Hippies Beach and Matala Tour from Heraklion
Duration
7 hour(s)
Languages
English
Skip the line
Included
Spend the day exploring Hippies Beach and its waters
Discover prehistoric caves carved on steep rocky cliffs
Relax on a 250 meter long sandy beach daily
Learn about Matala’s history as a hippie village
€ 25
€ 23.00
Contact us 24x7
Adult
Child
Infant
Reserve with peace of mind —
Enjoy unlimited changes and full refund options.
Exceptional flexibility
Free cancellation and unlimited rescheduling leads to total flexibility while you plan your travels
24/7/365 Customer support - When you need us we are here
Lowest Price Guarantee — no other provider offers this tour for less
Discover the legendary seaside village of Matala, once a famous hippie haven in the 1960s and 70s. Spend the day at Hippies Beach, enjoying its crystal clear waters and gently sweeping sandy shores. Explore the prehistoric caves carved into the steep cliffs, where people once lived centuries ago, and take in the stunning views of the Bay of Messara. Matala is a safe natural harbor, located 65 kilometers from Heraklion, with a 250 meter long and 45 meter wide beach. The area is steeped in history and mythology, famously associated with Zeus swimming ashore in the guise of a bull carrying Europa.
This tour includes convenient hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned bus, allowing you to relax and enjoy the scenic drive. The entrance fee to Matala Caves is not included and costs four euros per person. The remaining time during the tour is allocated for travel between locations. The tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible, and infant seats are unavailable, so infants must sit on your lap. Pets are not allowed, and there is no public transportation nearby. One day before your tour, you will receive a voucher with pickup details, including time and location. Check your email the day before to confirm. Experience a combination of history, natural beauty, and mythology while enjoying a comfortable and organized journey to this iconic Cretan village.
Pick Up and Drop Off
Air Conditioned Bus
Matala Caves enttance
Gratuities
Swimsuit and towel
Comfortable shoes
Sunscreen and hat
Water bottle
Camera or phone
Not wheelchair accessible
No public transportation nearby
Have a camera ready to capture every special moment
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Type in your hotel/accommodation to see how far the attraction or departure point is.
Loading pick up points...
Loading pick up points...
Activity Provider: TravelPath
Customer Reviews
Nasar
The caves are really interesting. This place is steeped in history. Exploring the caves requires a bit of climbing. Wearing sturdy shoes is highly recommended. At the end of November, it was very quiet and not very busy there. Perhaps it would be better to waive the €5 entrance fee during the off-season?
Mateusz
From the beach, the caves look picturesque, and the climb itself is quite an interesting activity. However, inside the caves, there is a predominant smell of urine, which is quite strange considering the €5 entrance fee for adults. There is also a lack of any information about the site (like an information board), or if there was one, it wasn't prominently displayed. In some places, the railings on the rocks were not secure or had been torn out.
Claudia
Der Ausflug ist theoretisch nur der Transfer zum Matala Strand. Laut Reiseveranstalter sollten wir am Hoteleingang abgeholt werden. Kurz nach 9 bekamen wir einen Anruf,wo wir sind. Wir haben der Dame erklärt, dass wir am Hoteleingang stehen. Sie meinte,es wird keiner am Hotel abgeholt, wir sollen zur Kirchen kommen,der Bus wartet 5min, sollte er weg sein, wird sie Ersatz schicken. Wir sind sehr zügig gelaufen,aber unter 15min war es nicht möglich. Nach mehreren Telefonaten und langem Warten kam dann ein kleiner Bus und hat uns dem großen Bus hinterher gefahren. Auf dem Rückweg müssten wir leider feststellen,dass alle außer wir am Hotel rausgelassen wurden. Das verstehe ich nicht und finde es wirklich sehr mies. Matala selber ist schön, aber der Eintritt zu den Höhlen liegt bei 5€ und am Strand kosten 2 Liegen mit Schirm 12€, was Recht teuer ist. Im Bus hab es ab Heraklion eine Reiseleiterin, die auf schlechtem Englisch etwas zur Umgebung sagte.
Angela
A praia é maravilhosa, no entanto, o tempo inicialmente de 7 horas, foi alterado para 5 horas de passeio. Ficamos apenas três horas e meia no local, inclusive falei com a guia sobre isso.
Anaël
The view from the Matala caves is truly stunning and absolutely worth seeing, but visitors should be aware that safety is completely nonexistent. You climb directly on the rock, with no marked paths or proper facilities to secure the ascent. The barriers that are still in place are damaged and unstable, offering no real protection at all. Slipping is a real risk, especially in the heat or if you don’t have proper footwear. I strongly recommend wearing sturdy walking shoes, and I would not suggest this visit for people who are not confident on uneven terrain, especially families with children. Another downside: the price advertised online is €4, but once you arrive, the entrance fee is actually €5, which feels misleading. In summary, the view is absolutely beautiful, but the visit requires caution, preparation, and awareness of the risks. This is not a casual or easy outing.
MARIA
Very clean and cool waters ,nice caves but you have to pay entrance fees to see from close. Organised beach with sunbeds and umbrellas (but of course you have to pay). Still there is enough space to sit at the beach without paying. Nice restaurants and cafés by the coast. Too crowded parking spaces most of the days meaning you may have to park your car 7-8 minutes far from the beach.
Stafford
Really nice beautiful spot. I really enjoyed my visit here. Beach is nice and clean, 12 euros for 2 chairs and umbria. Amazing food ,cave walk is very interesting. I definitely recommend