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Sunset Jeep Safari in Heraklion: Off-Road Tour & BBQ Dinner

10 photos
1 video
Duration
5 hours
Group style
Semi-private
Group size
Up to 20 guests
Transfer
On request

Highlights

  • Ride off-road through the Cretan hinterland in a Land Rover Defender or 4x4 Mercedes, with no more than 8 guests per vehicle.
  • Visit a working shepherd's farm in Potamies and try goat milking with a local family.
  • Pass the Aposelemis dam and look down at the submerged stone houses of the village of Sfendili beneath the water.
  • Walk through the Embasa gorge and pick wild herbs from the slopes as you climb toward the summit.
  • Watch the sun set over Crete from 1,000 metres at the ancient Minoan site of Karfi, with Prosecco and seasonal fruit.
  • Sit down for a full BBQ dinner with local wine and water before the drive back to your hotel.

What’s included

  • Pickup and drop-off from Sissi, Malia, Stalida, Chersonissos, Koutouloufari, Piskopiano, Analipsis, Anissaras, and Gouves
  • Transport in a Land Rover Defender or Mercedes Vito 4x4
  • Experienced, multilingual guide throughout the tour
  • Stop at a shepherd's farm with goat milking activity
  • Prosecco and fresh seasonal fruits at the sunset viewpoint
  • BBQ dinner with local wine and water
  • Off-road section through the Embasa Gorge

Your day in Crete

The itinerary

Follow the day step by step. Times may shift slightly with local conditions.

1

17:30

Pickup from your accommodation

Pickup runs between 17:30 and 18:00 from Sissi, Malia, Stalida, Chersonissos, Gouves, and surrounding areas. You board a Land Rover Defender or Mercedes Vito 4x4 and head inland.

2

18:30

Shepherd's Farm in Potamies

The first stop is a working farm in the green village of Potamies. You meet the animals, hear about daily farm life, and try goat milking with the shepherd.

3

19:30

Aposelemis Dam and the Submerged Village of Sfendili

The route passes the Aposelemis reservoir, the largest water supply project in Crete. The old village of Sfendili sits underwater here, its stone houses still faintly visible on the surface.

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4

20:00

Avdou Village

One of the most intact traditional settlements in the Heraklion region. The buildings are original, and signs around the village tell the story of how it was built and who lived here.

5

20:20

Embasa Gorge (Off-Road Section)

The jeep takes to the dirt tracks as you enter the Embasa gorge. The landscape changes sharply here: steep slopes, wild vegetation, and wide views. A short stop lets you collect local herbs from the hillside.

6

20:30

Karfi Viewpoint at 1,000m (Sunset)

The high point of the route, literally and otherwise. Karfi is an ancient Minoan hilltop settlement with a panoramic view over central Crete. You arrive just before the sun drops, with Prosecco and seasonal fruit served as the light changes.

7

21:00

BBQ Dinner

A full dinner with local Cretan food, wine, and water follows the sunset. Time to slow down, eat well, and enjoy the evening before the drive back.

8

22:30

Drop-off at your accommodation

Useful details

Not Included

  • Eating, drinking, or smoking inside the vehicles is not permitted
  • Avoid wearing sandals or flip-flops as the gorge section involves walking on uneven terrain
  • Avoid bringing excessive valuables or large bags

What to Bring

  • Closed walking shoes suitable for uneven ground
  • Light jacket or layer (temperatures drop significantly at 1,000m after sunset)
  • Sunscreen and sunglasses for the first part of the afternoon

Experience summary

This jeep safari takes you off the main roads and into the Cretan hinterland as the day cools down, ending at one of the most dramatic viewpoints on the island, at 1,000 metres above sea level, with a glass of Prosecco in hand. It is not a standard sunset tour. The off-road element is real, the stops are meaningful, and by the time you sit down for dinner, you have actually seen a different side of Crete. The route moves through villages that most visitors never reach. In Potamies, you stop at a working shepherd's farm, meet the animals, and try your hand at goat milking. The road then drops past the Aposelemis dam, where the submerged village of Sfendili surfaces faintly through the water, its old stone houses still visible beneath the surface. Further along, Avdou is one of the best-preserved traditional settlements in central Crete, its buildings unchanged and its signs still telling the story of how the village grew. The final climb takes you through the Embasa gorge and up to the Minoan hilltop site of Karfi, where the light shifts and the sky opens. The team behind this experience has been running off-road tours across the Heraklion region for years. Groups travel in Land Rover Defenders or Mercedes Vito 4x4s, with no more than 8 people per vehicle, and guides who know the terrain, the history, and when to stop so you can collect a handful of wild herbs from the gorge. The experience runs in the evening and suits couples, small groups of friends, and anyone who wants to finish their day in Crete with something that goes beyond the ordinary. Pickup covers the Malia, Chersonissos, Gouves, and Sissi areas.

Local planning notes

For families

A few useful details before your family sets off.

Notes from the host

  1. 01The shepherd's farm stop with goat milking is a genuine highlight for children and is included in the tour.
  2. 02The jeep format with small group sizes keeps the experience comfortable and easy to manage with kids.
  3. 03The BBQ dinner means no need to plan a separate evening meal after the tour.

Please read before booking

Important Notes

  1. 01Pickup time: 17:30 to 18:00. Drop-off: 22:30 to 23:00. Total duration approximately 5 hours.
  2. 02Route may be adjusted depending on weather or road conditions.
  3. 03Free cancellation and full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the start time. Free date change also available up to 24 hours in advance, subject to availability.

Languages

Greek, English

Find your way

Meeting point & directions

Pick up from your hotel

Pick up from your hotel

The map will show the route, distance and estimated travel time.

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