When most people picture a Greek island, they imagine sparkling blue water, whitewashed buildings, and relaxing days by the sea. And while Crete delivered on many of our expectations, our day exploring the island’s mountains and Manousakis Winery. and showed us a completely different side of this beautiful place.
During our cruise stop in Chania, we booked the Cretan Wines Jeep Safari shore excursion through Shore Excursions Group. It turned out to be one of the most memorable days of our trip.
A Mountain Adventure Beyond the Cruise Port
We were a little concerned before our cruise because we discovered that the Sun Princess was going to dock in Chania, instead of the more popular port city, Heraklion. Chania’s port isn’t in the center of town, but instead is in Souda, about four miles outside of the city. That means anyone who got off the ship was likely either taking an excursion or lining up in a very long queue to catch a shuttle into town.
After arriving at Souda, we waited a bit for our driver to arrive. Cruise days don’t always run exactly on schedule, as you may know. We didn’t wait too long for Nikolas, although we weren’t 100% sure we were waiting in the right stop, which made our group a bit anxious. But they were at least relieved that we weren’t standing in line with hundreds of other passengers waiting for a bus to Old Town Chania.
Once our driver Nikolas showed up, we realized the wait was worth it. From the moment we started heading into the mountains, Nikolas made the drive feel like part of the experience. He shared stories about Crete, pointed out landmarks along the way, and gave us a glimpse into the island beyond the typical tourist stops.
The views were incredible. As we climbed higher into the mountains, the landscape changed completely — winding dirt roads, rugged scenery, and sweeping views that had us all snapping photos out the windows.
The weather was very hot that day, but thankfully the higher elevation brought a nice breeze that made exploring the vineyards comfortable.
A Vineyard View Worth the Drive
Our first stop gave us the opportunity to see the vineyards high up in the mountains. Standing among the vines with was one of those travel moments that makes you stop and appreciate exactly where you are. The view was outstanding, and the air was incredibly clear. In the distance, we could see other Greek islands (not surprising, since Greece has about 6,000 of them!).
Nikolas told us that the islands were the Theodorou Islands, which were uninhabited, although one had a very popular beach destination. Also, one of the islands was known for a very special goat in Crete, known as the Kri-Kri. When I looked it up later, they resemble an Ibex more than a goat, but I’m not splitting hairs.
As we drove to our next stop, we grilled Nikolas about growing up in Greece. He was well-traveled, thanks to time serving in the Greek Army, and gave us some excellent tips for our upcoming visit to Athens. Having a local guide who genuinely enjoyed sharing his home made the experience feel much more personal.
Wine Tasting at Manousakis Winery
Our next stop was Manousakis Winery, a family-owned winery near Chania known for its handcrafted wines and beautiful setting. The winery’s story is just as interesting as the wine itself. Its founder left Crete as a pre-teen for America, but eventually returned as an adult to reconnect with his roots and create the winery.
The outdoor tasting terrace was charming and felt like the perfect place to slow down and enjoy the afternoon. We sampled six different wines, along with some simple Cretan snacks like cheese and bread. We could have chosen a tour option with a full lunch, but considering how much food we ate on the cruise ship, lunch seemed unnecessary!
Now, full disclosure: I am not a wine expert. I’m a beer girl, and I’ve been known to tip back some harder liquor. But wine really isn’t my thing, so I won’t pretend I have sophisticated tasting notes to share!
But one of the wines was good enough that I decided to bring a bottle home for my mother, who actually does love red wine.
Her official review? I quote: “It was actually pretty decent.”
Now, I know that you’ve never met my mother. But that’s pretty high praise coming from her!
We also had the chance to tour the winery, including the production area and the cellar. The only bad part of the trip? I managed to spill about half a glass of red wine on my green blouse during the tasting. Thankfully, almost all of it came out. Crete truly is magical.
A Bonus Stop in Old Town Chania
After the wine tasting, we still had some time before needing to return to our cruise ship, so we asked Nikolas if he could take us into Old Town Chania rather than directly back to the port. He was happy to oblige.
We walked around the historic harbor, admired the famous Egyptian Lighthouse, and soaked in the atmosphere before catching the cruise shuttle back to the port. And as a bonus: one of our travel group managed to find an electronics store to snag a charger for her laptop.
Is a Crete Wine Jeep Safari Worth It?
Absolutely.
If you’re visiting Crete on a cruise or planning a trip to Chania, a wine tour is a wonderful way to experience more than just the beaches. The combination of mountain scenery, local stories, Cretan hospitality, and a beautiful winery made this one of our favorite excursions.
For travelers looking for a unique Chania shore excursion, a Crete wine tasting experience, or a way to explore the island beyond the usual tourist stops, this adventure is one I would happily recommend.
And of course, if you’re considering a cruise to the Mediterranean, give us a call or fill out our online request form!
