Tours and Day Trips From Agios Nikolaos That You Will Love!
Looking for the best excursions in the Lasithi region? These day trips from Agios Nikolaos offer excellent value for money!
Lasithi is the easternmost Crete region, unfortunately often overlooked. The capital of the region, Agios Nikolaos, is a great seaside resort for a vacation in Crete if you’re looking for a relaxing time, far from the buzz that bigger towns often entail.
People who decide to discover Lasithi often book a place to stay in Agios Nikolaos, but there’s a lot to see out of town. This post features the most convenient and reasonably priced day trips from Agios Nikolaos, Crete. Take a look!
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Tranquil and often quite off the beaten track, you can do hundreds of things in the Lasithi (also written Lassithi) area.
The region is still unspoiled and lonely in certain aspects, but it offers visitors hundreds of opportunities to approach the local culture differently, maybe more authentically.
If your goal is to discover the area surrounding Agios Nikolaos, either on your own or by booking a guided tour, this is the guide you were looking for!
If you’ve decided to explore the island by car, you’ve followed my advice. Congrats! Enjoy the adventure, read these tips about driving in Crete, and return to this post for more ideas.
Instead, if you prefer a professional company to take care of your guided visits, day trips, and excursions from Agios Nikolaos, check the tour alternatives at the end of each day trip idea… and don’t forget to have fun!
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Good to know: Visiting Lasithi has its advantages. Being the less-visited region in Crete, the area is perfect for car travel, with quite a few routes that are not trafficked at all, even in the peak summer months!
My Top Picks for Day Trips from Agios Nikolaos Tours and Day Trips in Lasithi
In no particular order, these are some of the most entertaining day trips you can take in Crete when staying in the Lasithi region.
Katharo Plateau Tour from Agios Nikolaos
Quite off the beaten path and certainly less popular than the Lasithi Plateau, the Katharo Plateau offers some of the most impressive landscapes in East Crete for you to discover. To reach Katharo Plateau, you will start your trip by getting to the small mountain village of Kritsa (among the most fantastic traditional villages in Crete).
Traveling from Agios Nikolaos to Kritsa will take around 20 minutes. On the way, it’s a good idea to stop at the Byzantine Church of Panagia Kera.
Keep driving to Kritsa. After you’ve dedicated some time to exploring this picturesque, tiny village, get back on the road (Epar. Od. Kritsas-Katharou) and drive for about 16 km more until you reach Katharo.
Once you’ve reached the village of Katharo, you can hike on the plateau and reach the small church of Timios Stavros.
Then follow the route to explore Havgas Gorge, where you can marvel at the springs or discover what locals call the pool of the Fairy (ฮฮตฯฮฑฮนฮดฮฑฮบฮฟฮปฯ ฮผฯฮฟฯ) or also the Ball. Neraidokolympos is a large swimming area where a large round block (which has fallen to the bottom of the gorge) diverts the water’s flow.
From then on, the canyon becomes inaccessible, so only experienced climbers should venture further. You won’t regret taking this perfect day trip from Agios!
>> You can also join an organized tour to visit Katharo Plateau
- Full-day excursion exploring the islandโs unpopulated mountains and small villages.
- Off-road adventure on a 4×4 going through the rugged mountain terrain, visiting a shepherd’s refuge (known as mitato), tasting local cheese, and exploring the agrarian ways of life in Lassithi Plateau.
- Lunch included
>> Are you looking for other safari adventures in Crete? Check these out!
Richtis Gorge and Waterfall
Jump in your car and leave Agios behind to reach the beautiful Richtis Gorge and its waterfall. This can be a highlight during your holidays in Agios Nikolaos!
Some define this as one of the prettiest hikes on the island, and although I would not go this far when describing it, the adventure is worth it. Richtis Gorge is located between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia on the northern coast. The hiking trail begins outside Exo Mouliana (another village worth a visit) and ends at the small Richtis Beach.
The route is quite short and will take about 3 hours to hike. There’s abundant water all year, and finding the gorgeous Richtis waterfall is the top reward of this adventure!
>> Check out this luxury Richtis experience:
- This is a full-day tour on a Land Rover that you will not want to miss! This excursion takes you to discover some of the islandโs most beautiful and hidden places, visiting Richtis waterfall, an ancient tree, and Lasithi’s northern coast.
- Those short on time and eager to escape the crowds will appreciate this budget-friendly, all-inclusive outing that visits waterfalls, herb farms, and ancient olive groves.
- It includes lunch at a local tavern, a nature hike, and swimming in a cool spring.
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Lasithi Plateau and Zeus Cave
Arguably, the easiest Agios Nikolaos day trip you can plan is the Lasithi Plateau. The area of the Lasithi Plateau, surrounded by the imposing Dikti Mountains, stands over 850 meters a.s.l.
Along the circuit, which can be perfectly covered in one day, there are different traditional villages to visit where you can discover more about the local life and eat amazing traditional food.
One of the best stops when driving around the plateau is in the small Psychro village, where you can access the beautiful Psychro or Zeus Cave.
I’ve reviewed the visit to the Zeus Cave here. The drive around the plateau is about 23 km, and it can be started either from Heraklion or Agios Nikolaos.
From Agios, you will need to travel along the Neapolis-Chersonusou road for about 1 hour and twenty minutes (the road is a bit more than 43 km) until you reach the area of Mesa Lasithi and pass the village of Agios Konstantinos.
>> You can join an organized off-road safari that visits Zeus Cave and the Lasithi Plateau:
- This off-road adventure tour takes you to the Dikti mountain range, where you can explore the Lasithi Plateau and the Zeus Cave.
- It includes a delicious Cretan lunch in a local tavern.
Sarakina Gorge
This trip takes you to the southern coast of Lasithi to visit Sarakina Gorge. The gorge, not far from the gorgeous southern seaside village of Myrtos and the city of Ierapetra, is only 1.5 km long but features imposing high walls that climb up to 150 meters and narrow passages from ten to three meters wide.
Most of the gorge is accessible even if you’re not a highly experienced climber. However, some experience and equipment will be needed to pass certain points.
For this reason, we eagerly suggest you join an organized tour led by expert guides to make the most of your day safely and enjoy the impressive waterfalls and ponds along the trail.
>> My top pick is this tour called Sarakina Gorge, High Mountains, South Coast, and Luxury Adventure:
- This tour has amazing reviews. What we love the most is that the experience is a guided off-road safari along ancient Minoan paths. There are stops with spectacular vistas. Our favorite is the one that takes you to a peak from where you can see both the Cretan and Libyan Seas.
- During this Agios Nikolaos day trip, you will also visit the villages of Kritsa and Kroustas, Myrtos Beach, and Sarakina Gorge.
- It includes lunch at a scenic lookout, hotel pickup, and drop-off.
Spinalonga Trip from Agios Nikolaos
This amazing trip from Agios Nikolaos (which can also start from the nearby Plaka and Elounda) includes my favorite boat trip from Agios Nikolaos: a boat ride to Spinalonga!
You can easily reach the port of Elounda in your car and, from there, board one of the boats that take you to explore the former leper colony island.
This family-friendly adventure fascinates adults and kids. It’s one of those day trips you really don’t want to miss if you’re staying in or near Agios. My kids loved this trip! You can learn everything about this mysterious island here.
>> If you have no clue about Spinalonga and would like to learn from a local guide, check out the following tour, which includes a visit to Spinalonga and the Milatos Cave.
- This tour has a little bit of everything!
- You’ll venture into the mountains of Crete on a 4×4 vehicle, discover valleys and villages, and visit also an olive oil factory.
- Then, you will depart from Plaka to visit Spinalonga on a speedboat and take a short tour of the former leper colony before returning to Crete.
More Day Trips, Excursions, and Day Trips in Lasithi
These are some less usual day trips you can take from Agios and that we recommend checking before planning your Lasithi adventure:
Agios Nikolaos Walking Tour with Cretan Food Tastings
- Overview: This tour is great if you want to learn about places in the area, get closer to the local community, eat Cretan food, and meet the locals!
- You will walk the coastline of Agios Nikolaos to learn about Greek myths and discover the town’s beaches. Then, you will enjoy a meal with four different mezedes (or Greek tapas) and drinks included.
- Highlights: Tasting local food in a famous lake-side restaurant in Agios.
The Stone Roads
- Overview: Discover Elounda, a renowned tourist destination with a landscape of unparalleled beauty.
- You will visit the submerged ancient city of Olous, Cape Aforesmenos. Visiting Spinalonga is optional!
Click here to check the latest prices and reviews of the tour.
Private Full-Day Knossos, Lasithi Plateau, Cave of Zeus from Elounda
- Overview: This fabulous full-day trip will quickly show you a lot of Crete. Perfect for those traveling to Crete for a short time!
- Although this tour can be expensive, you will save money on road travel and entrance tickets.
- Highlights: You will discover Mochos and Krasi’s traditional villages, the Diktaion Andron (Zeus Cave), the Lasithi Plateau, and the Knossos Palace.
- You will also have the option to check the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.
Click here to read more about this tour.
As you can see, there are many good and interesting opportunities to discover Lasithi with a tour from Agios Nikolaos. The region is full of hidden surprises. Checking them out -on your own or with a private tour- will allow you to learn more about Crete.
More Things to Do in Lasithi
- If you plan to head south during your trip to the East, check out the best things to do in Ierapetra, including beaches, landmarks, and nearby villages.
- Do you agree that Spinalonga is among the best places to see near Agios Nikolaos? Then, this complete guide to Spinalonga will show you the way.
- With enough time to explore East Crete, why not dedicate a day to the Lasithi Plateau? Once there, don’t forget to stop for a visit to Zeus Cave in the village of Psychro.
- Dedicate a day to discovering the beaches of the East. Enjoy Voulisma, Istron, and Mochlos.
- Visit the nearby Archaeological Site of Gournias or your way to Sitia. Explore the monumental ancient olive tree of Kavousi and venture into the stunning Richtis Gorge.
- Explore the best beaches in east Crete, such as Vai Palm Beach, Itanos, and Xerocampos.
- Discover one of Crete’s best wineries in Toplou Monastery.
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Best Day Trips from Agios Nikolaos, Crete
Gabi, the Crete Insider
Hi, Iโm Gabi โ your go-to local expert in Crete! Iโve been living in Chania, Crete since 2016, and Iโve turned my love for the island into a full-time passion โ guiding travelers, writing for travel media, and curating local experiences.
I co-authored DK Eyewitness Top 10 Crete and other guides. I run the blogs The Tiny Book, Greece Planner, and My Cretan Recipe. Through this platform I help travelers design unforgettable trips to Crete.
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