Crete's Mountain Villages: A Self-Guided Driving Tour

Cretan culture remains largely unchanged in the grand Ida Mountains, where much of the nation's history has taken shape. On this driving tour, you'll discover local crafts like olive oil and raki production, age-old cheese-making in stone Mitata sheds, and typically Cretan villages where men still walk around in traditional costumes. Starting just outside Heraklion, you'll drive through olive fields before reaching the Melidoni Cave, where over 300 women and children lost their lives during the 1823 Ottoman occupation. Further into the mountains, pass through Margarites — known for its ceramics tradition where you can make your own vases — and the village of Veni, where raki production can be seen from October to December. Along the way, visit a family-owned olive oil factory, see immense wooden sculptures carved from olive wood, and enjoy sweeping mountain views. The tour ends in the quiet fishing village of Panormos, where a child-friendly beach and seafront terraces await.