From Elounda: Minoan Mountain Route – Zeus Cave & Lasithi Secret

Our first stop is at an olive oil mill learning all about the extraction process of olive oil through modern machinery but also the old extraction methods. • Free Admission

Our next stop is at the historical monastery of Kera Kardiotissa, inhabited and run by nuns. Here you can admire the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, plenty of frescoes, and a variety of other icons, dating back to the 14th century. • Admission Ticket Free 2.00€

Then we head to Lassithi Plateau, which is situated 850 m. higher than the sea level. It is surrounded by the Dikti Mountains and 18 quaint villages, which still retain the atmosphere of another era. You can admire the remaining famous windmills and the Venetian ditches, the drainage system of the Plateau. Pass by old villages and the fertile valley of the Lasithi Plateau.

Zeus Cave, known as the Dikteon Cave, isn’t just another hole in the mountainside — it carries the kind of weight that only places with deep, unbroken memory can hold. The path up is steady and honest, a gentle reminder that sacred places never come without a small climb. Once inside, the air cools, the light softens, and the great chamber opens like an ancient cathedral carved by time rather than hands.

According to myth, this is where the newborn Zeus was hidden from Kronos, guarded by nymphs and protected by the rhythmic clash of shields from the Curetes. When you stand there, surrounded by stalactites dripping like frozen chants, it’s easy to understand why the Minoans treated this place as holy. No theatrics, no modern gloss — just raw stone, echoing water, and a feeling that something old and powerful once passed through. Even the most skeptical visitor can’t help but pause and breathe a bit deeper.

shelter of nature and Cretan Tradition

Lasinthos offers numerous interactive activities and attractions. The main goal of the park is to revive techniques of Cretan traditional art. Around a scenic square you can find spots where artisans are sharing their knowledge and skills with you. Doing so, you will watch artisans, who enjoy giving out their knowledge, manufacture traditional woven, clay pots, and much more. Guests will have the chance to taste olive oil, Cretan wine, and “raki” – the traditional spirit of Crete. The whole visit can combine culture and taste, fun, action, and pleasure.

On the way back we will drive towards the villages of Mochos and Krasi and visit the oldest plane tree in Crete! In the center of village KRASI "PLATANOS" a tree over 2000 years old! 24 men hold around it! 1 hour • Free Admission Ticket

An alternative option for guests with kids that would not like to walk up to Zeus cave.