irida Hotel - Agia Pelagia
Iro Hotel
Joanna Hotel
Kahlua Boutique Hotel
Kalia Beach Hotel
Kalimera Kriti Hotel & Village Resort
Kalimera Village, Yades
Kalypso Hotel
Karteros Hotel
Kassavetis Center - Hotel Studios & Apartments
Kastro Beach Apartments
Kastro Hotel
Katrin Hotel & Bungalows By Eurohotel
Katrin Suites
Kernos Beach Hotel
King Minos Retreat Resort & Spa
Klio Apart Hotel
Knossos Beach Bungalows Suites Resort & Spa
Knossos Royal
Knossos Villas
Koni Village Hotel
Korifi Suites & Apartments
Kostas Apartments
Koutrakis Suites by Estia
Kreta Natur
Kri Kri Village Holiday Apartments
Kritzas Beach Hotel Bungalows & Suites
Kronos Hotel Heraklion
Kyknos Beach Hotel & Bungalows
Laplaya Beach
Latania Studios & Apartments
Lato Boutique Hotel
Legacy Gastro suites
Lemar luxury Apartments
Life Boutigue Hotel
Lili Hotel
Lofos Apartments
Lotus Rise Hotel
Lyttos Beach
Lyttos Mare
Magda Hotel Club
Malena Hotel
Malena Hotel & Suites
Malia Bay Beach Hotel & Bungalows
Malia Mare Hotel
Malia Resort
Malliotakis Beach Hotel
Mari Kristin Beach Hotel
Maria Apartments
Marianthi
Marilisa Hotel
Marin Hotel
Marina Hotel
MariRena Hotel
Maritimo Beach Hotel
Marni Village
Marvel Deluxe Rooms
Mastorakis Hotel And Studios
Matheo Hotel Villas & Suites
Mediterranean Hotel
Mediterraneo Hotel
Meropi Hotel & Apartments
Metropole Urban Hotel
Michelanis Apartments
Mika Villas
Minas Apartments
Minoa Apartments
Minois Boutique Hotel
Minos Imperial Luxury Beach Resort & Spa Milatos
Minos Village Hotel
Mirabello Hotel
Miramare Hotel
Mistral Hotel
Mitos Village
Mitsis Cretan Village
Mitsis Rinela
Mitsis Royal Mare
Mitsis Selection Laguna
Momi Slow Living Hotel
Monte Christo Artist-Apartmenthotel
Naiades
Nana Angela Apartments
Nana Golden Beach
Nana Princess Suites, Villas & Spa
NEMA Design Hotel & Spa
Neon Hotel
Neptuno Beach
Nikos Apartments
Notos Heights Hotel & Suites
Nuovo Crete By Sea
Nymphes Luxury Apartments
Ocean Heights View Hotel
Olive Green Hotel
Olympia SunClub
Ourania Apartments Hotel
Out of the Blue Resort & Spa
Palm Bay Hotel
Palm Beach Hotel
Palmera Beach Hotel & Spa
Paloma Garden Hotel
Panorama Hotel Apartments
Papadakis Villas
Papas Beach Apartments
Paradise Island Villas
Paralos Kosta Alimia
Paralos Lifestyle Beach
Paralos Venus Suites
Park Hotel
Pasiphae Hotel
Pasiphae Hotel
Paul-Eva Apartments
Pela
Pela Mare Hotel
Pela Maria Hotel
Pela Sofia
Peninsula Resort & Spa
Petousis Hotel & Suites
Petra Beach Hotel
Petros Village
Phaea Cretan Malia
Phaedra Beach Hotel
Philoxenia Hotel Malia
Pilot's Villas Luxury Suites
Pollis Hotel
Porto Greco Village Beach Hotel
Porto Plazza
Porto Sisi Hotel Apartments
Poseidon Hotel
Poseidon Hotel
Primavera Beach Studios & Apartments
Rainbow Apartments
Rea Hotel
Real Palace
Roxani Hotel
Royal & Imperial Belvedere Hotels
San Antonio Hotel
Santa Elena
Santa Marina Resort & Spa
Saradari Apartments
Scala Hotel-Apartments
Seafront
Seascape Luxury Residences
Seaside A Lifestyle Resort - Adults Only
Semiramis Village Hotel
Sensus Experience By Lavris
Sergios Hotel
Serita Beach Hotel
Silva Beach
Silver Sun Studios & Apartments
Simple Hotel Hersonissos Blue
Simple Hotel Hersonissos Sun
Sirens Beach And Village
Sirocco Apartments
Sirocco Apartments
Sissi Bay Resort
Sissi Mare
Socrates Hotel
Sofia Hotel
Sol Marina Beach Crete
Solimar Ruby Hotel
Spiros-Soula Family Hotel & Apartments
St. Constantin Hotel
Stelios Apartments
Stelios Gardens Hotel
Stella Blue Seaside Resort
Stella Island Luxury Resort & Spa
Stella Palace Aqua Park Resort
Stelva Apartments
Stelva Villas
Sterling Hotel
Sun & Sea Apartments
Sun Boutique Hotel
Sun Village Boutique Hotel
Sundance Apartments & Suites
Sunrise Apartments
Sunset Beach Hotel
Sunshine Hotel Village
Sweet Memory Apartments
Talgo Suites
Thalia Deco City & Beach Hotel
The Island Hotel
The Noverian Scenic Malia
Themis Beach Hotel
Triton Hotel
Tsalos Beach
TUI BLUE Insula Alba (Adults Only)
Tui Magic Life Candia Maris
TUI SUNEO Chrissi Amoudia
Unique Blue! Resort and Villas Adults Only
Vanisko Hotel
Vasia Boulevard
Vasia Sea Retreat
Velissarios Hotel
Venus Melena
Vergas Hotel
Vergina Studios & Apartments
Villa Diasselo
Villa Iokasti
Villa Malia
Villa Marie Kelly
Villa Nena
Villa Ritsa & Dimitris Studios
Villa Sonia Malia
Villa SoRenia
Village Heights Resort
Villaggio Hotel Hersonissos
Violetta Hotel
Windmill Apartments
Yianna Caravel by Checkin
Zervas Beach Hotel
Zeus Hotel The Village And Waterpark
Zorbas Village and Aqua Park
Pickups are arranged from the nearest safe and accessible meeting point to your accommodation, suitable for bus access and stopping, usually within 5 minutes walking distance. Direct pickup requests can be made in advance and may involve additional charges. Pickup is available from specific points in Sisi, Malia, Stalis, Hersonissos, Anissaras, Agkisaras, Gouves, Gournes, Kokkini Hani, Karteros, Amoudara, Agia Pelagia, and centrally located points in Heraklion town.

What to expect

1

Heraklion

We will start collecting participants from pick-up points in the morning. Depending on the place of your hotel/apartment the bus ride will differ.

Duration 90 minutes
2

Gortyna

First stop will be at this unique archaeological place at the South of Crete, named Gortys, with sights from all periods of the 5000 years Cretan history. We will stay there for about 1hour.

Duration 60 minutes
3
Matala

Bus Drive to Matala: 20 minutes Free Time in Matala: 4.5 hours Clients are free to enjoy swimming, lunch and visit the famous hippy’s caves, the most popular hippies shelter during 60’s&70’s.

Duration 300 minutes
4

Heraklion

Embarkation in the buses and drive back to the hotels where we gathered participants in the morning. Depending on traffic and on the pick-up places of each one, the time of journey back to the hotel will differ.

Duration 90 minutes

The experience can be subject to change due to bad weather or unforseen circumstances. We always endeavour to give you the best possible experience.

Additional Information

  • Additional information
    Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Additional information
    Specialized infant seats are available
  • Additional information
    Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Provided by Cretan Odyssey

What our experts say

  • icon
    Visit local cafes in Matala for lunch.
  • icon
    Don't miss the sunset views at the beach.
  • icon
    Bring a swimsuit for a refreshing swim.
  • icon
    Explore the shops for unique souvenirs.
  • icon
    Wear comfortable shoes for exploring Gortys.

More About this Experience

Introduction

Experience the breathtaking beauty of South Crete on the Matala Hippies Beach & Gortys Archaeological Site tour. This immersive day trip allows you to explore the stunning coast, relax on the crystal-clear waters of the Libyan Sea, and discover the world-renowned Caves of the Village. Along the way, you'll also visit the fascinating archaeological site of Gortyn, the ancient Roman capital of Crete. With its rich history dating back to 7000 BC, this tour offers a captivating journey through time.

What to expect?

During this tour, you can expect a day filled with awe-inspiring sights and unforgettable experiences. The total duration of the tour is approximately 8 to 9 hours, allowing ample time to soak in the beauty of South Crete. The itinerary includes multiple stops and activities, ensuring a well-rounded exploration of the region. From the ancient ruins of Gortyn to the famous hippy caves in Matala, each destination offers its unique charm and allure. Spend your free time in Matala swimming in the inviting waters, indulging in a delicious lunch, or browsing for souvenirs in the village streets.

Who is this for?

This tour is designed for travelers with a passion for history, culture, and natural beauty. Whether you're a history enthusiast wanting to delve into ancient civilizations or a beach lover seeking stunning coastal landscapes, this experience caters to a wide range of interests. The tour is suitable for individuals, couples, families, and groups of friends. It invites anyone who values exploration, adventure, and the discovery of hidden gems to embark on an unforgettable journey through South Crete.

Why book this?

Embark on this tour to witness the captivating blend of history and natural beauty that South Crete has to offer. Immerse yourself in the fascinating ruins of Gortyn, where you'll find traces of Cretan history spanning over 5000 years. Indulge in the idyllic ambiance of Matala, a beach famous for its hippy caves that once hosted iconic musicians and artists in the 60s and 70s. With its crystal-clear waters, stunning landscapes, and charming village streets, Matala is a slice of paradise waiting to be explored. This tour provides a seamless and convenient way to experience the best of South Crete with the expertise of knowledgeable guides and comfortable transportation.

Good to know

It is important to note that the tour duration is approximately 8 to 9 hours, allowing for a comprehensive exploration of South Crete. The itinerary includes pick-up and drop-off points at various hotels and apartments in Heraklion. Please be prepared for possible variations in the duration of the journey back to your accommodation, depending on traffic and pick-up locations. The tour includes free time in Matala for approximately 4.5 hours, providing ample opportunity to enjoy the beach, visit the hippy caves, and savor a delightful lunch. Ensure you bring sunscreen, swimwear, and comfortable shoes to make the most of your time in South Crete.

Reviews

Travelers who have experienced the South Crete: Matala Hippies Beach & Gortys Archaeological Site tour have been enchanted by the mix of history and natural beauty. They have praised the well-planned itinerary, knowledgeable guides, and the opportunity to experience both ancient ruins and stunning coastal landscapes. Visitors have expressed their awe at the archaeological site of Gortyn, calling it a "treasure trove of history." The charming village of Matala and its hippy caves have left a lasting impression on travelers, with many describing it as a "magical place" and a "hidden gem." Overall, reviews highlight the tour's ability to provide an immersive and captivating experience, leaving participants with a deep appreciation for the wonders of South Crete.

Select Currency