Published on Dec, 2024

A very special tour with Edmond! Our group of six wanted an off-the beaten path tour, with a final stop at Knosso Palace. Ed did not disappoint! We had a wonderful time and we felt we saw a part of Crete that most people don't get to experience. Thank you for a memorable day in Crete.

Published on Nov, 2024

We just returned from a wonderful Viking Ocean Adriatic/Agean cruise. Our favorite excursion was in Crete, where we had a fantastic private guide, Edmond Hoxhara, for the 6 of us. We had a van to ourselves. He arranged a archeologist guide for Knossos, and got us there a good bit before the ship's tours arrived allowing us to have the site almost completely to ourselves. After that he took us around the countryside, saw the windmills used to mill grain historically, explored farms and fields, local produce and honey, excellent olive oil, local wines, and the local iced coffee. We stopped at a small grocery store to pick up "real" Greek yogurt and cheeses. It was easily apparent he knew the locals, and their dogs, giving us a real feel for local life. While it doesn't sound all that exciting, it was the total combination of all the small ways he made the day wonderful for our group. He was a hoot, and obviously cared deeply for his island. He's full of good jokes but also was generally an easy conversationalist and good to talk with. I would highly recommend him as a guide for anyone looking to explore Crete.

Published on Oct, 2024

Don’t miss this!!!! After getting recommendations from our hotel we did our own research. We were fortunate to have struck gold with Stavros tour and from beginning to end he kept us entertained. He is a master storyteller and weaver of dreams from ancient times. He was kind, honest very entertaining and could not have been more accommodating. We picked fresh strawberries with wine in hand, ate walnuts straight from the tree and we got to see real Crete. Book direct with Stavros you won’t be sorry you did!!!

Published on Sep, 2024

I can't recommend this tour highly enough! Our guide, Mike, was absolutely amazing—so knowledgeable, friendly, and dedicated to making our experience unforgettable. He went above and beyond, answering every question and taking the time to ensure we were all engaged and never felt rushed. Ed, the owner of the company, was also fantastic. His responsiveness and excellent communication made us feel like family. If you’re considering a tour in Crete, look no further. We were a lively group of 12 New Yorkers, and Mike managed us perfectly. His professionalism and warmth made our first experience in Crete truly special. We’ll definitely be booking with them again on our next visit!

Published on Aug, 2024

ExploreRealCrete is the real deal. Ed (owner) and his group of other tour guides are fantastic. Ed was incredibly responsive and helpful arranging a private tour from our doorstep in Heraklion to Chania, Rethynmo and other sites along the way. Our guide Dimitris was wonderful, knowledgeable and friendly. Late at night after the tour, we reached out again to Ed to arrange another private tour (Zeus’ cave, an olive oil factory, and other sites) for the next day ahead of our travel back home. Ed came through and our guide, Michalis, was nothing short of amazing. Michalis kept us entertained with wonderful stories of Greek history and mythology. In short, I would not look at any other tour company when in Crete! Thank you Ed, Dimitris and Michalis!