Lasithi Plateau & Zeus Cave

Operated by Crete Transfers Co

High in the mountains of eastern Crete lies the Lasithi Plateau, a wide green bowl of fertile farmland ringed by peaks and dotted with traditional stone villages. The drive up is spectacular, climbing through passes lined with the white cloth-sailed windmills that once pumped water across the fields and have become a symbol of the region. The plateau feels like a step back in time, with orchards of apple and almond trees, small chapels and farmers working the land much as they have for generations. We stop at viewpoints and a village or two, where you can browse local produce, taste mountain honey and cheese, and enjoy the cool, clear air far above the coast. The highlight is the Dikteon Cave above the village of Psychro, known in myth as the birthplace of Zeus, king of the gods, hidden here by his mother to escape his father Cronus. A path leads down into the dramatic cavern, where illuminated stalactites and stalagmites surround a still underground pool, an atmospheric and slightly otherworldly place. This full-day trip combines mountain scenery, living rural tradition and ancient mythology, all at a comfortable pace in a private vehicle. Bring a light layer for the higher altitude and comfortable shoes for the walk down to the cave.

Highlights

• Private vehicle
• Mountain villages
• Dikteon (Zeus) Cave
• Windmill viewpoints